Compact uniform beam spreader for a high brightness centralized lighting system

A beam spreading device for use with a centralized lighting system having a high brightness light source and reflector arrangement for focussing light output to an optical focal point of the reflector, said beam spreading device comprising:

• a disk-shaped solid converter having side surfaces which are coated so as to achieve total internal reflectance properties;
• an input surface formed on one edge of said solid converter, said input surface being receptive of such light output from said light source and reflector arrangement;
• an output surface formed on an edge of said solid converter opposite to said one edge on which said input surface is formed, said output surface being effective for outputting a beam pattern which is substantially different in two orthogonal axes and which is spread in the horizontal direction;
• wherein at least one of said input surface, said output surface and said solid converter are configured in a manner so as to mix light thereby achieving such essentially continuous light output;
• and
• wherein at least one of said input surface and output surface which is not configured in a curved manner, is substantially a collimating lens.

A centralized lighting system for providing a beam pattern light output which is essentially continuous over an output range of greater than plus and minus 30 degrees from a center point and which beam pattern light output can be altered so as to simulate emergency vehicle lighting, said centralized lighting system comprising:

• a high brightness light source and reflector assembly effective so as to generate a focussed light output;
• a beam spreader device receptive of said focussed light output, said beam spreader device having an input surface, side wall portions coated so as to achieve total internal reflectance properties, and an output surface through which said beam pattern light output is transmitted;
• means for altering said beam pattern light output so as to simulate emergency vehicle lighting;
• and,
• wherein at least one of said input surface, output surface and side wall portions of said beam spreader device is configured so as to mix light within said beam spreader device so as to achieve such essentially continuous beam pattern light output.