9332results about "Light guides for lighting systems" patented technology

A compact and efficient optical illumination system featuring planar multi-layered LED light source arrays concentrating their polarized or un-polarized output within a limited angular range. The optical system manipulates light emitted by a planar array of electrically-interconnected LED chips positioned within the input apertures of a corresponding array of shaped metallic reflecting bins using at least one of elevated prismatic films, polarization converting films, micro-lens arrays and external hemispherical or ellipsoidal reflecting elements. Practical applications of the LED array illumination systems include compact LCD or DMD video image projectors, as well as general lighting, automotive lighting, and LCD backlighting.

The methods involve using a tool to cut or form multiple optical element shaped cavities in a surface of a substrate without rotating the tool or substrate during the cutting or forming process. At least some of the cavities are cut or formed to have at least two surfaces that come together to form a ridge and that are quite small relative to the length and width of the substrate. Thereafter the substrate is used to form optical films, components or wave guides having multiple optical elements on at least one surface corresponding to the cavities in the substrate.

An apparatus and method for transmitting, collimating and redirecting light from a point-like source to produce a collimated optical signal in a substantially planar form are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus is manufactured as a unitary transmissive body comprising a collimation element and a redirection element, and optionally a transmissive element. In another embodiment, the apparatus is assembled from one or more components. The apparatus and method are useful for providing sensing light for an optical touch input device or for providing illumination for a display.

A monitoring device configured to be attached to the ear of a person includes a base, an earbud housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, and a cover surrounding the earbud housing. The base includes a speaker, an optical emitter, and an optical detector. The cover includes light transmissive material that is in optical communication with the optical emitter and the optical detector and serves as a light guide to deliver light from the optical emitter into the ear canal of the subject wearing the device at one or more predetermined locations and to collect light external to the earbud housing and deliver the collected light to the optical detector.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a light guide of a variety of forms having a uniform distribution of brightness in the plane and a planer light source device for a liquid crystal display device which uses such light guide. The light guide comprises a first surface which is a surface to which a natural polarization light is incident and a second surface other than the first surface which is an exit surface of a specific polarization light into which, said natural polarization light is modulated, wherein;said light guide has an interface of two materials of different indices of refraction oriented at an angle of thetaB+/-alpha degrees relative to the primary propagation direction of said incident light, said thetaB being an angle satisfying Brewster's condition, more than two orientations of said interface exist in a single light guide, and the difference between the indices of refraction of the two materials of different indices of refraction is between 0.001 and 1.0. thetaB is typically about 45 degrees. The light guide comprises a first transparent member having a plurality of upwardly convex right angle isosceles triangles on a first surface thereof and a first index of refraction and a second transparent member having a plurality of downwardly convex right angle isosceles triangles on a second surface thereof and a second index of refraction, and said first surface and said second surface contact each other.

A backlight for a display device, such as a liquid crystal display device, includes a light guiding plate having a front and a rear surface. The front and rear surfaces may be parallel to one another, or may instead be non-parallel. To the extent that such surfaces are non-parallel, one surface may be included at a single, or multiple angles with respect to the other surface. The backlight further includes a light source that is coupled to an edge of the light guiding plate by means of an energy conserving coupling section, and which provides light that is conditioned and transmitted through the light guiding plate. Light extractors are disposed on at least one side of the light guiding plate to assist in the transmission and conditioning of the light that is provided to the light guiding plate by the light source.

A light source arrangement for a battery-powered light source unit of an endoscope comprises a cylindrical housing, a base disposed at one end of the housing, a plurality of LEDs connected to a flexible circuit board supported on the base and a focusing lens. A light guide for directing light emanating from the LEDs. The light guide comprises a reflective surface formed on an inner wall of the housing, a reflector having a concave reflective surface which is disposed at one end of the housing so as to surround the LEDs or a micro-lens array disposed in front of the LEDs with each micro lens aligned with the LED.

Aspects of the present invention relate to providing see-through computer display with improved optics.

A video display for two or three dimensions has a flat liquid-crystal screen which ejects light from the plane at a selectable line. One or, in the case of a 3-D display, several video projectors project a linear image into the plane from an edge. A complete image is written on the screen by addressing the line with appropriate images as it is scanned down the screen. To screen a three-dimensional image, the video projectors, each projecting an image as seen at a slightly different angle, combine to constitute a three-dimensional display which produces a three-dimensional image that is one line high.

