WO2007142422A1

WO2007142422A1 - Illuminating system using an optical guide

Info

Publication number: WO2007142422A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/002613
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sang Hoon Lee; Jong Jin Kim
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2006-06-07
Filing date: 2007-05-30
Publication date: 2007-12-13
Also published as: KR100794350B1; KR20070117137A

Abstract

The present invention is directed to the illuminating system using the light guide. The illuminating system comprises a light source and an optical guide optically connected with the light source. The optical guide comprises a hollow supporting member having a structured surface on one side and a substantially smooth surface opposite the structured surface on the other side and an optical lighting film inserted into the hollow supporting member, having a structured surface on one side and a substantially smooth surface opposite the structured surface on the other side.

Description

ILLUMINATING SYSTEM USING AN OPTICAL GUIDE

[i]

[2] CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICACTION

[3] This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.

10-2006-0050941 filed on June 7, 2006 , the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[4]

[5] BACKGROUND

[6] Field

[7] The present invention is directed to an illuminating system using an optical guide.

[8]

[9] Background

[10] An illuminating apparatus using an optical guide by which a light can be transmitted to far distance with relatively small transmission loss is known in the art. The optical guide is also called as a light conduit, a light pipe, or a light tube, and is used for effectively distributing a decorative or functional light over a relatively large area.

[11] As well known in the art, the optical guide can get by roll- working an optical lighting film made of transparent polymer material in a tube form, and fixing it inside a transparent acryl pipe. The optical lighting film includes a smooth inner side not structured and an outer side structured with linear prism arrays forming a plurality of triangle grooves along with a certain direction. According to the above structural feature, the optical guide transmits a light in the longitudinal direction of the optical guide by which a light inputted into the optical guide within certain angle is restricted to inside the optical guide by inner total reflection.

[12] Below, the principles of light transmission and reflection of the optical guide having the above construction will be explained in the scope necessary to understand the present invention with reference to the drawings.

[13] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of an optical lighting film to describe transmission and reflection in an optical guide of an illuminating system in the art. And, Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a part of an optical lighting film to describe transmission and reflection in an optical guide of an illuminating system in the art. But, for convenience's sake, in the figures, unstructured inner side is upper side, and structured outer side is lower side.

[14] Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a light from a light source (not shown) is incident and refracted to an unstructured inner side of the optical lighting film (point 1), total- reflected on both sides of a prism of the structured outer side (point 2 and point 3), whereby the light proceeding to outside is refracted at the inner side (point 4), and is inputted again to inside, as shown by the arrow. As this total- reflection process is repeated, the light is substantially proceeding along with the longitudinal direction of the optical guide. Thus, the transmission ability of a light generated from the light source can be enhanced by using the optical lighting film.

[15] The illuminating system in the art like the above improves the transmission ability of a light generated from a light source by using the optical lighting film, but there was a wide difference in luminance between far distance and short distance from the light source. That is, it was difficult to properly control the light transmission inside the optical guide and the light emission to outside, and so difficult to obtain uniform brightness in the longitudinal direction of the optical guide in the illuminating system in the art.

[16] The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

[17]

[ 18] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[19] Preferable embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which same reference numerals refer to same elements wherein:

[20] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of an optical lighting film to describe the transmission and reflection of a light in an optical guide used in an illuminating system in the art;

[21] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a part of an optical lighting film to describe the transmission and reflection of a light in an optical guide used in an illuminating system in the art;

[22] Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an illuminating system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[23] Figs. 4 and 5 are a cross-sectional view illustrating an optical guide according to the first embodiment of Fig. 3 taken along the line A-A;

[24] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the illuminating system according to the first embodiment of Fig. 3 taken along the line B-B;

[25] Fig. 7 is a plane view illustrating outside of a hollow supporting member of Fig. 6;

[26] Figs. 8 and 9 are a cross-sectional view illustrating an optical guide according to the second embodiment of Fig. 3 taken along the line A-A;

[27] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the illuminating system according to the second embodiment of Fig. 3 taken along the line B-B; and

[28] Fig. 11 is a plane view illustrating outside of a hollow supporting member of Fig. 10. [29]

[30] DETAILED DESCRIPT^ION OF THE INVENTION

[31] The object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating system using an optical guide capable of distributing a light in the longitudinal direction of the optical guide by uniform brightness.

