摘要 |
An illumination system is disclosed which serves to reduce the divergence of a light beam exiting a small diameter optical fiber from what it was upon entering the optical fiber and is particularly suited for automotive forward lighting applications. The illumination system comprises a spherical reflector, a light source, an optical fiber, a hemispherical lens, and an air gap between the planar surface of the hemispherical lens and the output face of the optical fiber. The spherical reflector allows a light beam from the light source to be introduced into the input face of the optical fiber over a wide angle in order to minimize the diameter of the optical fiber. An air gap exists between the planar surface of the hemispherical lens and the output face of the optical fiber that together with the lens are effective in reducing the angular divergence of the beam from what it was upon entering the input face of the optical fiber. The smaller diameter fiber has the advantages of a lighter weight, less cost, greater design flexibility, and ease of manipulation compared to a thicker fiber.
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