HIGH EFFICIENCY REFLECTOR FOR DIRECTING COLLIMATED LIGHT INTO LIGHT GUIDES

摘要

A reflector for reflecting light from an elongate light source (10A) into the input end of a light guide (22A) having a diameter "D". The light source is inserted through the narrow end of a collimating reflector (16A) which has a wide end diameter exceeding "D", through which light is emitted into the guide. The wide end (34) of an output reflector (28) is circumjacent the collimating reflector's wide end. The output reflector's narrow end (36) is circumjacent the light guide's input end. The wide end (30) of an input reflector (26) is circumjacent the collimating reflector's narrow end. The reflectors are cylindrically symmetrical about axis (27). Light passing from the light source to the collimating reflector is reflected, producing an output beam whose width varies as a function of distance along the axis. The light guide's input end is positioned along the axis to minimize the output beam's width.