US6007225A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Directed lighting system utilizing a conical light deflector
Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
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Filing: 1998-03-04
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Granted: 1999-12-28
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Expires: 2018-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A conical deflector receives light from a source through an opening at the narrow end of the cone. In one embodiment, an optical fiber bundle supplies light directly into the cone. In another embodiment, the conical deflector receives light via an optical integrating cavity. A substantial portion of the inner surface of the cones has a specular reflectivity. The entire surface may be uniformly specular (e.g., highly specular). Alternatively, one or more sections of the inner walls of the cone may have a diffuse reflectivity or a different degree of specular reflectivity (e.g., quasi-specular). The deflector is dimensioned relative to a narrow, desired field of view and the light source to deflect light that would otherwise pass out of the desired field of view, so as to efficiently illuminate the desired field of view. The conical deflector provides a substantially uniform light intensity distribution over the desired field of view.
Inventors
- 👤 David P. Ramer
- 👤 Albert Green
- 👤 E. Alan Phillips
- 👤 Jack C. Rains, Jr.
- 👤 John F. Reim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 00:26
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/0006; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/262
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A lighting system, comprising: a source of light; an optical fiber bundle having a proximal end coupled to receive the light from the source so that the fiber bundle carries the light from its proximal end to a distal end; a deflector having an interior wall forming a truncated right-circular cone expanding from a small end adjacent one end of the deflector to a large end adjacent an opposite end of the deflector at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector, the small end of the cone being optically coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber bundle such that the bundle transmits the light into the interior of the cone; and a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior wall of the deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the cone within a field of view defined by the angle of the wall of the cone and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A lighting system, comprising: a source of light; an optical fiber bundle having a proximal end coupled to receive the light from the source so that the fiber bundle carries the light from its proximal end to a distal end; a deflector having an interior wall forming a truncated right-circular cone expanding from a small end adjacent one end of the deflector to a large end adjacent an opposite end of the deflector at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector, the small end of the cone being optically coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber bundle such that the bundle transmits the light into the interior of the cone; and a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior wall of the deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the cone within a field of view defined by the angle of the wall of the cone and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A lighting system as in claim 1, further comprising a mechanical connector securing the distal end of the optical fiber bundle adjacent to the small end of the conical deflector, so as to optically couple light emerging from the distal end of the fiber bundle into the interior of the conical deflector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
181 words
A lighting system, further comprising: source of light; an optical fiber bundle having a proximal end coupled to receive the light from the source so that the fiber bundle carries the light from its proximal end to a distal end; a conical deflector, interior walls of which expand from a small end of the deflector to a large end of the deflector at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector the small end of the conical deflector being optically coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber bundle such that the bundle transmits the light into the conical deflector; a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the conical deflector within a field of view defined by the angle of the walls of the conical deflector and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view; and an optical integrating cavity connected between the distal end of the fiber bundle and the small end of the conical deflector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
181 words
A lighting system, further comprising: source of light; an optical fiber bundle having a proximal end coupled to receive the light from the source so that the fiber bundle carries the light from its proximal end to a distal end; a conical deflector, interior walls of which expand from a small end of the deflector to a large end of the deflector at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector the small end of the conical deflector being optically coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber bundle such that the bundle transmits the light into the conical deflector; a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the conical deflector within a field of view defined by the angle of the walls of the conical deflector and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view; and an optical integrating cavity connected between the distal end of the fiber bundle and the small end of the conical deflector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A lighting system as in claim 3, wherein the conical deflector has a lateral cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circular, rectangular, triangular, oval, elliptical and semicircular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
191 words
A lighting system, comprising: a source of light; an optical fiber bundle having a proximal end coupled to receive the light from the source so that the fiber bundle carries the light from its proximal end to a distal end; a conical deflector, interior walls of which expand from a small end of the deflector to a large end of the deflector at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector, the small end of the conical deflector being optically coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber bundle such that the bundle transmits the light into the conical deflector; a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the conical deflector within a field of view defined by the predetermined anile of the walls of the conical deflector and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view; and another reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, said another reflective surface having a reflective characteristic different from the specular reflective surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
