Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100026703 | OPTICALLY TRANSMISSIVE SUBSTRATES AND LIGHT EMITTING ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME, AND METHODS OF DISPLAYING IMAGES USING THE OPTICALLY TRANSMISSIVE SUBSTRATES AND LIGHT EMITTING ASSEMBLIES - Images are displayed in response to a video signal using a light emitting assembly having one or more optically transmissive substrates, films or sheets, each having at least one pattern of optical elements on or in the substrates, films or sheets. A plurality of light sources are configured to illuminate one or more output areas of one or more of the substrates, films or sheets. The light emitting assembly is configured to emit light through the pattern of optical elements and produce a predetermined luminance profile of the light emitting assembly. At least one of the light sources is dimmed or boosted in response to an input video signal while operating a liquid crystal display as a light valve to illuminate the liquid crystal display by the light emitting assembly. At least some adjacent substrates, films or sheets may have portions that overlap, and at least one pattern of optical elements on or in at least one side of the substrates, films or sheets may be configured so that discontinuities between the adjacent substrates, films or sheets are minimized. A predetermined light output from the light emitting assembly may be produced by varying the electrical input to at least some of the light sources. | 02-04-2010 |
20100309409 | LIGHT EMITTING ASSEMBLIES HAVING DEFINED REGIONS OF DIFFERENT BRIGHTNESS - A light emitting assembly has a LED light source illuminated optical conductor having a pattern of well defined light extracting optical elements configured to redirect light from an LED light source out from the optical conductor. The optical elements are additionally configured to define elongate higher brightness regions on the major surface of the optical conductor, and a lower brightness region outside of the higher brightness regions. | 12-09-2010 |
20110235365 | LIGHT INJECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UNIFORM LUMINOSITY OF WAVEGUIDE-BASED DISPLAYS - The attenuation of light per unit length in a waveguide as a result of active pixels (i.e., open pixels) may be corrected or mitigated by injecting apodized light into the waveguide. A light injection system and method is provided to enhance the luminous uniformity of the active pixels in a waveguide-based display. Embodiments of the present invention include a slab waveguide having a first edge and a second edge that intersect at a vertex, a first light source disposed along the first edge, and a second light source disposed along the second edge. The first light source, or the second light source, or both, comprises an apodized light source. | 09-29-2011 |
20120075555 | LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY APPARATUS AND LIGHT EMITTING ASSEMBLY WITH LIGHT TRANSMISSION CONTROL ELEMENTS FOR ILLUMINATING SAME - A liquid crystal display apparatus ( | 03-29-2012 |
20120236530 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY WITH ADJUSTABLE LIGHT OUTPUT - A lighting assembly includes a light guide to propagate light by total internal reflection and having a light output region on a major surface thereof. The lighting assembly also includes an optical adjuster having a major surface juxtaposed with and conforming to the light guide's major surface. The optical adjuster has a first region and a second region, the first region having a light modifying characteristic. The optical adjuster and light output region are variably positionable relative to one another to selectively apportion light emitted from the light output region between the first region and the second region. In this way, light apportioned to the first region is modified by the light modifying characteristic so that light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on relative positioning of the optical adjuster and the light guide. | 09-20-2012 |
20120236534 | ADJUSTABLE LIGHT SOURCE - A light source includes a light emitting device that emits light, and a spectrum adjuster that is positionable relative a light path of the light emitted by the light emitting device. The spectrum adjuster includes a region of continuously-variable spectrum adjusting material, usable for adjusting the spectrum of light passing through the spectrum adjuster. The variable spectrum adjusting material may be color-attenuating material, such as a filtering material, or may be wavelength-shifting material, such as a phosphor. The light source has adjustable spectrum of its output light depending upon the relative positioning of the light emitting device and the spectrum adjuster. | 09-20-2012 |
20120236535 | LIGHT BULB WITH ADJUSTABLE LIGHT SOURCE - A light bulb includes a base for mechanically mounting the light bulb and for receiving electrical power, a light guide, and a light source that directs output light into the light guide. The light source includes a light emitting device that emits light, and a variable spectrum adjuster that is variably positionable relative the light path of light emitted by the light emitting device. The spectrum adjuster includes a region of continuously-variable spectrum-adjusting material, usable for adjusting the spectrum of light passing through the spectrum adjuster. In some embodiments, the spectrum adjusting material is a color-attenuating material, such as a filtering material. In other embodiments, the spectrum-adjusting material is a wavelength-shifting material, such as a phosphor, or another suitable type of material that shifts the wavelength of light incident. | 09-20-2012 |
20120236590 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY WITH ADJUSTABLE LIGHT OUTPUT - A lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions of different optical characteristics and at least one of which is associated with a corresponding one of the major surfaces. The lighting assembly also includes a light source located adjacent the light input edge. The light source and the light guide variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location on the light input edge at which the light is input to the light guide such that the light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions so that a characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide. | 09-20-2012 |
20120236591 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY WITH ADJUSTABLE LIGHT OUTPUT - A lighting assembly includes a light guide and light source. The light guide includes light input regions, at least one of the light input regions associated with an optical modifying characteristic, and the light guide is configured to propagate light by total internal reflection. The light source is located adjacent the light input regions. The light source and light input regions are variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location at which light is incident on the light input regions such that light emitted from the light source is selectively apportioned between the light input regions. A characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on the optical modifying characteristic of the at least one of the light input regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light input regions. | 09-20-2012 |
20120236594 | LIGHT BULB WITH ADJUSTABLE LIGHT OUTPUT - A light bulb includes a base, a light source and a light guide having opposed major surfaces and a light input edge that receives light from the light source, the light propagating along the light guide by total internal reflection and the light guide including a light output region on one of the major surfaces. An optical adjuster has a first region having a light modifying characteristic and a second region. The optical adjuster and light output region are variably positionable relative to one another to selectively apportion light emitted from the light output region between the first region and the second region, the light apportioned to the first region being modified by the light modifying characteristic thereof so that light output from the light bulb is modified based on relative positioning of the optical adjuster and the light guide. | 09-20-2012 |
20120236595 | LIGHT BULB WITH ADJUSTABLE LIGHT OUTPUT - A light bulb includes a base; a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions of different optical characteristics at least one of which is associated with a corresponding one of the major surfaces; and a light source electrically coupled to the base and located adjacent the light input edge. The light source and the light guide are variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location on the light input edge at which light is input to the light guide such that light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions so that a characteristic of the light output from the light bulb is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide. | 09-20-2012 |
20120236596 | LIGHT BULB WITH ADJUSTABLE LIGHT OUTPUT - A light bulb includes a base, light guide, and light source. The base is configured to mechanically mount the light bulb and receive electrical power. The light guide includes light input regions, at least one of the light input regions associated with an optical modifying characteristic, the light guide configured to propagate light by total internal reflection. The light source is located adjacent the light input regions. The light source and light input regions are variably positionable relative to one another to vary location at which light is incident on the light input regions such that light emitted from the light source is selectively apportioned between the light input regions. A characteristic of the light output from the light bulb is modified based on the optical modifying characteristic of the at least one of the light input regions and the relative positioning of the light source and light input regions. | 09-20-2012 |
20120281432 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY - A lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection and a light input edge. The light assembly also includes a light engine. The light engine has a heat conductive armature having a receptacle for a portion of the light guide that includes the light input edge and a light source retained by and thermally coupled to the armature. The armature functions as a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by the light source. The light guide is mechanically retained in the receptacle, and the light guide and the armature cooperate to align the light input edge with the light source for inputting light from the light source into the light guide through the light input edge. | 11-08-2012 |
20120287668 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY - A lighting assembly includes a light guide and a light source. The light guide has opposed major surfaces and side surfaces extending between the major surfaces. The light source is at an apex region between two side surfaces and is configured to input light to the light guide. The side surfaces comprise a stepped reflective side surface extending from the apex region and comprising a first reflective step and a second reflective step, and an output side surface extending from the apex region and comprising a first output region and a second output region. The first reflective step is configured to reflect a first portion of input light through the first output region. The second step is configured to reflect a second portion of input light through the second output region. The second output region comprises segments oriented nominally normal to the reflected second portion of the light incident thereon. | 11-15-2012 |
20120287671 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY - A lighting assembly includes a light engine and a light guide. The light engine edge lights the light guide and includes a control assembly that controls light output according to one or more parameters to produce light output from the lighting assembly with a desired characteristic. Lighting assemblies are combined to form a modular lighting assembly. | 11-15-2012 |
20130016526 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY WITH CONTROLLED CONFIGURABLE LIGHT REDIRECTION - A lighting assembly has an edge-lit light guide having a light output surface through which light is extracted by light extracting optical elements. The extracted light has a maximum intensity at low light ray angles relative to the light output surface. A light redirecting member has an arrangement of light redirecting optical elements configured to redirect the extracted light incident thereon to provide a pattern of redirected light. A light focusing member has light focusing optical elements having an angular acceptance range. The redirected light has light ray angles within the angular acceptance range of the light focusing optical elements and is perceived as a pattern of light. The extracted light not redirected by the light redirecting member has light ray angles outside the angular acceptance range of the light focusing optical elements and is not perceived, or is perceived as background light. | 01-17-2013 |
20130033900 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY WITH CONFIGURABLE ILLUMINATION PROFILE - A lighting assembly includes an edge-lit light guide and a light redirecting member. Light extracting elements at the light guide extract light from the light guide as intermediate light. Light redirecting elements at the light redirecting film are configured to redirect the intermediate light received from the light guide to illuminate a target surface in accordance with a defined illumination profile. | 02-07-2013 |
20130194809 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY WITH CORNUATE LIGHT GUIDE - A lighting assembly that includes a cornuate light guide and an annular light extracting and redirecting member. The light guide has a radial light input surface, an axial light input region, radial light output region and a flared region between input region and output region. Light input at the light input surface propagates to and within the light output region by total internal reflection at major surfaces of the light guide. The light extracting and redirecting member has a light extracting element in optical contact with an annular region of one of the major surfaces of the light output region, and a reflective light redirecting element to axially redirect the extracted light with a defined light ray angle distribution. | 08-01-2013 |
20130215122 | DISPLAY APPARATUS WITH LIGHT GUIDE BASED SOLAR CONCENTRATOR - A display apparatus includes a display, a primary light concentrator, a concentrator light guide, and a solar cell. The primary light concentrator is arranged in tandem with the display, and the primary light concentrator is configured to concentrate incident light into an array of output regions. The concentrator light guide receives light from the primary light concentrator. The concentrator light guide includes light redirecting elements aligned with the output regions of the primary light concentrator to redirect light from the primary light concentrator along the concentrator light guide toward an edge thereof. The solar cell is located adjacent the edge of the concentrator light guide. | 08-22-2013 |
20130322076 | LIGHT BULB WITH PLANAR LIGHT GUIDES - A light bulb includes light guides extending in a direction having a radial component with respect to a longitudinal axis, each light guide including a light input edge, opposed major surfaces, and light extracting elements at least one of the opposed major surfaces. In one embodiment, the light guides are disposed about an axial heat sink, and for each light guide, a respective light source is mounted to the axial heat sink to edge light the light guide such that light from the light source propagates in the light guide by total internal reflection. In another embodiment, a housing is at an end of the light guides, and for each light guide, a respective light source is mounted to the housing to edge light the light guide such that light from the light source propagates in the light guide by total internal reflection. | 12-05-2013 |
20130322120 | OPTICALLY TRANSMISSIVE SUBSTRATES AND LIGHT EMITTING ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME, AND METHODS OF DISPLAYING IMAGES USING THE OPTICALLY TRANSMISSIVE SUBSTRATES AND LIGHT EMITTING ASSEMBLIES - Images are displayed in response to a video signal using a light emitting assembly having one or more optically transmissive substrates, films or sheets, each having at least one pattern of optical elements on or in the substrates, films or sheets. A plurality of light sources are configured to illuminate one or more output areas of one or more of the substrates, films or sheets. The light emitting assembly is configured to emit light through the pattern of optical elements and produce a predetermined luminance profile of the light emitting assembly. At least some adjacent substrates, films or sheets may have portions that overlap, and at least one pattern of optical elements on or in at least one side of the substrates, films or sheets may be configured so that discontinuities between the adjacent substrates, films or sheets are minimized. | 12-05-2013 |
20140092580 | LED LAMP AND LED LIGHTING ASSEMBLY - An LED lamp or LED lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces configured to propagate light by total internal reflection and a light input edge extending between the major surfaces. A light source is adjacent to the light input edge and is configured to edge light the light guide. In some embodiments, the light source is moveable relative to the light input edge, and the spectrum of the light output from the light guide may be adjusted by movement of the light source relative to the light input edge. | 04-03-2014 |
20140092590 | LED FLASHLIGHT - A flashlight includes first and second solid-state light sources, a collimating optical element, and a light guide. Light output by the first light source interacts with the collimating optical element to output a light from the flashlight along an optical axis of the collimating optical element. The light guide includes an outer major surface, a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, and a light input edge at the first end. Light from the second light source is input to the light guide at the light input edge and propagates in the light guide by total internal reflection. The light guide additionally includes light extracting elements to extract light from the light guide with a radial component relative to the longitudinal axis and the optical axis. | 04-03-2014 |
20140098566 | ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE WITH MICRO-FEATURES OF DIFFERING SURFACE ROUGHNESS - An article of manufacture includes first and second micro-features of well-defined shape. In some embodiments, the article of manufacture is a light guide or redirecting film and the second micro-features are micro-optical elements configured to disrupt a specular optical path that includes the second micro-optical element. In other embodiments, the article of manufacture is a patterning tool for use in making an optical substrate. Embodiments of the optical substrate are formed by injection molding or embossing using the patterning tool. | 04-10-2014 |
20140272329 | LASER MICROMACHINING OPTICAL ELEMENTS IN A SUBSTRATE - Optical elements with small increments in average density are formed in a substrate by laser micromachining using a variable aperture and a pattern mask set of pattern masks each having of shape-defining elements whose density differs among the pattern masks in first density increments. A laser light beam passes through a combined mask formed by the variable aperture and one pattern mask selected from the pattern mask set. The variable aperture controls beam size and the pattern mask spatially modulates its intensity. A focusing element focuses light from the combined mask on a small averaging region of the substrate. Different combinations of the size of the aperture mask and the selected pattern mask are used in combination at respective averaging regions of the substrate. The resulting average densities of the optical elements vary among the averaging regions in increments that are small compared to the first density increments. | 09-18-2014 |
20140369073 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY - A lighting assembly includes a light engine and a light guide. The light engine edge lights the light guide and includes a control assembly that controls light output according to one or more parameters to produce light output from the lighting assembly with a desired characteristic. Lighting assemblies are combined to form a modular lighting assembly. | 12-18-2014 |
20150016143 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY - A lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection and a light input edge. The light assembly also includes a light engine. The light engine has a heat conductive armature having a receptacle for a portion of the light guide that includes the light input edge and a light source retained by and thermally coupled to the armature. The armature functions as a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by the light source. The light guide is mechanically retained in the receptacle, and the light guide and the armature cooperate to align the light input edge with the light source for inputting light from the light source into the light guide through the light input edge. | 01-15-2015 |
20150092439 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY WITH ADJUSTABLE LIGHT OUTPUT - A lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions of different optical characteristics and at least one of which is associated with a corresponding one of the major surfaces. The lighting assembly also includes a light source located adjacent the light input edge. The light source and the light guide variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location on the light input edge at which the light is input to the light guide such that the light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions so that a characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide. | 04-02-2015 |
20150131310 | LIGHTING ASSEMBLY WITH CONFIGURABLE ILLUMINATION PROFILE - A lighting assembly includes an edge-lit light guide and a light redirecting member. Light extracting elements at the light guide extract light from the light guide as intermediate light. Light redirecting elements at the light redirecting film are configured to redirect the intermediate light received from the light guide to illuminate a target surface in accordance with a defined illumination profile. | 05-14-2015 |