[32] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description, and specific examples indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

[33] In the following drawings, same reference numbers will be used to refer to same or similar parts through all the embodiments. In addition, detailed descriptions for identical parts are not repeated.

[34] Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an illuminating system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[35] Referring to Fig. 3, the illuminating system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a light source 110, an optical guide 120 and a reflection cap 130.

[36] The light source 110 generates a light by a power supplied from an outer power device (not shown). And, the light generated from the light source 110 is provided to the optical guide 120 optically connected with the light source 110.

[37] The light generated from the light source 110 is inputted into the optical guide 120, and the optical guide 120 transmits the inputted light in its longitudinal direction, and distributes the light to outside.

[38] The reflection cap 130 is disposed on an edge of the optical guide 120 attachable- detachably. The reflection cap 130 increases the use efficiency of a light by reflecting and reusing the light transmitted to the edge of the optical guide 120, and enhances uniformity of the luminance distribution by increasing brightness at the edge of the optical guide 120.

[39] Hereinafter, the illuminating system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[40] Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views illustrating the optical guide according to the first embodiment of Fig. 3 taken along the line A-A. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the illuminating system according to the first embodiment of Fig. 3 taken along the line B-B. Also, Fig. 7 is a plane view illustrating outside of a hollow supporting member of Fig. 6.

[41] Referring to Fig. 6, the light source 110 comprises a lamp 112 generating a light, a reflecting mirror 114 disposed at a back side of the lamp 112, and a housing 116 containing the lamp 112 and the reflecting mirror 114.

[42] The lamp 112 provides a certain wavelength of light with a power supplied from outside. As the lamp 112, a variety of light sources known in the art can be used depending on conditions to set up the illuminating system 100. For example, a halogen light source, a light emitting diode, a metal halide light source, or a plasma lighting can be used as the lamp 112.

[43] The reflecting mirror 114 is disposed at a back side of the lamp 112, and reflects a light generated from the lamp 112 to be incident to the optical guide 120. The structure of the reflecting mirror 114 is changed according to the length of the optical guide 120 into which the light is inputted, but generally is an aspheric reflecting mirror.

[44] The reflecting mirror 114 can be made of a metal having good processibility or a plastic. Here, it is preferable that at least the surface of the reflecting mirror 114 has a film made of a metal having superior reflexibility like aluminum or silver.

[45] Inside the housing 116, a space for containing the lamp 112 and the reflecting mirror

114 is formed to protect them from outer circumstance. It is preferable that the housing 116 is manufactured by using a material having good strength, superior heat resistance, and superior processibility, such as a metal.

[46] At an end of the housing 116, the optical guide 120 is disposed attachable- detachably, whereby the light source 110 is optically connected with the optical guide 120.

[47] Next, referring to Figs 4 and 6, the optical guide 120 according to the first embodiment comprises a hollow supporting member 122 and an optical lighting film 124.

[48] The hollow supporting member 122 is a hollow tube. The light source 110 is disposed at one end of the hollow supporting member 122, and the reflection cap 130 is disposed at the other end of the hollow supporting member 122.

[49] Also, the inner side 122b of the hollow supporting member 122 is structured in the shape of prism that a plurality of prisms are arranged as micro pitch along with the longitudinal direction. At that time, the cross-section of each prism is in the form of scalene triangle, isosceles triangle, or regular triangle. Preferably, it is in the form of isosceles triangle with the vertical angle of 90.

[50] The outer side 122a of the hollow supporting member 122 is unstructured and smooth, and becomes a side through which the light incident to the optical guide 120a is emitted.

