Light guide structure with multiple entrances
US10895701B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 2019 |
| Grant date | Jan 19, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/0041
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The light communication solution presented herein uses waveguides with multiple entrances to efficiently collect light used for light communications and propagate that collected light to a sensor. To that end each waveguide entrance, or at least all but the initial waveguide entrance, is configured to not only collect and input the light into the TIR waveguide, but also to maintain TIR of light already propagating within the TIR waveguide. In so doing, the solution presented herein increases the amount of light available for light communications. Further, because each waveguide may channel light from multiple collection points to a single sensor, the solution presented herein reduces the number of sensors needed for the light communications. The solution presented herein facilitates the implementation of light communications for a wide variety of devices (e.g., cellular telephones, tablets, smartphones, smart watches, smart glasses, etc.) and/or in a wide variety of scenarios.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.