Asymmetric TIR lenses producing off-axis beams
AssigneeLIGHT PRESCRIPTIONS INNOVATORS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
InventorsJuan C. Minano, Waqidi Falicoff, Pablo Benitez, William A. Parkyn, Julio Pinto Chaves, Yupin Sun
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an improvement of a total internal reflection lens whereby a tilted symmetry axis leads to a net deflection of the output beam away from the surface normal of the exit surface. Linear TIR lenses have a net deflection transverse to their focal strip. Circular TIR lens profiles going beyond 90° are tilted to bring the rim level with the source, the deflected rays exiting the lens to form an off-axis beam.
Claims24
A tilted-beam illumination lens system, comprising:
- a smooth upper surface;
- and
- a lower surface comprising a plurality of deflective facets deployed asymmetrically about an axis tilted from the surface normal of said upper surface, said lower-surface facets receiving light from a common focal zone and forming a beam therefrom, said beam propagating upward within the body of said lens along said tilted axis, said beam exiting said upper surface with a net deflection angle relative to said surface normal of said smooth upper surface, said deflective facets comprising both refractive and totally internally reflecting facets.
A tilted-beam illumination lens, comprising:
- a smooth upper surface;
- and
- a lower surface having a first half and a second half, wherein said first half is a converging TIR lens and said second half is a diverging TIR lens, said converging TIR lens and said diverging TIR lens having a plurality of deflective facets, each of said facets having the same output angle such that said first and second halves form a beam substantially off-axis relative to the surface normal of said smooth upper surface.
A tilted-beam Illumination lens, comprising:
- a smooth upper surface;
- and
- a lower surface comprising a plurality of deflective facets having a bilaterally symmetric TIR lens profile wherein said TIR lens profile is titled relative to the surface normal of said smooth upper surface;
- and
- a rim angle greater than 90° such that said lens forms a beam substantially off-axis relative to the surface normal of said smooth upper surface.
A method of redirecting radiant energy, comprising the steps of:
- situating a lens on a body, wherein said lens has a smooth upper surface and a lower surface having a plurality of deflective facets, wherein said facets are both refractive and totally internally reflecting;
- and
- deploying said plurality of deflective facets asymmetrically about an axis tilted from the surface normal of said upper surface;
- and
- receiving light from a common focal zone;
- and
- forming a beam of light from said lower surface;
- and
- transmitting said beam of light with a net deflection angle relative to said surface normal of said smooth upper surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.