Patent ID: 7942560
Filing Date: 2011-05-17
Classification: B60Q,F21S,F21V,F21Y,G02B,H04N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a single side-emitting light source having an optical axis and radiating light primarily in a nearly two-dimensional light pattern in all azimuthal directions approximately perpendicular to the optical axis; and an optic including an optical exit surface having a length and width, the length being substantially greater than the width, the optic being optically coupled to the single side-emitting light source so that substantially all of the light in the nearly two-dimensional light pattern from the light source is transmitted through the exit surface in a direction lying in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the light source, the optic being arranged and configured to distribute the light from the light source so that the exit surface provides a substantially uniform intensity, linear field of illumination, where the exit surface is a planar strip which is substantially parallel to the optical axis of the light source, except for a predetermined center portion of the exit surface, which center portion is provided with a surface contoured lens to redistribute the light intensity incident upon the center portion more uniformly across the center portion.