# US 9,519,095 B2 · Optical waveguides > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,519,095 B2 - Document ID: US9519095B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/842,521 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2014-07-31 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-30 - Assignees: Cree, Inc. - Applicants: Cree, Inc. - Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox; John W. Durkee; Craig D. Raleigh; Joseph P. Chobot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519095B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/0046: {Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide} - F21K 9/23: Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings - F21K 9/61: using light guides - G02B 6/0021: {for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses} - G02B 6/0028: {Light guide, e.g. taper} - G02B 6/0031: {Reflecting element, sheet or layer} - G02B 6/0035: {provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it} - G02B 6/0036: {2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces} - G02B 6/0038: {Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide} - G02B 6/0041: {provided in the bulk of the light guide} - G02B 6/0043: {provided on the surface of the light guide} - G02B 6/0058: {varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide} - G02B 6/0061: {to provide homogeneous light output intensity} - G02B 6/009: {of the light source in the package (G02B6/0021 takes precedence)} - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - G02B 6/0088: {of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract An optical waveguide includes a coupling optic and a waveguide body. According to one embodiment, the body includes a first curved surface that extends between an input surface and an end surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The input surface has a first thickness disposed between the first and second surfaces and the end surface has a second thickness disposed between the first and second surfaces less than the first thickness. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical waveguide body, comprising: a first surface that extends between an input surface and an end surface; a second surface opposite the first surface wherein a body thickness is disposed between the first and second surfaces; wherein the body thickness at the input surface is greater than the body thickness at the end surface and the body thickness between the input surface and end surface decreases over a length of the body; and at least one stepped feature defined by first and second oblique angles on one of the first and second surface; wherein the first surface is curved along an entire first extent between the input surface and the end surface, and wherein the first surface is curved along an entire second extent between side surfaces wherein the first extent is orthogonal to the second extent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, wherein light is emitted through the first surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The optical waveguide body of claim 2, wherein light is internally reflected along the first and second surfaces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, wherein the first thickness is approximately 6 mm, the second thickness is approximately 2 mm, and the first surface comprises a radius of curvature of approximately 200 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, wherein the waveguide comprises a length between the input surface and the end surface and a width transverse to the length, wherein a distance between the first surface and the second surface decreases at least a portion along the width, and wherein the second surface is curved. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, further comprising at least one extraction feature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The optical waveguide body of claim 6, wherein the at least one extraction feature is located within the body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The optical waveguide body of claim 6, wherein the at least one extraction feature is located on an outer surface of the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The optical waveguide body of claim 6, wherein the at least one extraction feature is an angled slot comprising parallel sides. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The optical waveguide body of claim 6, further comprising a reflective surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The optical waveguide body of claim 10, wherein the reflective surface is disposed adjacent to the at least one extraction feature. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The optical waveguide body of claim 6, wherein the extraction feature comprises a stepped feature. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The optical waveguide body of claim 12, wherein the stepped feature is formed on the first surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, further comprising an array of extraction features on the first surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The optical waveguide body of claim 14, wherein the extraction features comprise sizes that vary across the first surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The optical waveguide body of claim 14, further comprising at least one reflective surface adjacent to at least one extraction feature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, in combination with a coupling optic. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, further in combination with a light source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, further including unequally spaced extraction features disposed on the first surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, further including unequally sized extraction features disposed on the first surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, further including unequally shaped extraction features disposed on the first surface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, further including equally spaced extraction features disposed on the first surface. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, further including equally sized extraction features disposed on the first surface. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, further including equally shaped extraction features disposed on the first surface. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide body of claim 1, wherein the body is made of a material selected from the group comprising an acrylic material, a silicone, a polycarbonate, and a glass material. ### Claim 26 An optical waveguide body, comprising: a first surface that extends between an input surface and an end surface; a second surface opposite the first surface; wherein the input surface comprises a first thickness disposed between the first and second surfaces; wherein the end surface comprises a second thickness disposed between the first and second surfaces less than the first thickness; wherein at least one of the first and second surfaces comprises first and second pluralities of spaced surfaces wherein each surface of the first plurality of spaced surfaces is disposed between and comprises ends coincident with ends of successive surfaces of the second plurality of spaced surfaces and the first and second pluralities of spaced surfaces define an overall body thickness that does not increase at any point from the input surface to the end surface; wherein the waveguide body develops a light distribution for general lighting; wherein at least one of the surfaces of the first and second pluralities of spaced surfaces is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to an adjacent other surface of the first and second pluralities of spaced surfaces; and wherein the first and the second pluralities of spaced surfaces are unequally spaced. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The optical waveguide body of claim 26, wherein at least one of the surfaces of the first and second pluralities is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to an adjacent other surface of the first and second pluralities. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The optical waveguide body of claim 26, wherein at least one of the surfaces of the first and second pluralities is disposed at an acute angle with respect to an adjacent other surface of the first and second pluralities. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The optical waveguide body of claim 26, wherein an optical feature is disposed on at least one of the surfaces of the first and second pluralities. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The optical waveguide body of claim 29, wherein the optical feature is an extraction feature. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The optical waveguide body of claim 26, wherein the overall body thickness decreases between the input surface and the end surface. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The optical waveguide body of claim 31, wherein the overall body thickness decreases with at least one of the first and second pluralities of surfaces. ### Claim 33 An optical waveguide body, comprising: a first surface extending in a length dimension between an input surface and an end surface and the first surface extending in a width dimension orthogonal to the length dimension; a second surface opposite the first surface; wherein the input surface comprises a first thickness disposed between the first and second surfaces; wherein the end surface comprises a second thickness disposed between the first and second surfaces less than the first thickness; and wherein at least one stepped feature is located on one of the first and second surfaces and a plurality of discrete optical features is disposed on the at least one stepped feature and the discrete optical features are disposed in a sequence extending along the width dimension. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The optical waveguide body of claim 33, wherein the at least one stepped feature is defined by first and second obtuse angles on one of the first and second surfaces. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The optical waveguide body of claim 33, wherein the at least one stepped feature is defined by at least one acute angle on one of the first and second surfaces. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The optical waveguide body of claim 33, wherein the at least one stepped feature is defined by at least one obtuse angle on one of the first and second surfaces. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The optical waveguide body of claim 33, wherein each of the plurality of optical features is an extraction feature. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The optical waveguide body of claim 37, wherein each of the plurality of optical features is a curved protrusion. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The optical waveguide body of claim 38, wherein the plurality of optical features is continuously formed.