Light-transmitting structure for light redistribution and lighting system including same

Abstract

To redistribute light emitted from a light source.SOLUTION: A light transmissive structure includes a light transmissive substrate 32 having a first face 34 and a second face 36 opposing each other, and an array of microprism elements 38 on the first face 34. Each microprism element 38 includes a first inclined surface disposed at a first inclined angle relative to the second face 36, and a second inclined surface disposed at a second inclined angle relative to the second face. The first inclined angle is less than the second inclined angle, and a peak angle between the first inclined surface and second inclined surface is in the range of about 70 degrees to about 100 degrees. The second inclined surface has a convex curvature when viewed from angles perpendicular thereto. The light transmissive structure is configured to receive light from a light source 20 facing the first face 34 in a first direction and redistribute light emerging from the second face 36 in a second direction different from the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application relies on priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 527,573, filed June 30, 2017, entitled “LIGHT TRANSMISSIVE STRUCTURES FOR REDISTRIBUTION OF LIGHT AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAME,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a light-transmitting structure that can be used to redistribute light emitted from a light source, and to a lighting system that includes such a light-transmitting structure. [Background technology]

[0003] High-efficiency LED lighting is becoming more and more popular. A typical LED source emits light in a Lambertian distribution with a full width at half maximum ("FWHM") of approximately 120 degrees. LEDs combined with luminaire (or lighting system) elements such as housings, reflectors, and lenses can produce many light distributions, including those with FWHMs as low as 1°. Typically, many cost-effective LEDs sold for general lighting are of the 120-degree Lambertian variety. Many luminaires (LED and traditional), such as those found in some downlights, task lights, and troffers, have flat exterior surfaces. In many of these installations, simple flat diffusers, such as microstructured, holographic, or volumetric diffusers, are used to diffuse the LEDs in a way that hides their appearance from the viewer and smooths the surface appearance of the luminaire.

[0004] When a flat diffuser is used in a luminaire, the combination of elements in the luminaire, such as light sources, lenses, housings, reflectors, baffles, etc. used inside the luminaire, produces a light distribution incident on the light receiving surface of the diffuser, referred to herein as the source distribution. Depending on the elements used, the source distribution can have a wide range of FWHM values, including 1°, 10°, 20°, 40°, 80°, 100°, 120°, or 140°. In some cases, a wide array of 120° LEDs incident on the diffuser without much interference from other elements will exhibit a source distribution close to 120°. Often, luminaires such as can-style downlights or linear wallwash luminaires may include interior sidewalls, usually reflective, that limit the beam angle spread and produce intermediate width source distributions, such as 60°, 85°, or 100°.

[0005] In many lighting systems, the targeted area to be illuminated is much larger than the emission area of ​​the light source. The light distribution is typically measured using a method that employs an angle measuring device similar to that described in the Illuminating Engineering Society's ("IES") LM-79 standard. As described therein, the luminous intensity is measured by a photodetector as a function of the angle from the principal axis of the light source. The photodetector and / or the light source are moved relative to each other such that the photodetector measures the emitted light at the desired angle.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a polar plot showing the luminous intensity distribution of light emitted from a downward-pointing light source, in this example a light source with a Lambertian light distribution with a FWHM of 120 degrees. The luminous intensity is proportional to the cosine of the angle (i.e., in a downward direction) from the nadir, which is considered to be 0° on the plot. When a flat surface such as a floor is illuminated by a Lambertian light distribution, the illuminance on the floor is greatest at the nadir (directly below the fixture) and decreases monotonically for points on the floor away from the nadir. In the lighting industry, the term "Lambertian" is also frequently used to refer to light distributions of similar quality but different widths. That is, a distribution that has a peak at the nadir and decreases monotonically at higher angles is often referred to as Lambertian. In one example, a Gaussian distribution with a FWHM of 80 degrees is often referred to as "Lambertian" in the lighting industry.

