SYSTEMS INCLUDING AN LED AND A LIGHT GUIDE
Systems that include an LED and a light guide designed to receive light emitted by the LED.
1 . A system comprising:
a light-emitting diode; and
a light guide configured to receive light emitted by the light-emitting diode, wherein the light propagates inside the light guide,
the light guide comprising at least one hole that extends from a top surface of the light guide to a bottom surface of the light guide,
the hole being defined by an inner surface, wherein the inner surface is coated with a reflective material.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the light guide comprises a plurality of holes that extend from a top surface of the light guide to a bottom surface of the light guide, wherein the holes are respectively defined by an inner surface, wherein the inner surfaces are coated with a reflective material.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner surfaces are coated with a diffuse reflective material.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the diffuse reflective material comprises silicone material.
5 . The system of claim 1 . wherein the light that propagates inside the light guide interacts with the hole and is scattered into multiple directions and continues to propagate inside the light guide.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting diode emits light into a side of the light guide.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting diode emits light into a bottom of the light guide.
8 . The system of any of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes that emit light that is received by the light guide.
9 . The system of any of claim 1 , wherein the holes have a circular cross-section.
10 . The system of any of claim 1 , wherein the holes have a cylindrical shape.
11 . The system of any of claim 1 , wherein the light guide comprises silicone.
12 . The system of any of claim 1 , wherein the light guide is a light pipe.
13 . A system comprising:
a light-emitting diode configured to emit light; and
a light guide configured to receive the light emitted by the light-emitting diode through an entrance aperture, wherein the light propagates inside the light guide and is emitted through an exit aperture,
wherein the light guide has a length that extends from the entrance aperture to the exit aperture and a width that is perpendicular to the length and defines a cross-section of the light guide,
wherein exterior surfaces of the light guide except for the entrance aperture and the exit aperture are coated with a reflective material that reflects greater than 92% of the transmitted light.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the light guide is a light pipe.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the reflective material reflects greater than 95% of the transmitted light.
16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the reflective material is opaque.
17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the light propagates from the entrance aperture to the exit aperture with substantially no leakage.
18 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the light guide comprises a silicone material.
19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the light guide comprises a continuous geometric shape.
20 . A system comprising:
a light-emitting diode configured to emit light; and
a light guide configured to receive the light emitted by the light-emitting diode, wherein the light propagates inside the light guide,
wherein the light guide is a molded structure comprising silicone material and includes a light coupling pattern on an exterior surface of the light guide.
21 - 37 . (canceled)