191 words
A lighting system, comprising: a source of light; an optical fiber bundle having a proximal end coupled to receive the light from the source so that the fiber bundle carries the light from its proximal end to a distal end; a conical deflector, interior walls of which expand from a small end of the deflector to a large end of the deflector at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector, the small end of the conical deflector being optically coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber bundle such that the bundle transmits the light into the conical deflector; a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the conical deflector within a field of view defined by the predetermined anile of the walls of the conical deflector and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view; and another reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, said another reflective surface having a reflective characteristic different from the specular reflective surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A lighting system as in claim 5, wherein said specular reflective surface is highly specular, and another reflective surface has a quasi-specular reflective characteristic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A lighting system as in claim 5, wherein said another reflective surface has a substantially diffuse reflective characteristic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A lighting system as in claim 5, wherein the interior walls expand from the small end of the conical deflector through a first section at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conical deflector, and the interior walls expand through a second section to the large end of the conical deflector at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conical deflector, the second angle forming the predetermined angle so as to define the field of view.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
145 words
A lighting system, comprising: a source of light; an optical integrating cavity receiving the light from the source; a deflector having an interior wall forming a truncated right-circular cone expanding from a small end adjacent one end of the deflector to a large end adjacent an opposite end of the deflector at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector, the small end of the cone being optically coupled to an opening of the optical integrating cavity such that the cavity transmits light into the interior of the cone; and a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior wall of the deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the cone within a field of view defined by the angle of the wall of the cone and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
145 words
A lighting system, comprising: a source of light; an optical integrating cavity receiving the light from the source; a deflector having an interior wall forming a truncated right-circular cone expanding from a small end adjacent one end of the deflector to a large end adjacent an opposite end of the deflector at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector, the small end of the cone being optically coupled to an opening of the optical integrating cavity such that the cavity transmits light into the interior of the cone; and a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior wall of the deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the cone within a field of view defined by the angle of the wall of the cone and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A lighting system as in claim 5, wherein the conical deflector has a lateral cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circular, rectangular, triangular, oval, elliptical and semi-circular.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A lighting system as in claim 9, wherein the optical integrating cavity is spherical.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A lighting system as in claim 9, wherein the optical integrating cavity is cylindrical.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
149 words
A lighting system, comprising: a source of light; an optical integrating cavity receiving the light from the source; an optical fiber coupling the source to the optical integrating cavity; a conical deflector interior walls of which expand from a small end of the deflector to a large end of the deflector at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector the small end of the conical deflector being optically coupled to an opening of the optical integrating cavity such that the cavity transmits light into the conical deflector; and a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the conical deflector within a field of view defined by the predetermined angle of the walls of the conical deflector and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
149 words
A lighting system, comprising: a source of light; an optical integrating cavity receiving the light from the source; an optical fiber coupling the source to the optical integrating cavity; a conical deflector interior walls of which expand from a small end of the deflector to a large end of the deflector at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector the small end of the conical deflector being optically coupled to an opening of the optical integrating cavity such that the cavity transmits light into the conical deflector; and a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the conical deflector within a field of view defined by the predetermined angle of the walls of the conical deflector and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A lighting system as in claim 9, wherein the source comprises a lighting element positioned within the optical integrating cavity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
167 words
A lighting system, comprising; a source of light; an optical integrating cavity receiving the light from the source; a conical deflector, interior walls of which expand from a small end of the deflector to a large end of the deflector at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector, the small end of the conical deflector being optically coupled to an opening of the optical integrating cavity such that the cavity transmits light into the conical deflector; a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the conical deflector within a field of view defined by the predetermined angle of the walls of the conical deflector and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view; and another reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, said another reflective surface having a reflective characteristic different from the specular reflective surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
167 words
