CONDENSING ELEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREOF

1 . A condensing element system comprising:

a first section for each of one or more condensing elements that provides substantially total internal reflection of light entering at a base of the first section; and

a second section for each of the one or more condensing elements, each of the second sections optically coupled to one of the first sections and having an output surface with one or more peaks and one or more troughs, the first and second sections for each of the condensing elements are each configured so a half-power angle of the light output from the second section is less than the half-power angle of the light entering the first section.

2 . The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one or more peaks and the one or more troughs further comprises a plurality of the peaks and troughs in a concentric arrangement.

3 . The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the plurality of peaks in the concentric arrangement each comprise an annular triangular prism.

4 . The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one or more troughs comprises two or more sets of triangular shaped grooves which are oriented about ninety degrees or less with respect to each other in the outer surface.

5 . The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first section has at least one sidewall with a curvature to provide the substantially total internal reflection of light entering at the base of the first section.

6 . The system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the second section has at least one sidewall which is substantially linear in cross-section and provides internal reflection and refraction of the light from the first section.

7 . The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the half-power angle of the light output from the second section is less than or equal to about twenty degrees about an optical axis of each of the one or more condensing elements which extends through the first section and the second section.

8 . The system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the half-power angle of the light entering the first section is greater than or equal to about forty degrees about the optical axis.

9 . The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one light source positioned to transmit light at least one of in and into the first section of the condensing element.

10 . The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

11 . The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the at least one light source comprises multiple light sources positioned adjacent an optical axis of each of the one or more condensing elements which extends through the first section and the second section to transmit light at least one of in and into the first section of the condensing element.

12 . The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the multiple light sources comprise a red light source, a green light source, and a blue light source.

13 . The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one input film optically coupled to an opposing surface of the first sections from the second sections.

14 . The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one or more condensing elements comprise a plurality of the first sections which are each spaced apart and a plurality of the second sections comprising a film with a continuous pattern of the one or more peaks and one or more troughs.

15 . The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one or more condensing elements comprise a plurality of the first sections which are each spaced apart and a plurality of the second sections comprising a film with a spaced apart pattern of the one or more peaks and one or more troughs at least partially, optically aligned the first sections.

16 . The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the second sections are each substantially optically aligned with the first sections.

17 . The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one or more condensing elements comprise a plurality of the condensing elements having a plurality of the first sections and a corresponding plurality of the second sections, the plurality of condensing elements are arranged in an array with at least two or more of the condensing elements touching.

18 . The system as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of the first sections has a base which is substantially plano and wherein an overlap between each of the first sections in the array does not substantially extend into the plano base for any of the first sections.

19 . The system as set forth in claim 18 further comprising at least one conductive strip with a plurality of light sources positioned to emit light at least one of in and into the first sections in the array.

20 . The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first section and the second section of the condensing element are integrally formed together.

21 . A method for making a condensing element system comprising:

forming a first section for each of one or more condensing elements that provides substantially total internal reflection of light entering at a base of the first section; and

forming a second section for each of one or more condensing elements optically coupled to one of the first sections and having an output surface with one or more peaks and one or more troughs, the first and second sections are configured so a half-power angle of the light output from the second section is less than the half-power angle of the light entering the first section.

22 . The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the forming a second section further comprises forming a plurality of the one or more peaks and one or more troughs in a concentric arrangement.

23 . The method as set forth in claim 22 wherein the plurality of peaks in the concentric arrangement each comprises an annular triangular prism.

24 . The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the forming a second section further comprises forming two or more sets of triangular shaped grooves which are oriented about ninety degrees or less with respect to each other in the outer surface to form a plurality of the one or more peaks and troughs.

25 . The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the forming the first section further comprises forming at least one sidewall with a curvature to provide the substantially total internal reflection of light entering at the base of the first section.

26 . The method as set forth in claim 25 wherein the forming the second section further comprises forming at least one sidewall which is substantially linear in cross-section and provides internal reflection and refraction of the light from the first section.

27 . The method as set forth in claim 26 wherein the half-power angle of the light output from the second section is less than or equal to about twenty degrees about an optical axis of each of the one or more condensing elements which extends through the first section and the second section.

28 . The method as set forth in claim 27 wherein the half-power angle of the light entering the first section is greater than or equal to about forty degrees about the optical axis.

29 . The method as set forth in claim 21 further comprising positioning at least one light source to transmit light at least one of in and into the first section of the condensing element.

30 . The method as set forth in claim 29 wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

31 . The method as set forth in claim 29 wherein the positioning at least one light source further comprises positioning multiple light sources adjacent an optical axis of each of the one or more condensing elements which extends through the first section and the second section to transmit light at least one of in and into the first section of the condensing element.

32 . The method as set forth in claim 31 wherein the multiple light sources comprise a red light source, a green light source, and a blue light source.

33 . The method as set forth in claim 21 further comprising optically coupling at least one input film to an opposing surface of the first sections from the second sections.

34 . The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the one or more condensing elements comprise a plurality of the first sections which are each spaced apart and a plurality of the second sections comprising a film with a continuous pattern of the one or more peaks and one or more troughs.

35 . The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the one or more condensing elements comprise a plurality of the first sections which are each spaced apart and a plurality of the second sections comprising a film with a spaced apart pattern of the one or more peaks and one or more troughs at least partially, optically aligned the first sections.

36 . The method as set forth in claim 35 wherein the second sections are each substantially optically aligned with the first sections.

37 . The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the one or more condensing elements further comprises a plurality of the condensing elements having a plurality of the first sections and a corresponding plurality of the second sections, the plurality of condensing elements are arranged in an array with at least two or more of the condensing elements touching.

38 . The method as set forth in claim 37 wherein each of the first sections has a base which is substantially plano and wherein an overlap between each of the first sections in the array does not substantially extend into the plano base for any of the first sections.

39 . The method as set forth in claim 38 further comprising positioning at least one conductive strip with a plurality of light sources to emit light at least one of in and into the first sections in the array.

40 . The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the forming the first section and the forming the second section further comprises forming the first section and second section of the one or more condensing elements integrally together.