[51] The optical lighting film 124 is cut into a size corresponding to the length of the hollow supporting member 122, and is inserted into the hollow supporting member 122 in the form of roll. [52] Also, the outer side 124a of the optical lighting film 124 adjacent to the hollow supporting member 122 is structured in the shape of prism that a plurality of prisms are arranged as micro pitch along with the longitudinal direction. The inner side 124b of the optical lighting film 124 is unstructured and smooth, and becomes a side through which the light incident to the optical guide 120a is inputted.

[53] Also, pitch of the prism shape in the hollowing supporting member 122 is larger than that of the optical lighting film 124.

[54] Therefore, the prism arrays of the hollow supporting member 122 and the optical lighting film 124 can be disposed adjacent to each other, and so the size of the optical guide 120a can be reduced.

[55] However, as shown in Fig. 5, pitch of the prism shape in the hollowing supporting member 122 can be formed smaller than that of the optical lighting film 124. In this case, the prism arrays of the hollow supporting member 122 and the optical lighting film 124 can be disposed adjacent to each other, and so the size of the optical guide 120a can be reduced.

[56] As shown above, while passing through the optical lighting film 124, a part of the light incident to the optical lighting film 124 is transmitted along the optical lighting film 124, and a part of the light is emitted to outside, to be incident to the hollow supporting member 122.

[57] Next, a part of a light incident to the hollow supporting member 122 is transmitted along the hollow supporting member 122, and a part of the light is emitted to outside so that the light can be emitted from all the surface of the optical guide 120a.

[58] That is, the light can be uniformly diffused through the optical guide 120a because the light emitted from the optical lighting film 124 is incident to the hollow supporting member 122 and is transmitted along the hollow supporting member 122 one more time.

[59] In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 7, a plurality of light diffusion patterns 140a can be disposed on the outer side 122a of the hollow supporting member 122. At this time, the light diffusion patterns 140a can be formed in a dot pattern having a certain form and size, in order to diffuse the light incident to the outer side 122a of the hollow supporting member 122. The light diffusion patterns 140a diffuse the light incident to the outer side 122a of the hollow supporting member 122 so that the light can be emitted to outside of the optical guide 120a.

[60] Therefore, while passing through the hollow supporting member 122, a part of the light is transmitted along with the optical guide 120a, and a part of the light is emitted to outside, whereby the light can be emitted from all the surface of the optical guide 120a.

[61] It is preferable that the light diffusion patterns 140a are formed a little on an area adjacent to the light source 110 having a lot of light, and a lot on an area adjacent to the reflection cap 130 having a little light. If so, the light can be emitted from all the surface of the optical guide 120a uniformly.

[62] Preferably, the hollow supporting member 122 is made of a thermoplastic resin that has good light transmittance, mechanical strength (especially impact resistance), thermal resistance, and electrical stability. More preferably, the hollow supporting member 122 is made of polyethylen terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). For example, PMMA has high strength, it is not easily broken and deformed. Also, PMMA has high transmissivity to visible ray, and so is suitable for optical guide.

[63] Referring to Fig. 6 again, the reflection cap 130 is disposed attachable-detachably on an edge of the optical guide 120a. The reflection cap 130 increases the use efficiency of a light by reflecting and reusing the light transmitted to the edge of the optical guide 120a, and enhances uniformity of the luminance distribution by increasing brightness at the edge of the optical guide 120a.

[64] The reflection cap 130 includes a cap part 132 and a reflection mirror 134 fixed inside the cap part 132.

[65] The cap part 132 is joined with the optical guide 120a attachable-detachably so that the reflection mirror 134 is disposed on an edge of the optical guide 120a.

[66] The reflection mirror 134 is disposed inside the reflection cap 130, and reflects a light arrived at an edge of the optical guide 120a. Thus, the reflection mirror 134 may be made of a coating film consisted of a material having good light-reflection ratio, for example, a metal like aluminum or silver.

[67] The reflection mirror 134 may be in the form of plane or spherical surface reflector.

In case the reflection mirror 134 is made of a spherical surface reflector, acon- cavemirror having the curvature of less than 0.001 is preferable.

