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US 6,550,942 B1Granted
Linear illumination sources and systems
AssigneeAlliedSignal Inc.
InventorsHan Zou, Scott M. Zimmerman, John Colvin Wilson, Karl W. Beeson, Michael James McFarland, Hefen Lin, Jerry Wayne Kuper, Lawrence Wayne Shacklette
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Improved linear illumination sources are disclosed which utilize external, highly reflective enclosures containing one or more linear openings and thereby achieve improved source efficiency, output irradiance and/or output radiance. Such improved illumination sources may be combined with additional optical elements to produce more complex illumination systems.
Claims19
A linear illumination source comprising:
- (a) a linear light source having a width w1 in a direction perpendicular to the long axis of the linear light source;
- and
- (b) an external reflective enclosure partially surrounding the linear light source, wherein the external reflective enclosure has a maximum inside width w2, and wherein the external reflective enclosure has at least one linear opening of maximum width w3 such that (0.03)(w2)<w3<(0.75)(w2), wherein the enclosure has an inside surface which comprises a reflective material;
- and
- (c) at least one optical element in close proximity to at least one linear opening;
- said optical element having a planar light input end juxtaposed to said aperture, opposing tapered walls extending away from the light input end, which tapered walls lead to planar, opposing parallel walls extending away from the tapered walls to a light output end spaced from and opposite the light input end, a width of the light output end being greater than a width of the light input end.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.