Patent ID: 7410274
Filing Date: 2008-08-12
Classification: F21S,F21V,F21Y,G02B

Abstract:
1. A light guiding device made from a solid transparent material for use with a light source, comprising: an input portion made from the solid transparent material where light from the light source is input such that light travels though the solid transparent material; a first reflecting portion having at least three primary reflecting surfaces configured to divide light received from the input portion into at least three directions within the solid transparent material and to radially reflect the light; a second reflecting portion having at least three secondary reflecting surfaces, the secondary reflecting surfaces provided equal in number to the primary reflecting surfaces of the first reflecting portion and in correspondence to the primary reflecting surfaces of the first reflecting portion in order to reflect light received from each primary reflecting surface of the first reflecting portion in a direction substantially parallel to a principal optical axis of the light source; and an irradiation portion having at least three irradiation surfaces provided equal in number to the secondary reflecting surfaces of the second reflecting portion and in correspondence to the secondary reflecting surfaces of the second reflecting portion in order to irradiate light received from each secondary reflecting surface of the second reflecting portion, wherein the irradiation surfaces of the irradiation portion are separated from each other on a circumference substantially centered on the principal optical axis of the light source, and the secondary reflecting surfaces of the second reflecting portion and the irradiation surfaces of the irradiation portion are arranged such that at least three light paths are formed from the first reflecting portion to the irradiation surfaces of the irradiation portion and the light paths have a substantially rotationally symmetric relationship with each other substantially centered on the principal optical axis of the light source.