Lenticular illumination system
US5949933A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 3, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 7, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 3, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/0055
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical illumination system comprising a waveguide that accepts light and transmits the light via total internal reflection. Attached on one face of the waveguide is an array of lenticular microprisms, with each microprism having an light input surface optically coupled to the waveguide and a light output surface. The light input surface is defined by a number of tapered grooves which prevent light from escaping from the waveguide and further redirect light within the microprism. Light that escapes from the waveguide, reflects off the tilted sidewalls of the tapered grooves and emerges from the microprism as a spatially directed light source. An array of lenticular microlenses may be positioned to accept the output of the microprisms so that the light exiting from the microlenses is a substantially collimated light source.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.