[68] Hereinafter, the illuminating system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[69] Figs. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views illustrating the optical guide according to the second embodiment of Fig. 3 taken along the line A-A. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the illuminating system according to the second embodiment of Fig. 3 taken along the line B-B. Also, Fig. 11 is a plane view illustrating outside of the hollow supporting member of Fig. 10.

[70] Referring to Figs 8 and 10, the optical guide 120b according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises a hollow supporting member 126, a first optical lighting film 128 and a second optical lighting film 129.

[71] The hollow supporting member 126 is a hollow tube. A light source 110 is disposed at one end of the member, and the reflection cap 130 is disposed at the other end. [72] The first optical lighting film 128 is cut into a size corresponding to the length of the hollow supporting member 126, and is inserted into the hollow supporting member 126 in the form of roll.

[73] Also, the inner side 128b of the first optical lighting film 128 is structured in the shape of prism that a plurality of prisms are arranged as micro pitch along with the longitudinal direction. The cross-section of each prism is in the form of scalene triangle, isosceles triangle, or regular triangle. Preferably, it is in the form of isosceles triangle with the vertical angle of 90.

[74] The outer side 128a of the first optical lighting film 128 is unstructured and smooth, and becomes a side through which the light incident to the optical guide 120b is emitted.

[75] The second optical lighting film 129 is cut into a size corresponding to the length of the hollow supporting member 126, and is inserted into the first optical lighting film 128 in the form of roll.

[76] Also, the outer side 129a of the second optical lighting film 129 adjacent to the first optical lighting film 128 is structured in the shape of prism that a plurality of prisms are arranged as micro pitch along with the longitudinal direction. At that time, the cross-section of each prism is in the form of scalene triangle, isosceles triangle, or regular triangle. Preferably, it is in the form of isosceles triangle with the vertical angle of .D

[77] The inner side 129b of the second optical lighting film 129 is unstructured and smooth, and becomes a side through which the light incident to the optical guide 120b is emitted.

[78] Also, the prism shape of pitch of the first optical lighting film 128 is larger than that of the second optical lighting film 129.

[79] Therefore, the prism arrays of the first and second optical lighting films 128 and 129 can be disposed adjacent to each other, and so the size of the optical guide 120b can be reduced.

[80] However, as shown in Fig. 9, the prism shape of pitch in the first optical lighting film

128 can be smaller than that of the second optical lighting film 129. In this case, the prism arrays of the first and second optical lighting films 128 and 129 can be disposed adjacent to each other, and so the size of the optical guide 120b can be reduced.

[81] As shown above, while passing through the second optical lighting film 129, a part of the light incident to the second optical lighting film 129 is transmitted along the second optical lighting film 129, and a part of the light is emitted to the outer side 129a of the second optical lighting film 129, to be incident to the first optical lighting film 128.

[82] Next, a part of the light incident to the first optical lighting film 128 is transmitted along the first optical lighting film 129, and a part of the light is emitted to outside so that the light can be emitted from all the surface of the optical guide 120b.

[83] That is, the light can be uniformly diffused through the optical guide 120b because the light emitted from the second optical lighting film 129 is incident to the first optical lighting film 128 and is transmitted along the first optical lighting film 128 one more time.

[84] In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 11, a plurality of light diffusion patterns 140b can be disposed on the outer side of the hollow supporting member 126. At this time, the light diffusion patterns 140b can be formed in a dot pattern having a certain form and size, to diffuse a light incident to the outer side of the hollow supporting member 126. The light diffusion patterns 140b diffuse the light incident to the outer side of the hollow supporting member 126, to emit the light to outside of the optical guide 120b.

[85] Therefore, while passing through the hollow supporting member 126, a part of the light is transmitted along the optical guide 120b, and a part of the light is emitted to the outside so that the light can be emitted from all the surface of the optical guide 120b.

[86] Preferably, the light diffusion patterns 140b are disposed a little on an area adjacent to the light source 110 having a lot of light, and are disposed a lot on an area adjacent to the reflection cap 130 having a little light, whereby the light can be emitted from all the surface of the optical guide 120b uniformly.

