Patent
1987-05-18
1989-03-21
Henry, Jon W.
350320, 350 9610, G02B 504, G02B 600
Patent
active
048137650
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a device for changing the directions of light rays and, more particularly, to a device for receiving light rays from all directions and converting them into light rays within a predetermined range of direction.
BACKGROUND ART
In the case of utilization of light, such as sunlight, whose angle of incidence gradually changes, in order to attain an effective utilization, a light source tracking device which is so controlled as to point to the direction of incident light is needed.
When a light input or reception means is always maintained to point to the direction of incidence of light by the light source tracking device, the incident light can be received in a most effective manner. However, as the angle of incidence of, for example, sunlight gradually changes according to the season of the year and from the sunrise to the sunset, an effective light source tracking device must necessarily be complicated in construction and expensive and cannot be used practically.
The present invention has been made to overcome the above and other problems encountered in the prior art and has for its object to provide a device for changing the directions of light rays, which is maintained stationary in the case of receiving light rays whose angles of incidence varies from time to time or light rays from any directions without the use of a light source tracking device and which can convert them into light rays within a predetermined direction range so as to facilitate the utilization of the received light rays.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A device for changing the directions of light rays in accordance with the present invention has a three-dimensional body which is made of an optically transparent material and has a light incidence surface and a light emerging surface. The main body has reflecting surfaces for causing repetitive reflections of the light rays which have entered the body through the light incidence surface. The reflecting surfaces of the main body are so arranged and shaped that the direction of a light ray which is repeatedly internally reflected within the body is caused to have an angle incident on the reflecting surfaces, which gradually approaches a critical angle with respect to the reflecting surface. A portion of the main body or a portion adjacent to said first-mentioned portion at which the light rays are reflected at the critical angle or at an angle smaller than the critical angle constitutes the light emerging surface from which the light rays whose directions are changed are derived.
The light rays which has entered through the incidence surface of the main body into the same are repeatedly internally reflected and, because of the profiles of the reflecting surfaces, the angle of each reflected light ray relative to a perpendicular is gradually increased and becomes equal to the critical angle or an angle slightly smaller than the critical angle. When reaching such condition, the light rays are not reflected internally by the reflecting surface any longer, but refracted at the reflecting surfaces, thus being emitted out of the main body. Since the light rays are incident to the reflecting surfaces at angles close to the critical angle, they are refracted at the reflecting surfaces, being emitted from the main body substantially at a predetermined angle relative to the reflecting surfaces or the outer surface of the main body or being emitted within a predetermined angular range. As a result, the light rays emitted or emerging from the main body are almost in the same direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main body according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof;
FIG. 3 is a view explanatory of the mode of operation of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an assembly for changing the directions of light rays in which a plurality of main bodies as shown in FIG. 2 are arranged in a parallel array;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged vi
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patent: 3729626 (1973-04-01), Thurlow et al.
patent: 3963327 (1976-06-01), Poiver
patent: 4627690 (1986-12-01), Fantone
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