Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120098421 | Light Extraction Films for Organic Light Emitting Devices (OLEDs) - Optical films for enhancing light extraction from self-emissive light sources such as bottom-emitting or top-emitting OLEDs are disclosed. The extraction films typically include a flexible carrier film, and a first and second layer carried by the carrier film. The first or second layer has a nanovoided morphology and includes a polymer binder, and may also have a refractive index less than 1.35 or 1.3. An embedded structured surface of light extraction elements is formed between the first and second layers. The light extraction elements may be primarily diffractive elements adapted to be disposed within an evanescent zone of the OLED, or they may be primarily refractive elements adapted to be disposed outside the evanescent zone. The extraction film may also include a third layer, and a second embedded structured surface may be formed between the third layer and the first layer. | 04-26-2012 |
20120170002 | LED PROJECTOR AND METHOD - A light emitting diode (LED) projector, an LED projector array, and a method of making the LED projector and LED projector array are provided. In general, an LED is disposed to inject light into an input aperture of a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC), disposed in a molded optical element. At least partially collimated light exits the output aperture of the CPC. The CPC has a portion of the surface free to expand and contract without degrading the performance of the LED projector. | 07-05-2012 |
20130011608 | OPTICAL FILMS WITH MICROSTRUCTURED LOW REFRACTIVE INDEX NANOVOIDED LAYERS AND METHODS THEREFOR - A microstructured article includes a nanovoided layer having opposing first and second major surfaces, the first major surface being microstructured to form prisms, lenses, or other features. The nanovoided layer includes a polymeric binder and a plurality of interconnected voids, and optionally a plurality of nanoparticles. A second layer, which may include a viscoelastic layer or a polymeric resin layer, is disposed on the first or second major surface. A related method includes disposing a coating solution onto a substrate. The coating solution includes a polymerizable material, a solvent, and optional nanoparticles. The method includes polymerizing the polymerizable material while the coating solution is in contact with a microreplication tool to form a microstructured layer. The method also includes removing solvent from the microstructured layer to form a nanovoided microstructured article. | 01-10-2013 |
20130062652 | LED DEVICES HAVING LENSES AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME - Disclosed herein are LED devices having lenses and methods of making the devices. The LED devices are made using an optical layer comprising a plurality of lens features. The optical layer is disposed relative to the LED die such that at least one LED die is optically coupled to at least one lens feature. A lens can then be made from the lens feature and excess optical layer removed to provide the device. | 03-14-2013 |
20140043846 | DIFFRACTIVE LIGHTING DEVICES WITH 3-DIMENSIONAL APPEARANCE - Extended area lighting devices include a light guide and diffractive surface features on a major surface of the light guide. The diffractive surface features provide low distortion for viewing objects through the light guide. Light from discrete light source(s) is injected into the light guide, and the diffractive surface features interact with the injected light to couple guided-mode light out of the light guide. The out-coupled light produces one or more bands whose apparent shape changes with viewing position. The bands may be bright bands that correspond to the discrete light sources, or dark bands associated with an optional non-uniform reflective structure extending along a side surface of the light guide. Multiple bands may form a pattern that changes with viewing position, the pattern of bands having a 3-dimensional appearance for at least some viewing positions. The lighting devices can be used as luminaires for general lighting or decorative lighting. | 02-13-2014 |
20140043847 | COLORFUL DIFFRACTIVE LUMINAIRES PROVIDING WHITE LIGHT ILLUMINATION - Extended area lighting devices include a light guide and diffractive surface features on a major surface thereof. The diffractive surface features include diffractive features of different pitches in non-overlapping regions of the major surface tailored to extract guided-mode light of different colors from the light guide in different directions. The diffractive features extract light such that an ordinary user observes substantially different colors in different regions of the light guide, providing a colorful appearance. Notwithstanding this, the diffractive features also extract light such that the lighting device illuminates a reference surface, disposed at an intermediate distance from the light guide, with illumination light that is substantially uniform in color and substantially white. Optical films having diffractive features that can be used to construct such devices and light guides are also disclosed. The concept can also be extended to embodiments in which the uniform color illumination light is not substantially white. | 02-13-2014 |
20140043850 | LIGHTING DEVICES WITH PATTERNED PRINTING OF DIFFRACTIVE EXTRACTION FEATURES - Extended area lighting devices include a light guide and diffractive surface features on a major surface of the light guide, at least some diffractive surface features adapted to couple guided-mode light out of the light guide. The diffractive features include first and second diffractive features disposed on respective first and second portions of the major surface. A patterned light transmissive layer, including a second light transmissive medium, optically contacts the second diffractive features but not the first diffractive features. A first light transmissive medium optically contacts the first but not the second diffractive features. The first and second portions may define indicia, and the first and second diffractive features provide low distortion for viewing objects through the light guide such that the indicia is not readily apparent to users when guided-mode light does not propagate within the light guide. Optical films having such diffractive features are also disclosed. | 02-13-2014 |
20140043856 | DIFFRACTIVE LUMINAIRES - Extended area lighting devices, which are useful e.g. as luminaires, include a light guide and diffractive surface features on a major surface of the light guide. The diffractive surface features are tailored to extract guided-mode light from the light guide. The light guides can be combined with other components and features such as light source(s) to inject guided-mode light into the light guide, light source(s) to project light through the light guide as non-guided-mode light, a framework of interconnected support members (attached to multiple such light guides), and/or a patterned low index subsurface layer that selectively blocks some guided mode light from reaching the diffractive surface features, to provide unique and useful lighting devices. Related optical devices, and optical films having diffractive features that can be used to construct such devices and light guides, are also disclosed. | 02-13-2014 |