Patent US5055978A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5055978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Uniform light source
Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc
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Filing: 1989-12-29
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Granted: 1991-10-08
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Expires: 2009-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A light source in which a lamp aperture is arranged to illuminate a large panel provided with a reflective surface by having light rays from the aperture pass through a trough wherein such rays are changed so they are all substantially at angles greater than the critical angle necessary for total internal reflection. Light reflected from the panel is emitted through a window with the aid of light scatterers.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald L. Rogoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:18
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0011; G02B6/0013; G02B6/0023; G02B6/0031; G02B6/0033; G02B6/0035; G02B6/0045; G02B6/0046; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/18; G09F2013/1804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A light source comprising: a lamp having an aperture for emission of light; a transition member for receiving light that is emitted through the aperture of said lamp and for transmitting the light through an output thereof; and a panel light emitter for receiving light from the output of said transition member, said panel light emitter including a light-emitting surface, scattering means for redirecting light through said light-emitting surface, and total internal reflection means for containing light within said panel light emitter except when said light is incident on said scattering means and is redirected by said scattering means through said light-emitting surface, said panel light emitter comprising a substantially transparent panel, the output of said transition member being optically coupled to an edge of said transparent panel, the aperture in said lamp having a width that is less than the thickness of said transparent panel, said transition member being tapered from the width of said aperture to the thickness of said panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A light source comprising: a lamp having an aperture for emission of light; a transition member for receiving light that is emitted through the aperture of said lamp and for transmitting the light through an output thereof; and a panel light emitter for receiving light from the output of said transition member, said panel light emitter including a light-emitting surface, scattering means for redirecting light through said light-emitting surface, and total internal reflection means for containing light within said panel light emitter except when said light is incident on said scattering means and is redirected by said scattering means through said light-emitting surface, said panel light emitter comprising a substantially transparent panel, the output of said transition member being optically coupled to an edge of said transparent panel, the aperture in said lamp having a width that is less than the thickness of said transparent panel, said transition member being tapered from the width of said aperture to the thickness of said panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said scattering means comprises scatterers dispersed in the volume of said transparent panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said scattering means comprises scatterers on a surface of said transparent panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said lamp comprises a tubular fluorescent lamp.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said transition member comprises a transparent material having reflective tapered surfaces, the dimensions of said transition member being selected such that the light transmitted through said transition member into said transparent panel undergoes total internal reflection on the flat surfaces of the transparent panel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light source as defined in claim 5 wherein said transition member is integral with said panel light emitter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
A light source comprising: a lamp having an aperture for emission of light; and a panel light emitter for receiving light emitted through the aperture of said lamp, said panel light emitter including a light-emitting surface, scattering means for redirecting light through said light-emitting surface, and total internal reflection means for containing light within said panel light emitter except when said light is incident on said scattering means and is redirected by said scattering means through said light-emitting surface, said panel light emitter comprising a substantially transparent panel and including a transition portion for receiving light that is emitted through the aperture of said lamp, the aperture in said lamp having a width that is less than the thickness of said transparent panel, said transition portion being tapered from the width of said aperture to the thickness of said transparent panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
141 words
A light source comprising: a lamp having an aperture for emission of light; and a panel light emitter for receiving light emitted through the aperture of said lamp, said panel light emitter including a light-emitting surface, scattering means for redirecting light through said light-emitting surface, and total internal reflection means for containing light within said panel light emitter except when said light is incident on said scattering means and is redirected by said scattering means through said light-emitting surface, said panel light emitter comprising a substantially transparent panel and including a transition portion for receiving light that is emitted through the aperture of said lamp, the aperture in said lamp having a width that is less than the thickness of said transparent panel, said transition portion being tapered from the width of said aperture to the thickness of said transparent panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A light source as defined in claim 7 wherein said scattering means comprises scatterers dispersed in the volume of said transparent panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light source as defined in claim 7 wherein said scattering means comprises scatterers on a surface of said transparent panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A light source as defined in claim 7 wherein said lamp comprises a tubular fluorescent lamp.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A light source as defined in claim 7 wherein said transition portion comprises a transparent material having reflective tapered surfaces, the dimensions of said transition portion being selected such that the light transmitted through said transition portion undergoes total internal reflection on the flat surfaces of the transparent panel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
107 words
A light source comprising: a tubular lamp having an elongated aperture for emission of light; a transition member for receiving light that is emitted through the aperture of said lamp and for transmitting the light through an output of the transition member; and a flat panel light emitter including an edge for receiving light from the output of the transition member, a light-emitting surface, scattering means for redirecting light through said light-emitting surface, and total internal reflection means for containing light within said panel light emitter except when said light is incident on said scattering means and is redirected by said scattering means through said light-emitting surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
A light source comprising: a tubular lamp having an elongated aperture for emission of light; a transition member for receiving light that is emitted through the aperture of said lamp and for transmitting the light through an output of the transition member; and a flat panel light emitter including an edge for receiving light from the output of the transition member, a light-emitting surface, scattering means for redirecting light through said light-emitting surface, and total internal reflection means for containing light within said panel light emitter except when said light is incident on said scattering means and is redirected by said scattering means through said light-emitting surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A light source as defined in claim 12 wherein said scattering means comprises scatterers dispersed in the volume of said transparent panel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light source as defined in claim 12 wherein said scattering means comprises scatterers on a surface of said transparent panel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light source as defined in claim 12 wherein said panel light emitter comprises a substantially transparent panel having flat surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A light source as defined in claim 15 wherein the width of the aperture in said lamp is less than the thickness of said transparent panel and wherein said transition member is tapered from the width of said aperture to the thickness of said panel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
A light source as defined in claim 16 wherein said transition member comprises a transparent material having reflective tapered surfaces, the dimensions of said transition member being selected such that the light transmitted through said transition member into said transparent panel undergoes total internal reflection on the flat surfaces of the transparent panel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-07 | 1995-04-08 | 1995-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-07 | 1999-04-08 | 1999-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-07 | 2003-04-08 | 2003-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |