High efficiency total internal reflection optic for solid state lighting luminaires
View Patent ↗Optical elements having components made from high refractive index materials (RI≦1.6) and lamp assemblies incorporating such elements. Various optical elements, such as total internal reflection lenses, can be fabricated from materials having a higher index of refraction than materials typically used in such elements. The compact optical elements have at least one internal reflection surface that directs radiant energy (e.g., light) from a receiving end to a transmitting end. By using a high refractive index material, a lens can be fabricated that directs a greater portion of the light emitted from a source into the lens toward the transmitting end of the lens. Thus, less of the light spills out of the lens at a surface where emission is not intended, reducing the number of lossy bounces needed to direct the light in a particular direction.
1. An optical element, comprising:
a lens comprising at least one total internal reflection (TIR) surface positioned to internally reflect incident light, said lens further comprising a receiving end with a diffuser;
wherein said lens comprises a polymeric material having a refractive index of 1.6 or greater.
2. The optical element of claim 1 , said polymeric material having a refractive index of 1.7 or greater.
3. The optical element of claim 1 , said polymeric material having a refractive index of 1.8 or greater.
4. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein said lens is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis running through the center of said lens.
5. The optical element of claim 1 , said at least one TIR surface having a conical shape.
6. The optical element of claim 1 , said at least one TIR surface having an elliptical shape.
7. The optical element of claim 1 , said at least one TIR surface having a parabolic shape.
8. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein said receiving end comprises at least one zone and said lens further comprises a transmitting end comprising at least one zone.
9. The optical element of claim 8 , said at least one receiving end zone having a shape characterized as hemispheric, hyperbolic, inverse parabolic, or conic.
10. The optical element of claim 1 , said receiving end comprising at least two zones having, each of said zones having a shape characterized as hemispheric, hyperbolic, inverse parabolic, or conic.
11. The optical element of claim 8 , said at least one transmitting end zone having a flat shape.
12. The optical element of claim 8 , said at least one transmitting end zone having a dome shape.
13. The optical element of claim 8 , said at least one transmitting end zone comprising a Fresnel lens.
14. The optical element of claim 8 , said transmitting end comprising a plurality of zones.
15. The optical element of claim 8 , said transmitting end comprising a disperser.
16. The optical element of claim 8 , said transmitting end comprising a plurality of lenslets.
17. The optical element of claim 8 , said transmitting end comprising a diffractive element.
18. The optical element of claim 1 , said diffuser comprising surface elements.
19. The optical element of claim 1 , said diffuser comprising a volumetric film.
20. The optical element of claim 1 , further comprising a wavelength conversion material on a surface of or internal to said optical element.
21. An optical element, comprising:
a lens comprising a plurality of internal surfaces arranged to redirect light entering said lens at a receiving end toward a transmitting end, wherein said receiving end comprises a diffuser;
wherein said lens comprises a material having a refractive index of 1.6 or greater.
22. The optical element of claim 21 , said lens comprising a polymer.
23. The optical element of claim 21 , said lens comprising poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
24. The optical element of claim 21 , said lens comprising a polycarbonate.
25. The optical element of claim 21 , said lens comprising a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC).
26. The optical element of claim 21 , said diffuser comprising surface elements on an inner surface of said lens.
27. The optical element of claim 21 , said diffuser comprising a diffusive volumetric film on said inner surface.
28. The optical element of claim 21 , further comprising a wavelength conversion material on a surface of said lens.
29. An optical assembly, comprising:
a housing;
a light source within said housing;
a lens within said housing arranged to receive a portion of the light emitted from said light source at a receiving end, said lens internally directing light from said light source toward a transmitting end, wherein said receiving end comprises a diffuser;
wherein said lens comprises a material having a refractive index of 1.6 or greater.
30. The optical assembly of claim 29 , said lens comprising a polymer.
31. The optical assembly of claim 29 , said lens comprising poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
32. The optical element of claim 29 , said lens comprising a polycarbonate.
33. The optical element of claim 29 , said lens comprising a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC).
34. The optical assembly of claim 29 , said diffuser comprising surface elements on a surface of said lens.
35. The optical assembly of claim 29 , said diffuser comprising a diffusive volumetric film on a surface of said lens.
36. The optical assembly of claim 29 , said optical assembly further comprising a wavelength conversion material on said inner surface of or internal to said lens.
37. The optical assembly of claim 29 , said light source comprising multiple solid state emitters.
38. The optical assembly of claim 29 , said light source comprising multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs).
39. The optical assembly of claim 29 , said light source comprising at least two light sources emitting different spectra.
40. The optical assembly of claim 29 , wherein said housing comprises a thermally conductive component in thermal contact with said light source to draw heat away from said light source.
41. An optical element, comprising:
a lens comprising at least one total internal reflection (TIR) surface positioned to internally reflect incident light and a receiving end that comprises a diffuser.
42. The optical element of claim 41 , wherein said lens comprises a polymeric material having a refractive index of b 1 . 6 or greater.
43. The optical element of claim 41 , said diffuser comprising surface elements.
44. The optical element of claim 41 , said diffuser comprising a volumetric film.
45. The optical element of claim 41 , further comprising a wavelength conversion material on a surface of or internal to said optical element.
46. An optical assembly comprising:
a light source;
a lens arranged to receive a portion of the light emitted from said light source at a receiving end, said lens internally directing light from said light source toward a transmitting end; and
a diffuser comprising a portion that is between said light source and said receiving end of said lens.
47. The optical element of claim 46 , wherein said lens comprises a polymeric material having a refractive index of 1.6 or greater.
48. The optical element of claim 46 , wherein said lens comprises a polymeric material having a refractive index of 1.7 or greater.
49. The optical element of claim 46 , wherein said lens comprises a polymeric material having a refractive index of 1.8 or greater.
50. The optical element of claim 46 , said diffuser comprising surface elements.
51. The optical element of claim 46 , said diffuser comprising a volumetric film.