US5668913A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light expanding system for producing a linear or planar light beam from a point-like light source
Assignee: CLIO TECHNOLOGIES Inc
•
Filing: 1996-01-05
•
Granted: 1997-09-16
•
Expires: 2016-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A light expanding system for converting a light beam generated from a point-like light source into a collimated linear or planar light beam is disclosed herein. According to an embodiment of the invention, a system for producing a linear light beam includes a beam collector and a light pipe adjacent to which a multiplicity of specially configured microprisms are located. The light expanding system according to this embodiment is suitable for use in devices utilizing a linear light beam, such as a scanner. According to another embodiment of the invention, a system for producing a planar light beam includes, in addition to the beam collector and light pipe described above, an additional light pipe with adjacent microprisms. The light expanding system according to this embodiment of the invention can be used, for example, in displays, road signs, medical research equipment, instrument meters or jewelry; to light pictures or art work; or as part of a see-through lighting system for use in dentistry and surgery.
Inventors
- 👤 Ping-Kaung Tai
- 👤 Han Zou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:39
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0011; G02B6/0013; G02B6/0023; G02B6/0028; F; F21; F21S; F21S43/00; F21S43/10; F21S43/13; F21S43/14; F21S43/20; F21S43/235; F21S43/236; F21S43/237; F21S43/239; F21S43/242; F21S43/243; F21S43/245; F21S43/247; F21V; F21V5/00; F21V5/02; F21V7/00; F21V7/22; F21V7/28; F21V9/00; F21V9/04; G02B5/00; G02B5/04; G02B5/045; G02B6/0033; G02B6/0035; G02B6/0038; G02B6/0075; G02B6/0076; F21V9/08; F21W; F21W2131/00; F21W2131/20; F21W2131/40; F21W2131/405; G02B6/0066; G02B6/0068; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A light expanding system for producing collimated light from a divergent light beam emitted from a point-like light source, comprising: a light pipe having first, second and third surfaces, wherein: the first and second surfaces are substantially perpendicular; and the third surface is opposite the second surface; a beam collector positioned between said point-like source and the first surface of said light pipe for directing light from the point-like light source into said light pipe in a predetermined way; a prismatic diffuser for one-dimensionally increasing the divergence angle and changing the propagation direction of collimated light positioned between said light pipe and said beam collector, said prismatic diffuser comprising: a transparent film; and a plurality of microprisms, each microprism further comprising: a base surface that is positioned adjacent to surface of the film; and a light refracting surface including a plurality of sections, wherein: at least one of the sections is curved; and viewed in a plane parallel to the direction of light passing through the prismatic diffuser, the light refracting surface is asymmetric.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A light expanding system for producing collimated light from a divergent light beam emitted from a point-like light source, comprising: a light pipe having first, second and third surfaces, wherein: the first and second surfaces are substantially perpendicular; and the third surface is opposite the second surface; a beam collector positioned between said point-like source and the first surface of said light pipe for directing light from the point-like light source into said light pipe in a predetermined way; a prismatic diffuser for one-dimensionally increasing the divergence angle and changing the propagation direction of collimated light positioned between said light pipe and said beam collector, said prismatic diffuser comprising: a transparent film; and a plurality of microprisms, each microprism further comprising: a base surface that is positioned adjacent to surface of the film; and a light refracting surface including a plurality of sections, wherein: at least one of the sections is curved; and viewed in a plane parallel to the direction of light passing through the prismatic diffuser, the light refracting surface is asymmetric.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A prismatic diffuser as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the surfaces is substantially perpendicular to the base surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A light expanding system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of microprisms is positioned adjacent to the second surface of said light pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
A light expanding system as recited in claim 3 wherein each microprism comprising: a base surface that is adjacent and substantially parallel to the second surface of said light pipe; and a light reflecting surface shaped so that light that enters said light pipe and contacts the light reflecting surface is reflected away from the microprism out of said light pipe through the third surface, wherein the reflected light from the microprisms is a light beam different from that produced by a point-like light source and the light beams are collimated to a predetermined degree.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A light expanding system as recited in claim 1 wherein said beam collector comprises: a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and wherein the cross-sectional area of the beam collector, measured in planes parallel to the first and second surfaces of the beam collector, increases in a direction from the first surface of the beam collector to the second surface of the beam collector, such that the maximum angle at which the light enters said light pipe is limited.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