[0007] In lighting and other fields, it may be desirable to bend the light emitted from a light source. In lighting applications, for example, it may be desirable to take a light distribution from a downlight with an 80 degree angle and power centered directly below the major axis of the downlight, and shift the distribution so that it has an asymmetric power distribution, i.e., power centered on one side of the downlight. This may be desirable to increase illumination to a target area such as a wall, sign, or surgical patient, or to improve visibility of a display or sign from a non-vertical angle, among other applications. It may also be desirable to redirect the light source to an angle such that the source distribution and power are centered at an angle relative to a straight down direction (i.e., a normal to a surface located directly below the light source), and then further bend the light distribution and / or impart an asymmetric distribution.

[0008] Parallel linear prisms disposed on a flat surface, such as those provided by Direction Turning Film from Luminit LLC of Torrens, California, and Image Directing Film II from 3M Optical Systems of St. Paul, Minnesota, may be used for this purpose. However, these known linear prism products may have the undesirable quality of light emitted in the wrong direction. For example, in a lighting fixture with a 120 degree Lambertian light source, it may be desirable to bend the light toward the wall in order to illuminate the wall. At the same time, it may be desirable to smoothly and monotonically gradually attenuate the light remaining in the undesirable direction (i.e., away from the wall) as the fixture is viewed starting at 0 degrees (as viewed from directly below the fixture) and moving away from the light to approach a 90 degree viewing angle away from the bend direction (away from the wall and the fixture).

[0009] 2 and 3 are polar plots showing the distribution of light in the bend plane measured using a Lambertian light source with a 120° source distribution through the Direction Turning Film and Image Directing Film II, respectively. The portion of the light distribution curve to the left (shown in the dashed oval) shows how the bent light does not attenuate monotonically smoothly from 0 degrees to 90 degrees away from the bend direction. FIGs. 4 and 5 are polar plots showing the distribution of light in the bend plane measured using a Lambertian light source with an 80° source distribution through the Direction Turning Film and Image Directing Film II, respectively. As shown, the light does not attenuate monotonically smoothly from 0 degrees to 90 degrees away from the bend direction, as evidenced by the "bump" to the left of the light distribution curve in the dashed oval.

[0010] It is desirable to be able to take a light distribution from a downlight having a source distribution with a FWHM between 1 and 140 degrees and power centered directly below the major axis of the downlight and shift the distribution in the bend direction such that the distribution has an asymmetric power distribution with a smooth monotonic decrease in light from 0 to 90 degrees away from the bend direction. It is also desirable to be able to take a light distribution from a tilted downlight having a source distribution with a FWHM between 1 and 140 degrees and power at a tilt angle relative to the axis directly below the location of the downlight and further shift the distribution in the bend direction such that the distribution has a symmetric or asymmetric power distribution with a smooth monotonic decrease in light from 0 to 90 degrees away from the bend direction. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an optically transparent structure including an optically transparent substrate having opposing first and second surfaces and an array of microprism elements on the first surface. Each microprism element includes a first inclined surface disposed at a first inclination angle relative to the second surface and a second inclined surface disposed at a second inclination angle relative to the second surface. The first inclination angle is less than the second inclination angle, and a peak angle between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface is in the range of about 70 degrees to about 100 degrees. The second inclined surface has a convex curvature when viewed perpendicular thereto. The optically transparent structure is configured to receive light emitted from a light source facing the first surface in a first direction and redistribute the light exiting the second surface in a second direction different from the first direction.

[0012] In one embodiment, the light emitted from the second surface has an asymmetric distribution.

[0013] In one embodiment, the first tilt angle is in a range of about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees.

[0014] In one embodiment, the second tilt angle is in the range of about 40 degrees to about 100 degrees.

[0015] In one embodiment, each of the microprism elements has a length of about 100 μm and a width of about 40 μm.

[0016] In one embodiment, the microprism elements are arranged in a grid along orthogonal rows and columns on an optically transparent substrate.

[0017] In one embodiment, the microprism elements alternate at ½ period in each row.

[0018] In one embodiment, the first angled surface is substantially flat.

[0019] In one embodiment, the optically transmissive structure includes a wavy pattern on the array of microprism elements, the wavy pattern having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys, hi one embodiment, the wavy pattern has a period of 20 μm in a third direction and a period of 60 μm in a fourth direction orthogonal to the third direction.

