Multi-level surface mounted lightpipe package design with LED light sources
A multi-level optical device that includes a housing. Further, a multi-level lightpipe is placed in the housing and includes at least two paths for passing light. A lightpipe barrier can optionally be placed between the at least two paths in the multi-level lightpipe, to provide enhanced separation between the light passing through the two paths. Further, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are provided in the housing. Respective ones of the plurality of LEDs provide light input into a respective one of the paths of the multi-level lightpipe. The multi-level lightpipe can take the form of a bi-level prism, and the plurality of LEDs may be multi-color LEDs. A light-bleeding preventing device can be positioned between the at least two paths in the multi-level lightpipe. The multi-level lightpipe can also include plural multi-level lightpipes arranged in a row to create a matrix of output light signals.
1. A multi-level optical device comprising:
(a) a unitary housing;
(b) a multi-level lightpipe placed in said unitary housing and including at least two paths each for passing light, the unitary housing surrounding the multi-level light pipe at a top portion and both of side portions; and
(c) a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) placed in said unitary housing, wherein respective of said plurality of LEDs provide light input into a respective of said paths of said multi-level lightpipe.
2. The multi-level optical device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
(d) a lightpipe barrier, formed of a different material than a material of the multi-level light pipe, and formed of a material dense enough to block light, placed in said unitary housing between said at least two paths in the multi-level lightpipe.
3. The multi-level optical device according to claim 1 , wherein said multi-level lightpipe (b) comprises a bi-level prism.
4. The multi-level optical device according to claim 2 , wherein said multi-level lightpipe (b) comprises a bi-level prism.
5. The multi-level optical device according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of LEDs (d) comprise multi-color LEDs.
6. The multi-level optical device according to claim 2 , wherein said plurality of LEDs (d) comprise multi-color LEDs.
7. The multi-level optical device according to claim 1 , wherein said multi-level lightpipe (b) includes plural multi-level lightpipes arranged in a row.
8. The multi-level optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two paths of the multi-level lightpipe are formed of separate unconnected light path elements.
9. The multi-level optical device according to claim 2 , wherein the at least two paths of the multi-level lightpipe are formed of separate unconnected light path elements.
10. A multi-level optical device comprising:
(a) unitary housing means for housing elements;
(b) multi-level lightguiding means placed in said unitary housing means and including at least two paths each for passing light, the unitary housing surrounding the multi-level light pipe at a top portion and both of side portions; and
(c) a plurality of light emitting means placed in said unitary housing means, wherein respective of said plurality of light emitting means provide light input into a respective of said paths of said multi-level lightguiding means.
11. The multi-level optical device according to claim 10 , further comprising:
(d) lightpipe barrier means, formed of a different material than a material of the multi-level light pipe, and formed of a material dense enough to block light, placed in said unitary housing means between said at least two paths in the multi-level lightguiding means for reducing interference between said at least two paths.
12. The multi-level optical device according to claim 10 , wherein said multi-level lightguiding means (b) comprises a bi-level prism.
13. The multi-level optical device according to claim 11 , wherein said multi-level lightguide means (b) comprises a bi-level prism.
14. The multi-level optical device according to claim 10 , wherein said plurality of light emitting means (d) comprise multi-color LEDs.
15. The multi-level optical device according to claim 11 , wherein said plurality of light emitting means (d) comprise multi-color LEDs.
16. The multi-level optical device according to claim 10 , wherein said multi-level lightguide means (b) includes plural multi-level lightguides arranged in a row.
17. The multi-level optical device according to claim 10 , wherein the at least two paths of the multi-level lightguiding means formed of separate unconnected light path elements.
18. The multi-level optical device according to claim 11 , wherein the at least two paths of the multi-level lightguiding means are formed of separate unconnected light path elements.