Rippled mixers for uniformity and color mixing

Abstract

Various embodiments described herein comprise mixers comprising a light pipe having input and output ends and a central region therebetween. An optical path extends in a longitudinal direction from the input end through the central region to the output end. The central region of the light pipe comprises one or more rippled reflective sidewalls having a plurality of elongate ridges and valleys and sloping surfaces therebetween. Light from the input end propagating along the optical path reflects from the sloping surfaces and is redirected at a different azimuthal direction toward the output end thereby mixing the light at the output end. Illuminance and/or color mixing can therefore be provided.

1 . A mixing coupler comprising:
 an elongate member having an input and an output and a central region therebetween, said elongate member comprising at least one rippled surface in said central region comprising a plurality of peaks and valleys connected by sloping surface portions, such that light entering said input propagating longitudinally along said central region is deflected by said sloping surface portions of said rippled surface in an azimuthal direction thereby increasing mixing of said light and uniformity at said output,   wherein said input comprises a plurality of separate input ports or said output comprises a plurality of separate output ports.   
     
     
         2 . The mixing coupler of  claim 1 , wherein said input comprises a plurality of separate input ports or said output comprises a single output port. 
     
     
         3 . The mixing coupler of  claim 1 , wherein said input comprises a single input port or said output comprises a plurality of separate output ports. 
     
     
         4 . The mixing coupler of  claim 1 , wherein said input comprises a plurality of separate input ports and said output comprises a plurality of separate output ports. 
     
     
         5 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A mixer for mixing light, said mixer comprising:
 an elongate member having an input and an output and a central region therebetween, said central region comprising an elongate reflective region having a refractive index that varies azimuthally about a longitudinal axis through said elongate member so as to form alternating elongate high and low index portions with elongate gradient index portions therebetween, said elongate high and low index portions and said elongate gradient index portions extending longitudinally in said central region such that light entering said input propagating longitudinally along said central region is deflected by said elongate gradient index portions in an azimuthal direction thereby increasing mixing of said light and uniformity at said output.   
     
     
         15 . The mixer of  claim 14 , wherein said elongate member and said elongate reflective region each have a circular cross-section orthogonal to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The mixer of  claim 14 , wherein said elongate member and said elongate reflective region each have a square cross-section orthogonal to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A lighting apparatus comprising:
 a substrate; and   a plurality of mixers coupled with said substrate,   wherein one or more of said plurality of mixers comprises an input and an output and a central region therebetween, said one or more of said plurality of mixers comprising at least one rippled surface in said central region comprising a plurality of peaks and valleys connected by sloping surface portions, such that light entering said input propagating longitudinally along said central region of said one or more of said plurality of mixers is deflected by said sloping surface portions of said rippled surface in an azimuthal direction thereby increasing mixing of said light in said one or more of said plurality of mixers and uniformity at said output.   
     
     
         26 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said plurality of mixers are mounted to said substrate. 
     
     
         27 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said plurality of mixers are integrally formed with said substrate. 
     
     
         28 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said plurality of mixers are arranged in rows and columns. 
     
     
         29 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said one or more of said plurality of mixers are tapered between an input end and an output end thereof. 
     
     
         30 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A lighting apparatus comprising:
 a mixer having an input and an output and a central region therebetween, said mixer comprising at least one rippled surface in said central region comprising a plurality of peaks and valleys connected by sloping surface portions, such that light entering said input propagating longitudinally along said central region of said mixer is deflected by said sloping surface portions of said rippled surface in an azimuthal direction thereby increasing mixing of said light in said mixer and uniformity at said output; and   a projection lens disposed to receive light from said mixer output and project said light to an enlarged spot.   
     
     
         40 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising a translator configured to longitudinally translate said mixer or said projection lens to adjust the longitudinal separation therebetween and provide optical zoom. 
     
     
         41 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 40 , further comprising a collector lens disposed proximal to said output of said mixer. 
     
     
         42 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said collector lens is attached to said mixer and said mixer and collector lens are movable with respect to said projection lens or said projection lens is movable with respect to said mixer and said collector lens. 
     
     
         43 . The lighting apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising a diffuser disposed between said mixer and said projection lens and a translator configured to alter the longitudinal distance separating the diffuser and the mixer, the longitudinal distance separating the diffuser and the projection lens, or both, to provide optical zoom. 
     
     
         44 .- 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A mixer for mixing light, said mixer comprising:
 an elongate member having an input face and an output face and a central region therebetween, said elongate member comprising at least one rippled surface in said central region comprising a plurality of peaks and valleys connected by sloping surface portions, such that light entering said input face propagating longitudinally along said central region is deflected by said sloping surface portions of said rippled surface in an azimuthal direction thereby increasing mixing of said light and uniformity at said output face; and   a non-imaging optical element at said input or said output,   wherein at least one or more of said peaks comprise rounded surface portions.   
     
     
         50 . The mixer of  claim 49 , wherein said non-imaging optical element comprises a compound parabolic collector. 
     
     
         51 . A mixer for mixing light, said mixer comprising:
 an elongate member having an input face and an output face and a central region therebetween, said elongate member comprising at least one rippled surface in said central region comprising a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys connected by sloping surface portions, such that light entering said input face propagating longitudinally along said central region is deflected by said sloping surface portions of said rippled surface in an azimuthal direction thereby increasing mixing of said light and uniformity at said output face,   wherein a first portion of said plurality of peaks are formed by rounded sloping surface portions and a second portion of said plurality of peaks are formed by substantially planar sloping surface portions.   
     
     
         52 . The mixer of  claim 51 , wherein said first and second portions of said plurality of peaks are dispersed such that one or more peaks formed by rounded sloping surface portions are between two peaks formed by substantially planar sloping surface portions.