Multi-directional optical element and an optical system utilizing the multi-directional optical element
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsSimon Magarill, Todd S. Rutherford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Multi-directional optical elements are disclosed that include a body having a first side having a first curvature, a second side having a second curvature, a third side having a third curvature, and a fourth side having a fourth curvature. The second side is disposed generally opposite the first side along a first direction and a fourth side is disposed generally opposite the third side along a second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction. Also disclosed are optical systems utilizing such multi-directional optical elements.
Claims18
An optical system comprising:
- a first illumination channel comprising a light source, a first image-forming device, and a multi-directional optical element, which comprises a body having a first side with a first curvature, a second side with a second curvature disposed generally opposite the first side along a first direction, a third side with a third curvature, and a fourth side with a fourth curvature disposed generally opposite the third side along a second direction, said multi-directional optical element disposed between the light source and the first image-forming device so that light of the first channel travels through the multi-directional optical element generally in the first direction;
- and
- a second illumination channel comprising the light source, a second image-forming device, and the multi-directional optical element disposed between the light source and the second image-forming device so that light of the second channel travels through the multi-directional optical element generally in the second direction that is different from the first direction.
An optical system comprising:
- a first illumination channel comprising a light source, a first image-forming device, and a multi-directional optical element, which comprises a body having a first side with a first curvature, a second side with a second curvature disposed generally opposite the first side along a first direction, a third side with a third curvature, and a fourth side with a fourth curvature disposed generally opposite the third side along a second direction, said multi-directional optical element disposed between the light source and the first image-forming device so that a first light of the first channel travels through the multi-directional optical element generally in the first direction;
- and
- a second illumination channel comprising the light source, a second image-forming device, and the multi-directional optical element disposed between the light source and the second image-forming device so that a second light of the second channel travels through the multi-directional optical element generally in the second direction that is different from the first direction,
- wherein the body of the optical element is configured such that the first light incident on the first side emerges from the second side and the second light incident on the third side emerges from the fourth side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.