Light control devices implemented with diffusers having controllable diffusion characteristics

1. A light control device implemented with a diffuser exhibiting a controllable luminous intensity distribution pattern in response to incident light, comprising:

a substrate having first and second opposite major surfaces that receive incident light before and after, respectively, the incident light propagates within the substrate, the substrate including a generally centrally located region through which a first portion of the incident light is transmitted; and

a diffuser supported on the second major surface and outside of the generally centrally located region of the substrate, the diffuser being of a character that diffuses a second portion of the incident light to form diffused light exhibiting a distribution pattern of luminous intensity, the diffuser and the generally centrally located region having optical properties cooperating such that the diffused light and the light transmitted through the generally centrally located region exit the light control device in a batwing luminous intensity distribution pattern;

wherein said diffuser includes a microscopic surface relief pattern formed as one of said major surfaces and further includes multiple light scattering elements, said light scattering elements producing diffused light in said batwing luminous intensity distribution pattern.

2. The light control device of claim 1 , further comprising a central region diffuser positioned in the generally centrally located region, the central region diffuser being of a character that diffuses the first portion of the incident light to form diffused light exhibiting a lambertian distribution pattern of luminous intensity.

3. The light control device of claim 2 , in which the incident light propagates from a point light source.

4. The light control device of claim 2 , in which the incident light propagates from a linear light source.

5. The light control device of claim 1 , in which the generally centrally located region is optically transparent.

6. The light control device of claim 5 , in which the generally centrally located region is open so that the first portion of incident light transmitted through the generally centrally located region is substantially unobstructed.

7. The light control device of claim 5 , in which the incident light propagates from a point light source.

8. The light control device of claim 5 , in which the incident light propagates from a linear light source.

9. The light control device of claim 1 , in which the generally centrally located region is opaque.

10. The light control device of claim 9 , in which the incident light propagates from a point light source.

11. The light control device of claim 9 , in which the incident light propagates from a linear light source.

12. The light control device of claim 1 , in which: the substrate includes first and second optically transparent portions separated by the generally centrally located region, and the diffuser includes first and second diffuser portions; the incident light propagates from a linear light source having a longitudinal axis; and the first and second diffuser portions and the generally centrally located region cooperate to provide the batwing luminous intensity distribution pattern in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

13. The light control device of claim 12 , in which the generally centrally located region is curved.

14. The light control device of claim 13 , in which the curved generally centrally located region includes a central region diffuser.

15. The light control device of claim 1 , in which: the diffuser is of a generally rotationally symmetric luminous intensity distribution type; the incident light propagates from a point light source; and the diffuser and the generally centrally located region cooperate to provide the batwing luminous intensity distribution pattern in a rotationally symmetric form.

16. The light control device of claim 15 , in which the substrate is substantially optically transparent, and in which the generally centrally located region is curved, the light source positioned so that the first portion of the incident light propagates through the curved region.

17. The light control device of claim 16 , in which the curved generally centrally located region is in the shape of a spherical segment.

18. The light control device of claim 16 , in which the curved generally centrally located region includes a central region diffuser.

19. The light control device of claim 1 , in which the diffuser includes at least a portion that is of a kinoform diffuser type.

20. A light control device implemented with a diffuser exhibiting a controllable luminous intensity distribution pattern in response to incident light, comprising:

a substrate having first and second opposite major surfaces that receive incident light before and after, respectively, the incident light propagates within the substrate, the substrate including a generally centrally located region through which a first portion of the incident light is transmitted;

a diffuser supported on the second major surface and outside of the generally centrally located region of the substrate, the diffuser being of a character that diffuses a second portion of the incident light to form diffused light exhibiting a distribution pattern of luminous intensity, said diffuser and said generally centrally located region having optical properties cooperating such that the diffused light and the light transmitted through the generally centrally located region exit said light control device in a batwing luminous intensity distribution pattern;

wherein said diffuser includes a microscopic surface relief pattern formed as one of said major surfaces and further includes multiple light scattering elements, said light scattering elements producing diffused light in said batwing luminous intensity distribution pattern;

said substrate including first and second optically transparent portions separated by said generally centrally located region, said diffuser including first and second diffuser portions;

said incident light propagates from a linear light source having a longitudinal axis; said first and second diffuser portions and the generally centrally located region cooperate to provide the batwing luminous intensity distribution pattern in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

said first and second diffuser portion being upwardly angled relative towards said linear light source, said generally centrally located region generally curved away from said linear light source, said curved generally centrally located region including a central region diffuser.