Optic and apparatus for making an optic
An optic can manage light emitted by a light emitting diode. The optic can comprise a backside that faces the light emitting diode and a front side opposite the backside. The front side can be convex. The backside can have a central region that is adjacent the light emitting diode and that is either concave or convex. One or more grooves can extend peripherally about the central region. An injection molding system can produce optics in which the backside comprises the concave central region as well as optics in which the backside comprises the convex central region. The molding system can utilize one molding member shaped according to the front side of the optic. That molding member can be compatible with two other molding members that are shaped according to the different backsides of the optic. Thus, two different optic forms can be produced with three molding members.
1. A lighting system comprising:
a light emitting diode; and
an optic comprising:
a backside positioned to receive light from the light emitting diode; and
a front side that is opposite the backside and that is convex,
wherein the backside comprises:
a convex region disposed adjacent the light emitting diode;
a first groove circumscribing the convex region; and
a second groove circumscribing the convex region and the first groove, wherein the second groove is deeper than the first groove.
2. The lighting system of claim 1 , the optic comprising a protrusion that is disposed between the first groove and the second groove and that circumscribes the first groove and the convex region.
3. The lighting system of claim 2 , wherein the protrusion comprises:
a first surface oriented towards the convex region; and
a second surface oriented away from the convex region, and
wherein the first groove provides space for peripheral light emitted by the light emitting diode to enter the optic through the first surface of the protrusion.
4. The lighting system of claim 3 , wherein the second surface of the protrusion is operative to internally reflect the peripheral light that enters the optic through the first surface of the protrusion.
5. The lighting system of claim 4 , wherein the second surface comprises a totally internally reflective surface.
6. The lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting diode comprises an array of light emitting diodes that the lighting system comprises, and
wherein the optic comprises an optical array aligned to the array of light emitting diodes.
7. A system for fabricating optics, the system comprising:
a first member;
a second member; and
a third member,
wherein the first member and the second member comprise a first injection mold for molding a first type of optic,
wherein the first member and the third member comprise a second injection mold for molding a second type of optic,
wherein the first type of optic and the second type of optic have a common front side formed by the first member,
wherein the first type of optic and the second type of optic have different backside forms that are formed by the second member and the third member for providing two different light distributions, and
wherein the second member forms the first type of optic such that it comprises:
a first backside, the first backside comprising:
a convex region;
a first groove circumscribing the convex region; and
a second groove circumscribing the convex region and the first groove, wherein the second groove is deeper than the first groove.
8. The system for fabricating optics of claim 7 , the first backside of the first type of optic comprises a protrusion that is disposed between the first groove and the second groove and that circumscribes the first groove and the convex region.
9. The system for fabricating optics of claim 8 , wherein the protrusion comprises:
a first surface oriented towards the convex region; and
a second surface oriented away from the convex region, and
wherein the first groove provides space for peripheral light emitted by a light emitting diode to enter the first type of optic through the first surface of the protrusion.
10. The lighting system of claim 9 , wherein the second surface of the protrusion is operative to internally reflect the peripheral light that enters the first type of optic through the first surface of the protrusion.
11. The lighting system of claim 10 , wherein the second surface comprises a totally internally reflective surface.
12. A lighting system comprising:
a light emitting diode; and
an optic comprising:
a backside positioned to receive light from the light emitting diode; and
a front side that is opposite the backside and that is convex,
wherein the backside comprises:
a convex region disposed adjacent the light emitting diode;
a first groove circumscribing the convex region;
a second groove circumscribing the convex region and the first groove; and
a protrusion disposed between the first groove and the second groove and that circumscribes the first groove and the convex region, wherein the protrusion comprises:
a first surface oriented towards the convex region; and
a second surface oriented away from the convex region, and wherein the first groove provides space for peripheral light emitted by the light emitting diode to enter the optic through the first surface of the protrusion, and wherein the second surface of the protrusion is operative to internally reflect the peripheral light that enters the optic through the first surface of the protrusion.
13. The lighting system of claim 12 , wherein the second surface comprises a totally internally reflective surface.
14. The lighting system of claim 12 , wherein the second groove is deeper than the first groove.
15. The lighting system of claim 12 , wherein the light emitting diode comprises an array of light emitting diodes that the lighting system comprises, and
wherein the optic comprises an optical array aligned to the array of light emitting diodes.