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US 2019/0094508 A1Published application
Light distribution system employing planar microstructured waveguide
AssigneeS.V.V. Technology Innovations, Inc.
InventorSergiy Vasylyev
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical article employing a lenticular lens array associated with a layer of optically transmissive material and illuminated by a light source. The layer of optically transmissive material includes discrete microscopic surface relief features formed in a surface opposite to the lenses forming the lenticular lens array. The discrete microscopic surface relief features deflect light propagating through the layer of optically transmissive material and direct the light out of the layer. The optical article may be further associated with a reflective surface and/or a photoabsorptive layer configured to partially transmit and partially absorb and convert light.
Claims32
A light distribution system, comprising:
- a flexible optically transmissive sheet having a first broad-area surface and an opposing second broad-area surface;
- an artificial light source illuminating the optically transmissive sheet;
- a plurality of rounded ridges formed in the first broad-area surface and aligned parallel to an edge of the optically transmissive sheet;
- a plurality of discrete microscopic cavities formed in the second broad-area surface and distributed over an area of the second broad-area surface according to a predetermined two-dimensional pattern;
- each of the plurality of discrete microscopic cavities being disposed in optical communication with respect to at least one of the plurality of rounded ridges;
- a planar reflective surface extending parallel to the optically transmissive sheet and disposed in an energy receiving relationship with respect to the optically transmissive sheet;
- wherein a cumulative area of the plurality of discrete microscopic cavities is substantially less than the areas of each of the first and second broad-area surfaces, wherein a thickness of the optically transmissive sheet is between a fraction of a millimeter and several millimeters, and wherein a width and/or length of the optically transmissive sheet is 100 millimeters or more.
4 more elements
An optical article, comprising:
- a lenticular lens array having a rectangular shape and comprising a plurality of elongated cylindrical lenses aligned parallel to an edge of the lens array;
- an artificial light source illuminating the lenticular lens array;
- a layer of an optically transmissive material associated with the lenticular lens array and configured to guide light using optical transmission and a total internal reflection;
- a plurality of discrete surface relief features formed in a broad-area surface of the layer and distributed over an area of the broad-area surface according to a predetermined two-dimensional pattern;
- the plurality of discrete surface relief features being disposed in optical communication with respect to the plurality of elongated cylindrical lenses;
- a planar reflective surface disposed along the layer and disposed in an energy receiving relationship with respect to the broad-area surface;
- wherein a cumulative area of the plurality of discrete surface relief features is substantially less than the area of the broad-area surface.
4 more elements
A light distribution system, comprising:
- a flexible optically transmissive sheet having a first broad-area surface and an opposing second broad-area surface;
- an artificial light source illuminating the optically transmissive sheet;
- a plurality of rounded ridges formed in the first broad-area surface and aligned parallel to an edge of the optically transmissive sheet;
- a plurality of discrete microscopic protrusions formed in the second broad-area surface and distributed over an area of the second broad-area surface according to a predetermined two-dimensional pattern;
- each of the plurality of discrete microscopic protrusions being disposed in optical communication with respect to at least one of the plurality of rounded ridges;
- a planar reflective surface extending parallel to the optically transmissive sheet and disposed in an energy receiving relationship with respect to the optically transmissive sheet;
- wherein a cumulative area of the plurality of discrete microscopic protrusions is substantially less than the areas of each of the first and second broad-area surfaces, wherein a thickness of the optically transmissive sheet is between a fraction of a millimeter and several millimeters, and wherein a width and/or length of the optically transmissive sheet is 100 millimeters or more.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.