HOW Hybrid Optical Waveguide

HOW™ Hybrid Optical Waveguides: Fundamentally New Optics for Ultra-thin Lighting Systems

Patented Hybrid Optical Waveguide (“HOW”), represents a new generic compound class of systems with functionally distinct cooperatively acting optical entities. These include: 

1. Principal Radiation Carrier (PRC); 
2. An extended planar or wedge Waveguide Ejector with distributed flux extraction means termed Hybrid Optical Pipe Ejector (HOPE); 
3. Distributed Optical Pipe Ejectors (DOPE) with directional flux ejection properties; 
4. Distributed Optical Pipe Injectors (DOPI).  

The HOPE, DOPE and DOPI are also referred to herein as Secondary Radiation Carriers (SRC). Depending on geometry and coupling architecture of these entities HOWs can be configured to perform a variety of functions related to transfer, distributed injection, and distributed directional ejection of a radiant energy.  Some combinations of PRCs and SRCs are described below: 

1. PRC – Planar waveguide ejector referred to hereinafter as a Hybrid Optical Pipe Ejector (HOPE);
2. PRC – DOPEs providing distributed discontinuous (localized) quasi-lambertian or directional flux ejection over the whole length of PRC;  
3. PRC – DOPIs providing distributed flux injection over the whole length of PRC; 
4. Doubly Hybrid PRC – DOPIs/DOPEs providing distributed flux injection and ejection over the whole length of PRC; and
5. Multiple active and passive PRCs-SRCs providing distributed flux injection and ejection through PRC apertures.

Ultra-thin HOW™  Backlight PRC – HOPE configuration. Thickness of HOPE lightguide can be x10 and smaller than a size of coupled LED.

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