Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

James Rowland Suckling

David James Montgomery

Koji Takahashi

Yoshiyuki Takahira

Sarah Anne Mitchell

Katsuhiko Kishimoto

Jonathan Francis Mather

Tong Zhang

Christopher James Brown

Emma Jayne Walton

Harry Garth Walton

Andrew Kay

Yukio Watanabe

Ioannis Papakonstantinou

Yasuo Fukai

Hirofumi Oda

Alexandra Baum

Yasunori Kanazawa

Taro Sugita

Jean-Luc Laurent Castagner

Jing Yu

Stefan Rohrmoser

A light source system comprising projection optics, which are capable of producing a far-field image of a light source. The light source comprises a fluorescent medium that when illuminated by light from laser emitters of a first waveband emits light of a second or more wavebands of longer wavelength. The resulting light emission produces a color perceived as white. The light source is illuminated by a plurality of laser emitters arranged to illuminate the light source in an array-like manner. Control of the output of one or more of the laser emitters results in a variation of the spatial emission distribution from the light source and hence a variation of the far-field beam spot distribution via non-mechanical means.

Headlight system incorporating adaptive beam function

A light source system comprising a projection lens, which is capable of producing a far-field image of a light source. The light source comprises a photoluminescent material that when illuminated by light from laser emitters of a first waveband emits light of a second or more wavebands of longer wavelength. The resulting light emission produces a color perceived as white. The light source is illuminated by a plurality of laser emitters arranged to illuminate the light source in an array-like manner from the front side. Control of the output of one or more of the laser emitters results in a variation of the spatial emission distribution from the light source and hence a variation of the far-field beam spot distribution via non-mechanical means. An optical system is arranged to image light emitted from the photoluminescent material into the far-field, which optical system comprises a converging lens.

A light source system comprising projection optics, which are capable of producing a far-field image of a light source. The light source comprises a fluorescent medium that when illuminated by light from laser emitters of a first waveband emits light of a second or more wavebands of longer wavelength. The resulting light emission produces a colour perceived as white. The light source is illuminated by a plurality of laser emitters arranged to illuminate the light source in an array-like manner. Control of the output of one or more of the laser emitters results in a variation of the spatial emission distribution from the light source and hence a variation of the far-field beam spot distribution. Further, fine variation of the far-field beam spot distribution may be achieved by re-direction of the laser beams by separate control methods.

A light source system operable in at least first and second modes to provide at least and first and second different far field illumination patterns, the system comprising: a photoluminescent material; and a light beam generator for generating, in the first mode, a first set of light beams for illuminating respective first regions of the photoluminescent material and for generating, in the second mode, a second set of light beams for illuminating respective second regions of the photoluminescent material, the first and second sets of light beams being independently controllable. In the first mode, the light beam generator generates the first set of light beams such that a first beam of the first set of light beams illuminates a first illumination region of the photoluminescent material having one side that is inclined with respect to another side of the illumination region.

Light source for an automotive headlight with adaptive function

A light projection unit capable of improving light use efficiency is provided. This light projection unit includes: a fluorescent member that includes an illuminated surface to which laser light is directed, converts at least part of the laser light into fluorescent light and outputs the fluorescent light from chiefly the illuminated surface; and a reflection member that includes a first reflection surface which reflects the fluorescent light output from the fluorescent member. The illuminated surface of the fluorescent member is inclined with respect to a predetermined direction in such a way that the illuminated surface faces in a direction opposite to a light projection direction.

Light projection unit and light projection apparatus

A lamp comprises a thin layer of phosphor () which is irradiated (), for example by ultraviolet radiation, by a source which typically comprises a laser diode and a condenser (). This causes the phosphor () to emit visible light with a Lambertion-type emission pattern. An optical system such as a reflector () concentrates the light from the phosphor (). The phosphor () is thermally connected to a heatsink (), of example by a plate () of sapphire glass, so as to dissipate the heat produced by the phosphor (). The phosphor () may be mounted on a plane reflector () disposed on or comprising the heatsink () and facing a curved reflector () and the radiation source. Alternatively, the optical system may have an optical axis and the phosphor () may be substantially flat and inclined with the respect to the optical axis.

Lamp comprising a phosphor, radiation source, optical system and heatsink

A headlamp of one embodiment of this invention includes a laser element for emitting a laser beam, a light emitting section for generating fluorescence upon receiving the laser beam, and a reflecting mirror for projecting the fluorescence. Distribution of the fluorescence emitted by the light emitting section corresponds to Lambertian distribution, and an incident angle of the laser beam with respect to an excitation light irradiated surface, which is a surface of the light emitting section irradiated with the laser beam, is set so that use efficiency of the fluorescence emitted by the light emitting section is increased.

Light emitting device, vehicle headlamp, and illumination device

A headlamp of an embodiment of this invention includes a laser element, a light emitting section, and a parabolic mirror. A part of the parabolic mirror is provided so as to face an upper surface of the light emitting section, which upper surface has a larger area than that of a side surface of the light emitting section. The light emitting section emits fluorescence in such a manner that distribution of the fluorescence corresponds to the Lambertian distribution.

Light emitting device, illumination device, vehicle headlamp, and vehicle

Provided is a light projection structure (), including: a reflective member () including a reflective surface (), the reflective surface () being formed as a concave surface having a focal point (f) positioned near its apex (t); and a light emitting member () disposed at the focal point (f) and its vicinity, for emitting light when excited by excitation light.

Light projection structure and lighting apparatus

A camera flash comprises a light guide arranged to extract light at least through one surface; and one or more light sources arranged, in use, to emit light into the lightguide. Each light source is an LED or a laser diode. The camera flash is connectable, in use, to drive circuitry, the drive circuitry being for driving the light source(s) to emit a pulse of light. The waveguide spreads out the light from the light source(s), so that a flash of light from the camera flash does not present a safety risk, while minimizing loss of the light from the light source(s). The camera flash can thus provide a high overall optical output, spread over an extended area (as defined by the waveguide). The lightguide may for example be disposed around a camera module of a mobile telephone camera.

Camera flash, a camera, and a method of generating a flash

A display device for detecting light includes a display surface, at least one light sensitive element arranged behind the display surface, and a liquid crystal element arranged between the display surface and the at least one light sensitive element. The liquid crystal element is operative to polarization shift light incident on the at least one light sensitive element based on an orientation of the plurality of molecules. The display device further includes at least one electrode operative to change an orientation of the plurality of molecules. The at least one electrode is patterned to define a geometry of at least one field of view of the at least one light sensitive element. A controller is electrically coupled to the at least one electrode, wherein the controller is configured to apply a voltage to the at least one electrode to effect selection of the at least one field of view.

Electrically switchable field of view for embedded light sensor

A light guide includes a light guide substrate having a top surface through which light is to be emitted, a bottom surface, an incident edge surface through which incident light is to be introduced into the light guide substrate, and another edge surface. The another edge surface includes at least one micro structure operative to reflect at least a portion of the incident light, which travels through the light guide substrate and is incident on the another edge surface, back within the light guide substrate.

Lighting system including light guide with reflective micro structures on edge surfaces

A backlight is provided for illuminating an at least partially transmissive display. The backlight includes a light source. A light guide receives the light from an edge surface and guides the light by total internal reflection. Groove structures which are located on at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide permit redistribution of light around obstacles that may be present within the light guide structure, thereby maintaining brightness uniformity of the backlight or illumination panel.

Growing community of inventors

Surrey, United Kingdom

James Rowland Suckling