[0020] In one embodiment, at least some of the microprism elements are bent and nested to approximately fill a hexagonal shape, hi one embodiment, the size of the hexagonal shape is about 270 μm.

[0021] In one embodiment, the light-transmissive structures include a plurality of hexagonal shapes with bent, nested microprism elements.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present invention, a lighting system is provided that includes a light source and a light-transmitting structure spaced apart from the light source. The light-transmitting structure includes a light-transmitting substrate having a first surface facing the light source and a second surface opposite the first surface of the light-transmitting substrate, and an array of microprism elements on the first surface. Each microprism element includes a first inclined surface disposed at a first inclination angle relative to the second surface and a second inclined surface disposed at a second inclination angle relative to the second surface. The first inclination angle is smaller than the second inclination angle, and a peak angle between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface is in the range of about 70 degrees to about 100 degrees. The second inclined surface has a convex curvature when viewed at a normal angle thereto. The light-transmitting structure is configured to receive light emitted from the light source in a first direction and redistribute the light exiting the second surface in a second direction different from the first direction.

[0023] In one embodiment, the light source has a full width at half maximum light distribution between 10 and 120 degrees.

[0024] In one embodiment, the light source and the light-transmitting structure are oriented such that the principal axis of light emitted from the light source is incident on a first surface of the light-transmitting structure at an angle between normal and about 45 degrees from normal.

[0025] These and other aspects, features, and properties of the present invention, as well as the method and function of operation of the associated elements of construction, and combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent from a consideration of the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in this specification and the claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

[0026] Components in the following figures are illustrated to emphasize the general principles of the present disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale, although at least one of the figures may be drawn to scale. Reference characters designating corresponding components are repeated throughout the figures, where necessary, for consistency and clarity. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a polar plot showing the luminous intensity distribution of light emitted from a downward-facing light source having a Lambertian light distribution with a full width at half maximum ("FWHM") of 120 degrees. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a polar plot showing the luminous intensity source distribution of FIG. 1 after passing through the Luminit Direction Turning Film. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a polar plot showing the luminous intensity source distribution of FIG. 1 after passing through 3M Image Directing Film. [Figure 4] 1 is a polar plot showing the luminous intensity distribution of light emitted from a downward-facing source with an 80 degree FWHM source distribution after passing through Luminit Direction Turning Film. [Diagram 5] This is a polar plot showing the luminous intensity distribution of light emitted from a downward-facing source with an 80 degree FWHM source distribution after passing through 3M Image Directing Film. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a lighting system having a light source and a light-transmissive structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 7 shows a plurality of microprisms as part of the light-transmitting structure of FIG. 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 7 shows a plurality of microprisms as part of the light-transmitting structure of FIG. 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 7 shows a plurality of microprisms as part of the light-transmitting structure of FIG. 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10]7 shows a plurality of microprisms as part of the light-transmitting structure of FIG. 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows the microprisms of FIG. 10 in a repeating pattern. [Figure 12] FIG. 9 is a polar plot showing the luminous intensity distribution of light emitted from a downward-facing source with a 120 degree FWHM Lambertian source distribution after passing through the light-transmitting structure with microprisms of FIG. 8. [Figure 13] 9 is a polar plot showing the luminous intensity distribution of light emitted from a downward-facing light source with an 80 degree FWHM source distribution after passing through the light-transmitting structure with microprisms of FIG. 8. [Figure 14] 1 is a polar plot showing the source distribution of light emitted from a source with a 10 degree FWHM tilted by 10 degrees. [Figure 15] 15 is a polar plot of the source distribution in FIG. 14 after passing through the Luminit Direction Turning Film. [Figure 16] 15 is a polar plot of the source distribution of FIG. 14 after passing through the light-transmitting structure with microprisms of FIG. 8. [Figure 17] 1 is a polar plot showing the source distribution of light emitted from a source with a 10 degree FWHM tilted by 30 degrees. [Figure 18] 18 is a polar plot of the source distribution in FIG. 17 after passing through a Luminit Direction Turning Film. [Figure 19] 18 is a polar plot of the source distribution of FIG. 17 after passing through the light-transmitting structure with microprisms of FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic of a lighting system 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the lighting system 10 includes a light source 20 and a diffuser or light-transmitting structure 30 spaced apart from the light source 20. The light source 20 may be any suitable light source, such as an LED or a plurality of LEDs. The light-transmitting structure 30 includes a light-transmitting substrate 32 having a first surface 34 and a second surface 36 opposite the first surface 34. A plurality of microprism elements (or microprisms) 38 are located on the first surface 32. Further details of an embodiment of the microprisms 38 are described below.