A monitoring apparatus includes a housing configured to be attached to an ear of a subject, and a plurality of electrodes supported by the housing. The electrodes are configured to at least partially contact a portion of the body of the subject when the housing is attached to the ear of the subject, and are configured to detect and/or measure at least one neurological and/or cardiopulmonary function of the subject. The housing may include one or more physiological sensors configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject and/or one or more environmental sensors configured to detect and/or measure environmental conditions in a vicinity of the subject.

A photon emitting device comprises a plurality of solid state radiation sources to generate radiation. The solid state radiation sources can be disposed in an array pattern. Optical concentrators, arranged in a corresponding array pattern, receive radiation from corresponding solid state radiation sources. The concentrated radiation is received by a plurality of optical waveguides, also arranged in a corresponding array pattern. Each optical waveguide includes a first end to receive the radiation and a second end to output the radiation. A support structure is provided to stabilize the plurality of optical waveguides between the first and second ends. The photon emitting device can provide a replacement for a discharge lamp device in various applications including road illumination, spot lighting, back lighting, image projection and radiation activated curing.

A monitoring apparatus includes a housing that is configured to be attached to a body of a subject. The housing includes a sensor region that is configured to contact a selected area of the body of the subject when the housing is attached to the body of the subject. The sensor region is contoured to matingly engage the selected body area. The apparatus includes at least one physiological sensor that is associated with the sensor region and that detects and/or measures physiological information from the subject and/or at least one environmental sensor associated with the sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure environmental information. The sensor region contour stabilizes the physiological and/or environmental sensor(s) relative to the selected body area such that subject motion does not impact detection and/or measurement efforts of the sensor(s).

An illumination device includes an elongated and substantially cylindrical waveguide, which has a light-emitting outer surface and an interior semi-reflective portion spaced at a predetermined distance from the light-emitting outer surface. A channel is defined through a portion the waveguide along the length thereof and is adapted to receive an elongated light source such that emitted light is directed into at least one of the wall surfaces defined by the channel. As the light enters and is directed about the circumference of the waveguide, a portion of the light is scattered and emitted through the light-emitting outer surface of the waveguide. Light is also reflected by the semi-reflective portion, causing additional light to be scattered and emitted through the light-emitting outer surface of the waveguide. The result of this guiding, reflecting, and emission of light is a substantially homogenous and uniform light intensity pattern over the light-emitting outer surface of the waveguide so as to simulate neon lighting.

The present invention includes a backlight system incorporating a back reflector and/or a lamp cavity reflector constructed of a multilayer optical film.

The index of refraction of a light guide (6) for transmitting light outputted from a primary light source (1) is ng, and the light guide (6) has a light input end face (9), a light output surface from which the transmitted light is outputted, and a back surface opposed to the light output surface. A leaky ray modulator (8) is provided to at least either the light output surface or the back surface. The leaky ray modulator (8) has a composite layer (50) provided on the light output surface or the back surface and composed of first refractive index regions (3) having a refractive index n1 (ng>n1) and second refractive index regions (4) having a refractive index n2 (n2>n1) and a third refractive index layer (5) provided on the composite layer (50) and having a refractive index n3 (n3>n1). A reflecting plate (7) is provided adjacent to the back surface of the light guide (6).

A flat planar light fixture formed of a translucent panel with suitable opacity for the transmission of light is illuminated by a plurality of high brightness LEDs disposed along the edges thereof. A layer of reflective material on a back surface of the panel facilitates reflection and dispersion of light that occurs within the panel through a front surface thereof. The LEDs are powered by low-voltage direct current and coupled with an emergency backup battery that is maintained in a charged condition by household current. The light fixture may be operatively connected with a signal receiver that controls the light intensity and turns the LEDs on and off responsive to signals transmitted from a remote signal transmitter. The LEDs may be provided in different colors to allow the user to vary the color of illumination. The light fixture may also be operatively connected with an alarm system.

A flameless candle that releases a volatile active includes at least one LED positioned in a tip (106), a cartridge mount (128), and a support structure (102, 141). The at least one LED emits a flickering light that emulates a flame of a candle. The cartridge mount (128) receives and secures a replaceable cartridge (104a) containing a volatile active to be released into the atmosphere over time. The support structure (120, 141) supports the at least one LED and the cartridge mount (128). The support structure (120, 141) is configured to allow airflow across the replaceable cartridge (104a) when the replaceable cartridge (104a) is mounted in the cartridge mount (128).