Optical diffusers with spatial variations

• Main Authors: SOULE, III ROBERT M, PURCHASE KEN G, LEFEW WILLIAM R, WOOD ROBERT L
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.03.2015
• Subjects: ADVERTISING; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING; DISPLAY; DISPLAYING; EDUCATION; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; SEALS; SIGNS; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF

A diffuser is configured to diffuse radiation from multiple light sources. The diffuser includes a substrate having optical structures that exhibit both microvariations and macrovariations along the substrate. For example, an array of microlenses may be provided that include at least one feature that varies as a function of the spacing between the light sources. Lighting systems using these diffusers may also be provided.