184 words
A method for providing a light expanding system for producing collimated light from a divergent light beam emitted from a point-like light source, comprising the steps of: providing a light pipe having first, second and third surfaces, wherein: the first and second surfaces are substantially perpendicular; and the third surface is opposite the second surface; providing a beam collector positioned between said point-like source and the first surface of said light pipe for directing light from the point-like light source into said light pipe in a predetermined way; providing a prismatic diffuser for one-dimensionally increasing the divergence angle and changing the propagation direction of collimated light positioned between said light pipe and said beam collector, said prismatic diffuser comprising: a transparent film; and a plurality of microprisms, each microprism further comprising: a base surface that is positioned adjacent to surface of the film; and a light refracting surface including a plurality of sections, wherein: at least one of the sections is curved; and viewed in a plane parallel to the direction of light passing through the prismatic diffuser, the light refracting surface is asymmetric.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
184 words
A method for providing a light expanding system for producing collimated light from a divergent light beam emitted from a point-like light source, comprising the steps of: providing a light pipe having first, second and third surfaces, wherein: the first and second surfaces are substantially perpendicular; and the third surface is opposite the second surface; providing a beam collector positioned between said point-like source and the first surface of said light pipe for directing light from the point-like light source into said light pipe in a predetermined way; providing a prismatic diffuser for one-dimensionally increasing the divergence angle and changing the propagation direction of collimated light positioned between said light pipe and said beam collector, said prismatic diffuser comprising: a transparent film; and a plurality of microprisms, each microprism further comprising: a base surface that is positioned adjacent to surface of the film; and a light refracting surface including a plurality of sections, wherein: at least one of the sections is curved; and viewed in a plane parallel to the direction of light passing through the prismatic diffuser, the light refracting surface is asymmetric.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein in providing said prismatic diffuser, said method further comprises the step of providing at least one of the surfaces so that it is substantially perpendicular to the base surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein in providing said light expanding system, said method further comprises the step of: providing a plurality of microprisms is positioned adjacent to the second surface of said light pipe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
A method as recited in claim 8 wherein in said step of providing a plurality of microprisms, said method further comprises the steps of: providing a base surface so that it is adjacent and substantially parallel to the second surface of said light pipe; and providing a light reflecting surface shaped so that light that enters said light pipe and contacts the light reflecting surface is reflected away from the microprism out of said light pipe through the third surface, wherein the reflected light from the microprisms is a light beam different from that produced by a point-like light source and the light beams are collimated to a predetermined degree.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method as recited in claim 6 further comprising the step of: providing that said beam collector comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and wherein the cross-sectional area of said beam collector, measured in planes parallel to the first and second surfaces of the beam collector, increases in a direction from the first surface of the beam collector to the second surface of the beam collector, such that the maximum angle at which the light enters said light pipe is limited.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4115994A
Cited
US4152756A
Cited
US4277817A
Cited
US4257084A
Cited
US4323951A
Cited
US4390934A
Cited
US4528617A
Cited
US4706173A
Cited
JPS6273206A
Cited
US4805984A
Cited
US4822145A
Cited
US4799137A
Cited
JPS63271301A
Cited
JPS63287803A
Cited
DE3825436A1
Cited
US4883333A
Cited
US4924356A
Cited
US5136480A
Cited
US4917465A
Cited
US5040878A
Cited
US5150966A
Cited
US5050946A
Cited
US5485319A
Cited
US5394255A
Cited
US5339179A
Cited
US5359691A
Cited
US5377084A
Cited
US5390276A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-15 | 2001-03-17 | 2001-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-15 | 2005-03-17 | 2005-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-15 | 2009-03-17 | 2009-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |