IP Library Granted Patent US 7,465,081
Granted Patent B2
US 7,465,081 · App. 11/371,654 · Granted Dec 16, 2008

Lighting system

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,465,081
App. No.
11/371,654
Granted
Dec 16, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A compact or thin lighting system is provided. Light fluxes emitted from an arc tube 22 are made to enter from a light reception face c 1 of an optical member 24 from a reflector 24 and to emit from a light emission face c 3 orthogonal to the light reception face c 1 . Light fluxes entering the light emission face c 3 at a small angle are reflected and turned to a main reflection face c 2 , and then emitted from the light emission face c 3 . By using total internal reflection of the light emission face, the size and thickness can be decreased.

Claims (95)

1. A lighting system comprising:

a light source:

a reflector for reflecting some of light fluxes emitted from the light source;

an optical member, wherein the optical member includes:

a light reception face for receiving light fluxes from the light source and the reflector;

a main light reflection face for reflecting light fluxes toward an object side;

a light emission face which directs light fluxes directly incoming from the light reception face towards a main reflection face though total internal reflection, and transmits light directly incoming from the main light reflection face such that the light is emitted towards the object side;

wherein the reflector has a concave portion opposed to the light reception face with respect to the light source, a first linear portion extending from one end of the concave portion to an object side end of the light reception face, and a second linear portion extending from the other end of the concave portion to an end of the light reception face opposite from the object side end, and the first linear portion reflects light fluxes from the light source or the second linear portion towards the main light reflection face or the light emission face; and

wherein the main reflection face has a face in which an angle formed with the light reception face is greater than or equal to 40° and less than or equal to 70°.

2. The lighting system according to claim 1 , wherein

the main reflection face has two light reflection faces and each of the two light reflection faces forms an angle with the light reception face, the angle is greater than or equal to 40° and less than or equal to 70°.

3. A lighting system comprising:

a light source;

a reflector for reflecting some of light fluxes emitted from the light source;

an optical member, wherein the optical member includes:

a light reception face for receiving light fluxes from the light source and the reflector;

a main light reflection face for reflecting light fluxes toward an object side;

a light emission face which directs light fluxes directly incoming from the light reception face towards a main reflection face through total internal reflection, and transmits light directly incoming from the main light reflection face such that the light is emitted towards the object side;

wherein the reflector has a concave portion opposed to the light reception face with respect to the light source, a first linear portion extending from one end of the concave portion to an object side end of the light reception face, and a second linear portion extending from the other end of the concave portion to an end of the light reception face opposite from the object side end, and the first linear portion reflects light fluxes from the light source or the second liner portion towards the main light reflection face or the light emission face;

wherein the concave portion of the reflector has a semicircular arc shape, and

in a cross-sectional plane which is orthogonal to both the light reception face and the light emission face, the angle formed between the light reception face and the first liner portion is greater than or equal to 30° and less than or equal to 75°.

4. A lighting system comprising:

a light source;

a reflector for reflecting some of light fluxes emitted from the light source;

an optical member, wherein the optical member includes:

a light reception face for receiving light fluxes from the light source and the reflector;

a main light reflection face for reflecting light fluxes toward an object side;

a light emission face which directs light fluxes directly incoming from the light reception face towards a main reflection face through total internal reflection, and transmits light directly incoming from the main light reflection face such that the light is emitted towards the object side;

wherein the reflector has a concave portion opposed to the light reception face with respect to the light source, a first liner portion extending from one end of the concave portion to an object side end of the light reception face, and a second linear portion extending from the other end of the concave portion to an end of the light reception face opposite from the object side end, and the first linear portion reflects light fluxes from the light source or the second liner portion towards the main light reflection face or the light emission face; and

wherein a light flux directly reaching the first linear portion from the light source is reflected to directly reach the main reflection face.

5. The lighting system according to claim 4 , wherein

a light flux reflected from the second linear portion and reaching the first linear portion is reflected and directly reaches the main reflection face.

6. The lighting system according to claim 5 , wherein

the main reflection face has a first reflection portion close to a light reception face and a second reflection portion far from the light reception face,

the first reflection portion is set to a position avoiding a light flux reflected from a second linear reflection portion of the reflector and directly heading for the light emission face, and

the second reflection portion is set to a position reached by all of the light fluxes which directly travel from a light source to the light emission face and are totally reflected from the light emission face.

7. The lighting system according to claim 6 , wherein

an angle formed between the light reception face and the first linear portion of the reflector is 65°, the angle formed between the light reception face and the second linear portion of the reflector is 90°, the angle formed between the light reception face and the first reflection portion of the main reflection face is 54.89°, and the angle formed between the light reception face and the second reflection portion of the main reflection face is 53.67°.

8. A lighting system comprising:

a light source;

a reflector for reflecting some of light fluxes emitted from the light source;

an optical member, wherein the optical member includes:

a light reception face for receiving the fluxes from the light source and the reflector;

a main light reflection face for reflecting light fluxes toward an object side;

a light emission face which directs light fluxes directly incoming from the light reception face towards a main reflection face through total internal reflection, and transmits light directly incoming from the main light reflection face such that the light is emitted towards the object side;

wherein the reflector has a concave portion opposed to the light reception face with respect to the light source, a first linear portion extending from one end of the concave portion to an object side end of the light reception face, and a second linear portion extending from the other end of the concave portion to an end of the light reception face opposite from the object side end, and the first linear portion reflects light fluxes from the light source or the second linear portion towards the main light reflection face or the light emission face; and

wherein a light flux reflected from the second linear portion and reaching the first linear portion is reflected and directly reaches the main reflection face.

9. A lighting system comprising:

a light source;

a reflector for reflecting some of light fluxes emitted from the light source;

an optical member, wherein the optical member includes:

a light reception face for receiving light fluxes from the light source and the reflector;

a main light reflection face for reflecting light fluxes toward an object side;

a light emission face which directs light fluxes directly incoming from the light reception face towards a main reflection face through total internal reflection, and transmits light directly incoming from the main light reflection face such that the light is emitted towards the object side;

wherein the reflector has a concave portion opposed to the light reception face with respect to the light source, a first linear portion extending from one end of the concave portion to an object side end of the light reception face, and a second linear portion extending from the other end of the concave portion to an end of the light reception face opposite from the object side end, and the first linear portion reflects light fluxes from the light source or the second linear portion towards the main light reflection face or the light emission face; and

wherein a light flux emitted from the light source or reflected from the second linear portion and reaching the first linear portion is reflected directly towards the light emission face.

10. The lighting system according to claim 9 , wherein

the main reflection face has a first reflection portion close to the light reception face and a second reflection portion far from the light reception face, and

an angle formed between the light reception face and the first linear portion of a reflector is 30°, an angle formed between the light reception face and the second linear portion of the reflector is 90° and an angle formed between the light reception face and the first reflection portion of a main reflection face is 53.96°, and the angle formed between the light reception face and the second reflection portion of the main reflection face is 58.5°.

11. A lighting system comprising:

a light source;

a reflector for reflecting some of light fluxes emitted from the light source;

an optical member, wherein the optical member includes:

a light reception face for receiving light fluxes from the light source and the reflector;

a main light reflection face for reflecting light fluxes toward an object side;

a light emission face which directs light fluxes directly incoming from the light reception face towards a main reflection face through total internal reflection, and transmits light directly incoming from the main light reflection face such that the light is emitted towards the object side;

wherein the reflector has a concave portion opposed to the light reception face with respect to the light source, a first linear portion extending from one end of the concave portion to an object side end of the light reception face, and a second linear portion extending from the other end of the concave portion to an end of the light reception face opposite from the object side end, and the first linear portion reflects light fluxes from the light source or the second linear portion towards the main light reflection face or the light emission face;

wherein

the main reflection face has a first reflection portion close to the light reception face and a second reflection portion far from the light reception face, and

the second reflection portion is set to a position reached by all of the light fluxes which directly travel from the light source to the light emission face and are totally reflected from the light emission face.

12. The lighting system according to claim 11 , wherein

an angle formed between a light reception face and the first liner portion of the reflector is 69°, an angle formed between the light reception face and the second linear portion of the reflector is 90°, the angle formed between the light reception face and the first reflection portion of the main reflection face is 87.85°, and the angle formed between the light reception face and the second reflection portion of the main reflection face is 56.69°.

13. A lighting system comprising:

a light source;

a reflector for reflecting some of light fluxes emitted from the light source;

an optical member, wherein the optical member includes:

a light reception face for receiving light fluxes from the light source and the reflector;

a main light reflection face for reflecting light fluxes toward an object side;

a light emission face which directs light fluxes directly incoming from the light reception face towards a main reflection face through total internal reflection, and transmits light directly incoming from the main light reflection face such that the light is emitted towards the object side;

wherein the reflector has a concave portion opposed to the light reception face with respect to the light source, a first linear portion extending from one end of the concave portion to an object side end of the light reception face, and a second linear portion extending from the other end of the concave portion to an end of the light reception face opposite from the object side end, and the first linear portion reflects light fluxes from the light source or the second linear portion towards the main light reflection face or the light emission face; and

wherein:

the light reception face is orthogonal to the light emission face,

the reflector has a semicircular arc portion formed at the opposite side to the light reception face about the light source, the first liner portion formed between an end of the semicircular arc portion and the light emission face, and the second linear portion formed between the other end of the semicircular arc and the main reflection face; and

the main reflection face has a first reflection portion close to the light reception face and a second reflection portion far from the light reception face,

a light reflux directing reaching the first linear portion from the light source and reflected here directly reaches the first reflection portion of the main reflection face, and

a light flux directly reaching the light emission face from the light source and reflected here directly through total internal reflection reaches the second reflection portion of the main reflection face.

14. A lighting system comprising:

a light source;

a reflector for reflecting some of light fluxes emitted from the light source; and

an optical member, wherein the optical member includes:

a light reception face for receiving light fluxes from the light source and the reflector;

a main light reflection face for reflecting light fluxes toward an object side; and

a light emission face which directs light fluxes directly incoming from the light reception face towards a main reflection face through total internal reflection, and transmits light directly incoming from the main light reflection face such that the light is emitted towards the object side;

wherein the reflector has a concave portion opposed to the light reception face with respect to the light source, a first linear portion extending from one end of the concave portion to an object side end of the light reception face, and a second linear portion extending from the other end of the concave portion to an end of the light reception face opposite from the object side end, and the first linear portion reflects light fluxes from the light source or the second linear portion towards the main light reflection face or the light emission face; and

wherein the light source is a cylindrical flash discharge tube.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2023
From: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES FUND 83 LLC
To: MONUMENT PEAK VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 064599/0304 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2017
From: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES FUND 83 LLC
To: MONUMENT PEAK VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 041941/0079 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
To: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES FUND 83 LLC
Reel/Frame 030213/0245 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Feb 1, 2013
From: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.; WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; EASTMAN KODAK INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL COMPANY, INC.; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER-PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC INC.; FPC INC.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 029913/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2012
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; PAKON, INC.
To: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 028201/0420 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2006
From: KUSHIDA, TARO
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 017851/0948 →