[0029] The light-transmitting structure 30 may be suspended below the light source 20 by any technique known in the art, such as using a cable, a side or edge frame, or an enclosure such as a housing. As shown, the light source 20 and the light-transmitting structure 30 are mounted in a housing 40. Although a single housing 40 is shown, it is contemplated that the light source 20 and / or the light-transmitting structure 30 may be mounted in a sub-housing that is attached to the housing 40. The housing 40 may consist of one or more brackets configured to hold the light source 20 and the light-transmitting structure 30 at a desired spacing and orientation relative to one another such that the light source 20 emits light such that the maximum intensity of the light is incident on the first side 34 of the light-transmitting substrate 32 at a desired angle. As described in more detail below, the light-transmitting structure 30 is configured to "bend" the light such that the light exiting the second side 36 has a different major axis than the major axis of the light emitted from the light source 20.

[0030] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of an array 50 of microprisms 52 of the light-transmitting structure 30 of FIG. 6. As illustrated, each microprism 52 includes a first surface 54 that is generally flat, having a tilt angle 55 of about 40 degrees, and a second surface 56 that has a tilt angle 57 of about 70 degrees. The peak angle 59 between the first surface 54 and the second surface 56 is about 70 degrees. The second surface 56 has a tilt angle 57 that is greater than the tilt angle of the first surface 54, and a curvature that is convex when viewed from outside the light-transmitting structure 30 in a direction N that is perpendicular thereto. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the size of each microprism 52 may be approximately 100 μm (along the y-axis) by 40 μm (along the x-axis), and the multiple microprisms 52 may be arranged on the substrate 32 along orthogonal rows and columns. It is understood that these dimensions are intended to be given by way of example only, and the size of the microprisms 52 may be larger or smaller. Also, tilt angles 55, 57 and peak angle 59 may be greater or less. For example, tilt angle 55 of first surface 54 may be in the range of about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees, tilt angle 57 of second surface 56 may be in the range of about 40 degrees to about 100 degrees, and peak angle 59 may be in the range of about 70 degrees to about 100 degrees.

[0031] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of an array 60 of microprisms 62 of the light-transmitting structure 30 of FIG. 6. As illustrated, each microprism 62 includes a first surface 64 that is generally flat and has a tilt angle 65 of about 40 degrees, and a second surface 66 that has a tilt angle 67 of about 70 degrees. The peak angle 69 between the first surface 64 and the second surface 66 is about 70 degrees. The second surface 66 has a tilt angle 67 that is greater than the tilt angle of the first surface 64, and a curvature that is convex when viewed from outside the light-transmitting structure 30 in a direction N perpendicular thereto. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the size of each microprism 62 may be approximately 100 μm (along the y-axis) by 40 μm (along the x-axis), and the multiple microprisms 62 may be arranged on the substrate 32 along orthogonal rows and columns, with the microprisms 62 alternating at ½ period in each column as illustrated. It should be understood that these dimensions are intended to be given by way of example only, and that the size of the microprisms 62 may be larger or smaller. Also, the tilt angles 65, 67 and peak angle 69 may be larger or smaller. For example, the tilt angle 65 of the first surface 64 may be in the range of about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees, the tilt angle 67 of the second surface 66 may be in the range of about 40 degrees to about 100 degrees, and the peak angle 69 may be in the range of about 70 degrees to about 100 degrees.

[0032] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of an array 70 of microprisms 72 of the light-transmitting structure 30 of FIG. 6. As illustrated, each microprism 72 includes a first surface 74 having a tilt angle 75 of about 40 degrees and a second surface 76 having a tilt angle 77 of about 70 degrees. The peak angle 79 between the first surface 74 and the second surface 76 is about 70 degrees. The second surface 76 has a tilt angle 77 that is greater than the tilt angle of the first surface 74 and a curvature that is convex when viewed from outside the light-transmitting structure 30 in a direction N perpendicular thereto. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the size of each microprism 72 may be approximately 100 μm (along the y-axis) by 40 μm (along the x-axis), and the multiple microprisms 72 may be arranged on the substrate 32 along orthogonal rows and columns, with the microprisms 72 alternating at ½ period in each column as illustrated. It should be understood that these dimensions are intended to be given by way of example only, and that the size of the microprisms 72 may be larger or smaller. Also, the tilt angles 75, 77 and peak angle 79 may be larger or smaller. For example, the tilt angle 75 of the first surface 74 may be in the range of about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees, the tilt angle 77 of the second surface 76 may be in the range of about 40 degrees to about 100 degrees, and the peak angle 79 may be in the range of about 70 degrees to about 100 degrees.

[0033] 9, the array of microprisms 70 includes a wavy pattern 78 including a plurality of peaks 78a and a plurality of valleys 78b. The wavy pattern 78 may have a period of about 20 μm in a direction parallel to the y-axis and a period of about 60 μm in a direction parallel to the x-axis. The illustrated embodiment should not be considered limiting in any way, and different wavy patterns or texture patterns having different sizes may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 10 shows an overhead view of an embodiment of an array 80 of microprisms 82 of the light-transmitting structure 30, and FIG. 11 shows the array 80 of microprisms 82 in a repeating pattern 90. As shown, whiter colors represent higher points on the surface of the microprisms 82, and darker colors represent lower points on the surface of the microprisms 82. The microprisms 82 are bent, sized, and nested to approximately fill a hexagonal shape 83. Each of the microprisms 82 has a first surface 84 disposed at a tilt angle 85 of about 40 degrees and a second surface 86 disposed at a tilt angle 87 of about 70 degrees. The peak angle 89 between the first surface 84 and the second surface 86 is about 70 degrees. The second surface 86 has a tilt angle 87 that is greater than the tilt angle of the first surface 84, and a curvature that is convex when viewed from the outside of the light-transmitting structure 30 in a direction N that is perpendicular thereto. The hexagonal shapes 83 may be approximately 270 μm in size (flat to flat) and may be repeated on the surface of the substrate 32, as shown in part in FIG. 10. It should be understood that this dimension is intended to be given by way of example only, and the size of the hexagonal shapes 83 may be larger or smaller. In other embodiments, the nested bent microprisms 82 may be configured to fill shapes other than hexagons 83. For example, in other embodiments, the nested bent microprisms 82 may be configured to fill squares, diamonds, or any other desired shape that may be replicated in a repeating pattern.

[0035] Light-transmitting structures according to any of the embodiments described herein can be made using many techniques known in the art. For example, in one embodiment, the prism shape can be cast onto a substrate using a suitable master mold and a thermosetting or ultraviolet (UV) light-curable polymer, or the shape can be impress into a thermoplastic substrate by compression molding or other molding, or can be created simultaneously with the substrate using extrusion embossing or injection molding. Microprisms can be manufactured by replicating a master. For example, an optical diffuser may be manufactured by replicating a master containing a desired shape, as described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 7,190,387 B2 to Rinehart et al., entitled "Systems And Methods for Fabricating Optical Microstructures Using a Cylindrical Platform and a Rastered Radiation Beam," U.S. Patent No. 7,867,695 B2 to Freese et al., entitled "Methods for Mastering Microstructures Through a Substrate Using Negative Photoresist," and / or U.S. Patent No. 7,192,692 B2 to Wood et al., entitled "Methods for Fabricating Microstructures by Imaging a Radiation Sensitive Layer Sandwiched Between Outer Layers," all of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein. The master itself may be made using the laser scanning techniques described in these patents, and may be replicated to provide a diffuser using the replication techniques described in these patents.

[0036] In one embodiment, laser holography, as known in the art, may be used to create a holographic pattern that creates the desired microprisms in the photosensitive material. In one embodiment, projection or contact photolithography, as used in semiconductor, display, circuit board, and other common technologies, as known in the art, may be used to expose the microprisms in the photosensitive material. In one embodiment, laser ablation, either by using a mask or by using a focused and modulated laser beam, may be used to create the microprisms with indicia in the material. In one embodiment, micromachining, as known in the art (also known as diamond machining), may be used to create the desired microprisms from a solid material. In one embodiment, additive manufacturing, as known in the art (also known as 3D printing), may be used to create the desired microprisms in a solid material.

[0037] Figure 12 shows the distribution of light in the bending plane measured using a Lambertian light source with a 120 degree FWHM source distribution through an optically transmissive structure 30 having an array 60 of microprisms 62 as shown in Figure 8. Figure 12 shows a smooth monotonic decrease in light from 0 degrees to 90 degrees away from the bending direction. Additionally, optically transmissive structure 30 appears to provide a stronger or increased bending of light as compared to the prior art films described above.

[0038] Figure 13 shows the distribution of light in the bending plane measured using a light source with an 80 degree FWHM source distribution through an optically transmissive structure 30 having an array 60 of microprisms 62 as shown in Figure 8. Figure 13 shows a monotonic decrease in light from 0 degrees to 90 degrees away from the bending direction. Furthermore, optically transmissive structure 30 appears to provide a stronger or increased bending of light as compared to the prior art films discussed above.

[0039] 14 shows a source distribution of light emitted from a light source with a 10 degree FWHM, tilted by 10 degrees with respect to a direction extending straight down from the source (corresponding to 0°). As shown, the distribution is generally symmetric with respect to the tilt direction.

[0040] Figure 15 shows the light distribution in the bend plane after the source distribution of Figure 14 passes through the Luminit Direction Turning Film. As shown, the Luminit Direction Turning Film not only redistributed the light in the bend direction, which is typically about +20° from the tilt direction, but also produced an unwanted secondary distribution 100, which was generally oriented at an angle of about -20° from the tilt direction.

[0041] Figure 16 shows the light distribution in the bend plane after the source distribution of Figure 14 passes through a light-transmissive structure 30 having an array 60 of microprisms 62 of Figure 8. As shown, the light-transmissive structure 30 redistributed the light in the bend direction that is about +20° from the tilt direction, and did not produce a secondary distribution.

[0042] 17 shows a source distribution of light emitted from a light source with a 10 degree FWHM, tilted by 30 degrees with respect to a direction extending straight down from the source (corresponding to 0°). As shown, the distribution is generally symmetric with respect to the tilt direction.

[0043] Figure 18 shows the light distribution in the bend plane after the source distribution of Figure 17 passes through the Luminit Direction Turning Film. As shown, the Luminit Direction Turning Film not only redistributed the light in bend directions that are typically greater than +20° from the tilt direction, but also produced unwanted secondary distributions 110 that were generally directed at angles greater than -60° from the tilt direction.

[0044] Figure 19 shows the light distribution in the bend plane after the source distribution of Figure 17 passes through a light-transmissive structure 30 having an array 60 of microprisms 62 of Figure 8. As shown, the light-transmissive structure 30 redistributed the light in bend directions greater than +20° from the tilt direction and did not produce a secondary distribution.

[0045] The embodiments described herein represent some possible implementations and examples and do not necessarily limit the present disclosure to any particular embodiment. Instead, various modifications may be made to these embodiments, and different combinations of the various embodiments described herein may be used as part of the present invention, even if not explicitly described, as can be understood by those skilled in the art. Any such modifications are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and protected by the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. A light-transmitting structure comprising: a light-transmitting substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposed to each other; an array of microprism elements on the first surface arranged in rows along an x-axis and columns along a y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis, a z-axis being perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis, each microprism element having a first inclined surface disposed at a first inclination angle defined in an x-z ​​plane relative to the x-axis and a second inclined surface disposed at a second inclination angle defined in the x-z plane relative to the x-axis, the first inclination angle being smaller than the second inclination angle, the second inclined surface having a convex curvature when viewed perpendicular thereto; At least two adjacent microprism elements have the same first tilt angle with respect to the x-axis and the same second tilt angle with respect to the x-axis; The optically transparent structure is configured to receive light emitted from a light source facing the first surface in a first direction and redistribute light exiting the second surface in a second direction different from the first direction.

2. The light-transmitting structure of claim 1 , wherein the microprism elements are configured such that the light emitted from the second surface has an asymmetric distribution.

3. 2. The light-transmitting structure of claim 1, wherein the first tilt angle is in the range of 10 degrees to 40 degrees.

4. 2. The light-transmitting structure of claim 1, wherein the second tilt angle is in the range of 40 degrees to 100 degrees.

5. The light-transmitting structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the microprism elements is arranged in a grid along orthogonal rows and columns on the light-transmitting substrate.

6. 6. The light-transmitting structure of claim 5, wherein the microprism elements alternate at 1 / 2 period in each row.

7. The light-transmitting structure of claim 1 , wherein the first inclined surface is flat.

8. 10. The light-transmitting structure of claim 1, further comprising a wavy pattern on said array of microprism elements, said wavy pattern having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys.

9. The light-transmitting structure of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the microprism elements are bent and nested.

10. 10. The light-transmitting structure of claim 9, wherein the nested, bent microprism elements fill a hexagonal shape.

11. 10. The light-transmitting structure of claim 9, wherein the light-transmitting structure comprises a plurality of hexagonal shapes comprising the bent, nested microprism elements.

12. 1. A lighting system comprising: A light source; a light-transmitting structure spaced from the light source, the light-transmitting structure comprising: a light-transmitting substrate having a first surface facing the light source and a second surface of the light-transmitting substrate opposite the first surface; an array of microprism elements on the first surface arranged in rows along an x-axis and columns along a y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis, a z-axis being perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis, each microprism element having a first inclined surface disposed at a first inclination angle defined in an x-z ​​plane relative to the x-axis and a second inclined surface disposed at a second inclination angle defined in the x-z plane relative to the x-axis, the first inclination angle being smaller than the second inclination angle, the second inclined surface having a convex curvature when viewed perpendicular thereto; At least two adjacent microprism elements have the same first tilt angle with respect to the x-axis and the same second tilt angle with respect to the x-axis; The light-transmissive structure is configured to receive light emitted from the light source in a first direction and redistribute light exiting the second surface in a second direction different from the first direction.

13. The lighting system of claim 12 , wherein at least some of the microprism elements are bent and nested.

14. The lighting system of claim 13 , wherein the nested bent microprism elements fill a hexagonal shape.

15. 14. The lighting system of claim 13, wherein the light-transmissive structure comprises a plurality of hexagonal shapes comprising the bent, nested microprism elements.

16. 13. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the light emitted from the second surface has an asymmetric distribution.

17. 1. A light-transmitting structure comprising: a light-transmitting substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposed to each other; an array of microprism elements on the first surface arranged in rows along an x-axis and columns along a y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis, a z-axis being perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis, each microprism element having a first inclined surface disposed at a first inclination angle defined in an x-z ​​plane relative to the x-axis and a second inclined surface disposed at a second inclination angle defined in the x-z plane relative to the x-axis, the first inclination angle being smaller than the second inclination angle, the second inclined surface having a convex curvature when viewed perpendicular thereto; At least some of the microprism elements are bent and nested; The optically transparent structure is configured to receive light emitted from a light source in a first direction and redistribute light exiting the second surface in a second direction different from the first direction.

18. 20. The light-transmitting structure of claim 17, wherein the nested, bent microprism elements fill a hexagonal shape.

19. 20. The light-transmitting structure of claim 17, wherein the light-transmitting structure comprises a plurality of hexagonal shapes comprising the bent, nested microprism elements.

20. 20. The light-transmitting structure of claim 17, wherein the light emitted from the second surface has an asymmetric distribution.

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