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Light guide with grooves of varying depth

A technology of light guide and depth, applied in the field of light guide, can solve the problems of high cost and complicated assembly

Inactive Publication Date: 2021-10-15
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Assembly of such systems can be complex, especially when using flexible light guides, and can be costly due to the number of LEDs required

Method used

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  • Light guide with grooves of varying depth
  • Light guide with grooves of varying depth
  • Light guide with grooves of varying depth

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0032] figure 1 An optical system 100 according to one embodiment of the invention is shown. The system 100 includes a light guide 10 and may include a light source 80, typically a light emitting diode (LED). The light guide 10 has formed therein an elongated groove 20 having a length L1 and a width W1. The elongated groove 20 is longer than its width such that L1 / W1≧5, 10, 50 or even 100. Such as figure 1 As shown, the length L1 of the groove 20 is smaller than the width W2 of the light guide 10 in the vicinity of the groove. The ratio L1 / W2 may be greater than or equal to 0.5, 0.7 or 0.9.

[0033] The groove 20 has a depth that varies along its length. The groove 20 divides the light guide 10 into a first light guide section 30 having a main surface of area A1 and a second light guide section 40 having a main surface of area A2. Area A2 is greater than or equal to area A1, and may be 5, 10, 20, 50, or 100 greater in size than area A1. The groove 20 extends from a groo...

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PUM

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Abstract

The present invention discloses an optical system comprising a light guide having an elongated groove formed therein. The groove divides the light guide into a first light guide segment, a second larger light guide segment. An optical extractor is disposed in the second lightguide section instead of the first lightguide section for extracting light that would otherwise propagate within and along the second lightguide section by total internal reflection (TIR) of light. The depth of the groove varies along its length. Including a groove having a varying depth along its length provides design flexibility in the number and location of the light source(s) used by the optical system.

Description

technical field [0001] The present disclosure generally relates to light guides. Background technique [0002] Light guides can be used to provide illumination for a variety of applications. For example, light guides have been used in display backlights, general lighting, and automotive taillights. A plurality of light sources may be distributed along an end of the light guide to provide light into the light guide, and the light guide may include light extraction features for extracting light from the light guide. [0003] A plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are typically arranged along one or both ends of the area light guide for light injection. The number of LEDs and their spacing are generally determined by the total amount and spatial uniformity of light required for a given application. LEDs are typically mounted directly adjacent to the light guide, and light is coupled into the light guide via a butt joint. Assembly of such systems can be complex, especia...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(China)
IPC IPC(8): F21V8/00
CPCG02B6/0018G02B6/002G02B6/0091
Inventor 刘涛卢永上大卫·C·默科德布莱恩·W·欧斯特利
Owner 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO