US 2004/0062028 A1Published application

Luminaire device

Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company

InventorsRoland Winston, Robert L. Holman, Benjamin A. Jacobson, Robert M. Emmons, Philip Gleckman

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Abstract

An optical device for collecting light and selectively outputting or concentrating the light. A layer has an optical index of referaction n1, and top, bottom and side surfaces defining an angel of inclination φ. A back surface spans the top, bottom and side surface. A first layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the layer and has an index of refraction n2. The first layer index n2 causes light input through the back surface of the layer to be preferentially output into the first layer. A second layer is coupled to the bottom of the first layer and selectively causes output of light into ambient. Additional layers, such as alight polarization layer, a polarization converting layer and a post LCD diffuser layer can be used to make preferential use of polarized light of diffuse light having passed through the LCD layer to enhance viewing of the output light

Claims20

Dependent claims

An optical device for operating on light from a source and for selectively outputting light to a viewer, comprising:

a base layer having at least a first and second surface, said base layer further including a back surface spanning said first and second surfaces, and the light exiting said base layer when the light being reflected therein decreases its angle relative to a normal to at least one of said first and second surfaces at the point of light incidence and achieves an angle of incidence less than a critical angle θc relative to the normal at the point of light incidence on said surfaces;
first layer means disposed beyond at least one of said first and second surfaces relative to said base layer and for enabling light to enter and pass across said first layer means after output from said base layer when the light in said base layer achieves the angle of incidence less than the critical angle θc characteristic of an interface between said base layer and said first layer;
second layer means for preferably outputting light of a first polarization state compared to a second polarization state, said second layer means disposed beyond at least one of said first and second surfaces relative to said base layer and said second layer means further enabling reflection of at least part of the light having the second polarization state;
light control layer means for at least one of redirecting and diffusing light output from said first layer means, thereby providing light of controlled angular distribution;
and
imaging layer means for forming an image from the light of the first polarization state for display to the viewer.

3 more elements

An optical device for operating on light from a source and for selectively outputting light to a viewer, comprising:

a base layer having at least a first and a second surface, said base layer further including a back surface spanning said first and second surfaces and the light exiting said base layer when the light achieves an angle of incidence less than a critical angle θc relative to a normal at the point of incidence on said second surface;
first layer means at least one of disposed beyond said first surface relative to said base layer and beyond said second layer surface relative to said base layer and having an optical index allowing transmission of light received from said base layer, the light being output from said base layer upon achieving the θc characteristic of the interface between said base and said first layer means;
second layer means for preferably transmitting light of a first polarization state relative to a second polarization state and reflects at least a portion of the light of second polarization state, said second layer means disposed at least one of (a) further from said first surface than said first layer means;
(b) nearer said first surface than said second surface and said first layer means relative to said base layer;
(c) nearer said second surface than said first surface but further from said base layer than said first layer means;
and (d) nearer said second surface than said first layer means;
light redirecting means at least one of overlying and underlying said first layer means for operating on the light reflected by said second layer means and redirecting it back toward said second layer means;
third layer means for converting at least part of the light of the second polarization state to light of the first polarization state;
and
a display layer positioned to receive the light of first polarization state output from said third layer means.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/641,304Filed 14 Aug 2003
Priority: 23 Mar 1992
Published: 1 Apr 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification28 codes

G02B 6/0046
By shaping at least a portion of the light guide: tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
F21V 5/02
Refractors for light sources: of prismatic shape
G02B 6/0016
Provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it: grooves, prisms, gratings, scattering particles or rough surfaces
G02B 6/0038
Provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it: linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves,…

Family

Application07/855,838Continuation in part · filed 23 Mar 1992
Application08/029,883Continuation in part · filed 11 Mar 1993
Application08/226,016Continuation · filed 11 Apr 1994
Application08/226,016Continuation in part · filed 11 Apr 1994
Application08/486,784Continuation · filed 7 Jun 1995
Application08/783,212Continuation · filed 13 Jan 1997
Application08/999,149Continuation · filed 29 Dec 1997
Application09/533,043Continuation · filed 22 Mar 2000
Application09/995,497Continuation · filed 27 Nov 2001
Application10/641,304Continuation · filed 14 Aug 2003
US 2002/0061178 A1Published application
US 5,237,641 ARelated patent
US 5,303,322 ARelated patent
US 5,594,830 ARelated patent
US 6,002,829 ARelated patent
US 6,044,196 ARelated patent
US 6,335,999 B1Related patent
US 6,671,452 B2Related patent
US 6,993,242 B2Related patent
US 2004/0062028 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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