Low profile multi-lens tir

Abstract

In one aspect, an optical lens assembly (herein referred to also as an optic) is provided that comprises a plurality of lenses (or lens segments) adapted to receive light from a light source, each of said lenses (or lens segments) having an input surface and an output surface and a lateral surface extending between the input and output surfaces. The lenses are arranged relative to one another and positioned relative to the light source such that each of the lenses receives at its input surface a different portion of light emitted by the source, e.g., each lens receives at its input surface light emitted by the source into an angular subtense (solid angle) different than an angular subtense associated with another lens. Each lens (or lens segment) guides at least a portion of the received light to its output surface via reflection, e.g., via total internal reflection (TIR).

1 . An optical lens assembly, comprising
 a plurality of lenses adapted to receive light from a light source, each of said lenses having an input surface and an output surface and a lateral surface extending between said input surface and output surface,   said lenses being arranged relative to one another such that each of the lenses receives at its input surface light emitted by the source into an angular subtense different than a respective angular subtense associated with another lens,   wherein each of said lenses guides at least a portion of the received light to its output surface via total internal reflection at the lateral surface thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said lenses is configured to collimate at least a portion of the light it receives from the light source. 
     
     
         3 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral surfaces of at least two adjacent lenses of said lens assembly are separated from one another by an airgap. 
     
     
         4 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said lenses are configured to collectively receive at least about 80% of the light emitted by said light source. 
     
     
         5 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said lenses are configured to collectively receive at least about 90% of the light emitted by said light source. 
     
     
         6 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said lens assembly exhibits an aspect ratio less than about 1. 
     
     
         7 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the input surface of at least one of said lenses is configured such that the light from the light source incident thereon is substantially orthogonal thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least of said lenses exhibits a flat output surface. 
     
     
         9 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lenses comprises an inner lens, a middle lens, and an outer lens. 
     
     
         10 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of lenses are removably and replaceably coupled to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said lenses is selectively removable and replaceable independent of the other lenses. 
     
     
         12 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a lens cap configured to receive light from one or more of the output surfaces of the plurality of lenses. 
     
     
         13 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said lens cap comprises a textured surface. 
     
     
         14 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said lens cap comprises a plurality of microlenses. 
     
     
         15 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said lenses are fixedly coupled to one another with each lens disposed in a cavity of an adjacent outer lens. 
     
     
         16 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a retaining ring for fixating the lenses in a defined relationship relative to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said lenses comprises an annular shoulder seated in an annular recess of an outer adjacent lens such that a lateral surface of said at least one lens is separated by a gap from a respective lateral surface of said outer adjacent lens. 
     
     
         18 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of said lenses comprises a lateral surface configured to redirect light incident thereon via specular reflection. 
     
     
         19 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said lateral surface providing specular reflection is metalized. 
     
     
         20 . The optical lens assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said metalized surface comprises a metal layer having a thickness in a range of about 10 micrometers to about 100 micrometers. 
     
     
         21 . An optical system, comprising
 a light source,   an optical lens assembly optically coupled to the light source to receive light therefrom, said optical lens assembly comprising
 a central lens, and 
 a plurality of outer lenses disposed about the central lens, 
   wherein the lenses of the optical lens assembly are arranged relative to one another and relative to the light source such that each lens receives light emitted by the source into a different angular subtense.   
     
     
         22 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein the outer lenses are annulus shaped lenses that circumferentially surround the central lens at progressively increasing radial distance from the central lens. 
     
     
         23 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein said optical lens assembly is configured to redirect at least a portion of the light received from the light via total internal reflection. 
     
     
         24 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein each of the lenses of the optical assembly comprises an input surface, an output surface and a lateral surface that extends between the input and the output surface. 
     
     
         25 . The optical system of  claim 23 , wherein the lateral surface of at least one of said lenses is configured to reflect light incident thereon via total internal reflection. 
     
     
         26 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein the input surface of said central lens is a convex surface adapted to collimate light it receives from the light source. 
     
     
         27 . The optical system of  claim 26 , wherein each of said outer lenses comprises a concave input surface configured as a section of a putative sphere centered on the light source. 
     
     
         28 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein the lateral surface of each of said lenses is separated by a gap from a lateral surface of an adjacent lens. 
     
     
         29 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein said lenses are removably and replaceably coupled to one another. 
     
     
         30 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein said optical lens assembly has an aspect ratio in a range of about 0.1 to about 1. 
     
     
         31 . A kit, comprising
 a plurality of lenses configured to removably and replaceably couple to one another to form a lens assembly configured to receive light from a light source,   wherein the lenses of the lens assembly are arranged relative to one another such that each of said lenses can receive at it input surface light emitted by the source into an angular subtense different from a respective angular subtense associated with another lens.   
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the lenses guides at least a portion of the received light to its output surface via total internal reflection at a lateral surface thereof extending between the input and the output surface.