[87] The constitutions of the light source 110 and reflection cap 130 are the same as for the illuminating system according to the first embodiment, and so their explanations will be omitted.

[88] An embodiment may be achieved in whole or in part by the illuminating system comprising a light source and an optical guide optically connected with the light source. The optical guide comprises a hollow supporting member having a structured surface on one side and a substantially smooth surface opposite to the structured surface on the other side, and an optical lighting film inserted into the hollow supporting member, having a structured surface on one side and a substantially smooth surface opposite to the structured surface on the other side.

[89] Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment,"

"example embodiment," etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

[90] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of il- lustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. Particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings, and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

[ 1 ] 1. An illuminating system comprising : a light source; and an optical guide optically connected with the light source; wherein the optical guide comprising: a hollow supporting member having a structured surface on one side and a substantially smooth surface opposite to the structured surface on the other side; and an optical lighting film inserted into the hollow supporting member, having a structured surface on one side and a substantially smooth surface opposite to the structured surface on the other side. [2] 2. The illuminating system of claim 1, wherein the structured surface of the hollow supporting member faces the optical lighting film. [3] 3. The illuminating system of claim 1, wherein the structured surface of the hollow supporting member and the optical lighting film are a linear array of prisms having a pitch. [4] 4. The illuminating system of claim 3, wherein the pitch in the structured surface of the hollow supporting member is larger than that of the optical lighting film. [5] 5. The illuminating system of claim 3, wherein the pitch in the structured surface of the hollow supporting member is smaller than that of the optical lighting film. [6] 6. The illuminating system of claim 1, wherein the structured surface of the hollow supporting member faces the structured surface of the optical lighting film. [7] 7. The illuminating system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a lamp; and a reflector disposed at a back side of the lamp and reflecting a light generated from the lamp to the optical guide. [8] 8. The illuminating system of claim 1, further comprising a reflection cap which is disposed on an edge of the optical guide attachable-detachably, and reflects a light transmitted through the optical guide. [9] 9. The illuminating system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of light diffusion patterns disposed on the smooth surface of the hollow supporting member. [10] 10. The illuminating system of claim 9, wherein the light diffusion patterns distribute densely in proportion as they go away from the light source. [11] 11. An illuminating system comprising : a light source; and an optical guide optically connected with the light source; wherein the optical guide comprising: a first optical lighting film having a structured surface on one side and a substantially smooth surface opposite the structured surface on the other side; a second optical lighting film inserted into the first optical lighting film, having a structured surface on one side and a substantially smooth surface opposite the structured surface on the other side; and a hollow supporting member disposed outside of the first optical lighting film. [12] 12. The illuminating system of claim 11, wherein the structured surface of the first optical lighting film faces the second optical lighting film. [13] 13. The illuminating system of claim 11, wherein the structured surface of the first optical lighting film and the second optical lighting film are a linear array of prisms having a pitch. [14] 14. The illuminating system of claim 13, wherein the pitch in the structured surface of the first optical lighting film is larger than that of the second optical lighting film. [15] 15. The illuminating system of claim 13, wherein the pitch in the structured surface of the first optical lighting film is smaller than that of the second optical lighting film. [16] 16. The illuminating system of claim 11, wherein the structured surface of the first optical lighting film faces the structured surface of the second optical lighting film. [17] 17. The illuminating system of claim 11, wherein the light source comprises a lamp; and a reflector disposed at a back side of the lamp and reflecting a light generated from the lamp to the optical guide. [18] 18. The illuminating system of claim 11, further comprising a reflection cap which is disposed on an edge of the optical guide attachable-detachably, and reflects a light transmitted through the optical guide. [19] 19. The illuminating system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of light diffusion patterns disposed on the smooth surface of the hollow supporting member. [20] 20. The illuminating system of claim 19, wherein the light diffusion patterns distribute densely in proportion as they go away from the light source. [21] 21. The illuminating system of claim 11, wherein the hollow supporting member is able to be assembled and disassembled on the light source.