Luminaires using waveguide bodies and optical elements
According to one aspect, a waveguide comprises a waveguide body having a coupling cavity defined by a coupling feature disposed within the waveguide body. A plug member comprises a first portion disposed in the coupling cavity and an outer surface substantially conforming to the coupling feature and a second portion extending from the first portion into the coupling cavity. The second portion includes a reflective surface adapted to direct light in the coupling cavity into the waveguide body.
1. A waveguide, comprising:
a waveguide body having a coupling cavity defined by a coupling feature disposed within the waveguide body; and
a plug member having a first portion disposed in the coupling cavity and an outer surface substantially conforming to the coupling feature and a second portion extending from the first portion into the coupling cavity wherein the second portion includes a reflective surface adapted to direct light in the coupling cavity into the waveguide body, wherein the surface of the coupling cavity that receives the light from the reflective portion comprises a first and second circumferential arrays of bumps.
2. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface has a star shape.
3. The waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the star shape of the outer surface has sharp points.
4. The waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the star shape of the outer surface has rounded points.
5. The waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the shape of the outer surface has eight points.
6. The waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the shape of the outer surface has equally spaced points.
7. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the coupling cavity is cylindrical and the second portion is conical in shape.
8. The waveguide of claim 1 , in combination with at least first and second LEDs comprising different spectral characteristics.
9. A waveguide, comprising:
a waveguide body comprising a coupling cavity defined by an interior surface, the waveguide body including a plurality of hemispherical light extraction features; and
a plug member made of an optically transmissive material and having a first portion at least partially disposed in the coupling cavity and an outer surface substantially conforming to the interior surface and a second portion extending from the first portion into the coupling cavity wherein the second portion is configured to direct a first portion of the light into the waveguide body and to transmit a second portion of the light through the plug member.
10. The waveguide of claim 9 , wherein the waveguide body includes a plurality of light extraction features.
11. The waveguide of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of light extraction features are hemispherical.
12. The waveguide of claim 10 , in combination with an LED disposed in the coupling cavity wherein the plurality of light extraction features develop a symmetric light distribution.
13. The waveguide of claim 10 , in combination with an LED disposed in the coupling cavity wherein the plurality of light extraction features develop an asymmetric light distribution.
14. The waveguide of claim 9 , wherein the second portion comprises a partially optically transmissive reflective surface.
15. The waveguide of claim 9 , wherein the second portion is coated with a reflecting material.
16. The waveguide of claim 9 , wherein the interior surface has a star shape.
17. The waveguide of claim 9 , wherein the waveguide body comprises a first side and a second side wherein the coupling cavity extends substantially normal to the first side and the second side.
18. The waveguide of claim 17 , wherein the plug member is located proximate the second side and a light source is located proximate to the first side such that a portion of the interior surface is not covered by the plug member.
19. The waveguide of claim 18 , wherein the interior surface has a star shape.
20. A waveguide, comprising:
a waveguide body having a coupling cavity defined by a coupling feature disposed within the waveguide body; and
a plug having a first portion disposed in the coupling cavity and an outer surface substantially conforming to the coupling feature and a second portion extending from the first portion into the coupling cavity wherein the second portion includes a reflective surface adapted to direct light in the coupling cavity into the waveguide body, wherein the waveguide body includes a plurality of hemispherical light extraction features.