A lighting system, comprising; a source of light; an optical integrating cavity receiving the light from the source; a conical deflector, interior walls of which expand from a small end of the deflector to a large end of the deflector at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector, the small end of the conical deflector being optically coupled to an opening of the optical integrating cavity such that the cavity transmits light into the conical deflector; a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the conical deflector within a field of view defined by the predetermined angle of the walls of the conical deflector and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view; and another reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, said another reflective surface having a reflective characteristic different from the specular reflective surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lighting system as in claim 15, wherein the specular reflective surface is highly specular, and said another reflective surface has a quasi-specular reflective characteristic.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A lighting system as in claim 15, wherein said another reflective surface has a substantially diffuse reflective characteristic.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
177 words
A lighting system, comprising: a source of light; an optical integrating cavity receiving the light from the source; a conical deflector, interior walls of which expand from a small end of the deflector to a large end of the deflector, the small end of the conical deflector being optically coupled to an opening of the optical integrating cavity such that the cavity transmits light into the conical deflector; wherein the interior walls expand from the small end of the conical deflector through a first section at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conical deflector, and the interior walls expand through a second section to the large end of the conical deflector at a second angle; and a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the conical deflector within a field of view defined by the second angle of the walls of the conical deflector and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
177 words
A lighting system, comprising: a source of light; an optical integrating cavity receiving the light from the source; a conical deflector, interior walls of which expand from a small end of the deflector to a large end of the deflector, the small end of the conical deflector being optically coupled to an opening of the optical integrating cavity such that the cavity transmits light into the conical deflector; wherein the interior walls expand from the small end of the conical deflector through a first section at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conical deflector, and the interior walls expand through a second section to the large end of the conical deflector at a second angle; and a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the conical deflector, such that light emerges from the large end of the conical deflector within a field of view defined by the second angle of the walls of the conical deflector and with a desired intensity distribution over the field of view.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
A lighting system as in claim 9, further comprising: another conical deflector having a small end optically coupled to an opening of the optical integrating cavity such that the cavity transmits light into said another conical deflector; and a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of said another conical deflector.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
A lighting system as in claim 1, wherein the angle of the wall of the cone with respect to the longitudinal axis has value selected from the group consisting of 15°, 24° and 40°.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
A lighting system as in claim 15, wherein the conical deflector has a circular lateral cross-section.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
A lighting system as in claim 15, wherein the conical deflector has a rectangular lateral cross-section.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A lighting system as in claim 15, wherein the conical deflector has a triangular lateral cross-section.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A lighting system as in claim 15, wherein the conical deflector has an oval lateral cross-section.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
A lighting system as in claim 15, wherein the conical deflector has an elliptical lateral cross-section.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
A lighting system as in claim 15, wherein a lateral cross-section of the conical deflector is semi-circular.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
119 words
A conical light deflector, comprising: a rigid cone having interior walls which expand from a small end of the cone to a large end of the cone at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cone; a coupler attached to the cone for mechanically securing an end of an optical fiber so as to optically couple light emerging from the end of the fiber into the interior of the rigid cone; a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the cone; and another reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the cone, said another reflective surface having a reflective characteristic different from the specular reflective surface.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
119 words
A conical light deflector, comprising: a rigid cone having interior walls which expand from a small end of the cone to a large end of the cone at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cone; a coupler attached to the cone for mechanically securing an end of an optical fiber so as to optically couple light emerging from the end of the fiber into the interior of the rigid cone; a specular reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the cone; and another reflective surface on a substantial portion of the interior walls of the cone, said another reflective surface having a reflective characteristic different from the specular reflective surface.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
A conical light deflector as in claim 27, wherein the specular reflective surface is highly specular, and said another reflective surface has a quasi-specular reflective characteristic.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conical light deflector as in claim 27, wherein said another reflective surface has a substantially diffuse reflective characteristic.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
73 words
A conical light deflector as in claim 27, wherein the interior walls expand from the small end of the cone through a first section at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cone, and the interior walls expand through a second section to the large end of the cone at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cone, the second angle forming the predetermined angle.
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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) | 2002-12-27 | 2003-06-28 | 2003-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-27 | 2007-06-28 | 2007-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-27 | 2011-06-28 | 2011-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |