Patent · US Expired

Bireflective lens element

US6097549A · kind A · utility

167Cited by
8References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 12, 1998
Grant dateAug 1, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 12, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/0048
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A bireflective lens element comprising a light input surface and a direct transmitting area communicating with the light input surface. A light source is disposed adjacent to the light input surface for projecting light into the lens element to create a light emitting assembly. A first portion of input light is directed through the lens elements in a first predetermined pattern. A primary and a secondary reflecting area is between the light input surface and an illumination surface surrounding the direct light transmitting area. A second portion of input light is redirected through the lens element to the illumination surface in a second predetermined pattern. Specifically, the secondary reflective area has a plurality of extracting facets extending inwardly into the secondary reflective area for intercepting light from the primary reflective area. The first predetermined pattern combines with the second predetermined pattern to output light from the illumination surface in a substantially uniform pattern covering the broad area of the lens element.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.