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AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorsErik Paul Boonekamp, Willem Lubertus Ijzerman, Michel Cornelis Josephus Marie Vissenberg, Teunis Willem Tukker
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to an illumination device (1) comprising an optical waveguide (2) and a number of (connections for) light sources (3)—especially LEDs—positioned along the waveguide (3). This waveguide has a central axis (4) at a distance r to the surface of the waveguide, said surface comprising a light entrance surface (6) on which the (connections for) light sources are positioned and a curved light exit surface (5), wherein, viewed along the circumference of the curved surface (5), the distance r to a first intersection (8) between the flat surface (6) and the curved surface (5), changes to a second distance of different value at the second intersection (9) between said surfaces. The invention also relates to a luminaire comprising such an illumination device (1). Due to the special design of the waveguide (2), the amount of reflections of light in the light sources is largely reduced and desired shaping of the exiting beam can be realized. The device can be further improved by the use of special features, like specially designed curved surfaces (5), reflective structures (13), channels (15) and torus-shaped waveguides.
Illumination device comprising an oblong, optical waveguide and at least one light source positioned along the waveguide, said waveguide having a central axis at distance r to the surface of the waveguide, said surface comprising a light entrance surface on which the at least one light source is positioned and a curved light exit surface having a non-circular circumference, wherein, viewed along the circumference of the curved surface, the distance r to a first intersection between the entrance surface and the curved exit surface, and a second distance at the second intersection between said surfaces have a different value, such that, during operation of the device, light escapes from the waveguide via the curved exit surface in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.