EFFICIENT ARRANGEMENT FOR COUPLING LIGHT BETWEEN LIGHT SOURCE AND LIGHT GUIDE

摘要

An efficient arrangement for coupling light between a light source and at least one light guide comprises a light source (12) having a bulbous region (30) and electrical in-leads (14, 16) extending into the bulbous region. A generally tubular, hollow coupling device (24) with an interior light- reflective surface (22) receives light from the source at an inlet and transmits it to an outlet (27). The coupling device increases in cross sectional area from inlet to outlet in such manner as to reduce the angle of light reflected from the surface as it passes through the device. A thermal- isolating region (26) has an inlet positioned in proximity to an outlet of t he coupling device and has an outlet for passing light to an optical member (28 ). The thermal-isolating region comprises one or more members. The foregoing ca n achieve high efficiency and considerable compactness while using a non-"poin t- like" light source.