LIGHTGUIDE DEVICE WITH EDGE PROVIDING OPTICAL CUTOFF AND CORRESPONDING MANUFACTURING METHODS Russian patent published in 2022 - IPC G02B6/34 

FIELD: optics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to lightguide devices, in particular to a lightguide device containing a clearly defined edge providing an optical cutoff, and to corresponding methods for manufacturing such devices. The claimed optical node of the lightguide device contains: (a) a lightguide element containing a set of surfaces including a pair of parallel surfaces, wherein the lightguide element is made with the possibility of directing light by means of internal reflection on the specified parallel surfaces, wherein one of the specified set of surfaces provides a communication surface; (b) a transparent optical element having an interface for the attachment to the specified communication surface, wherein the specified transparent optical element is made in such a way that light distributing inside the specified transparent optical element passes through the specified interface and the specified communication surface for the distribution inside the specified lightguide element; (c) opaque coating applied to at least part of at least one surface of the specified parallel surfaces of the lightguide element, wherein the specified coating defines an edge adjacent to or overlapping the specified communication surface of the specified lightguide element; and (d) certain amount of transparent binder placed between the specified communication surface and the specified interface to form an optically permeable interface, wherein the specified binder passes to the specified edge and overlaps it, wherein the specified edge defines an edge providing an optical cutoff for light rays passing from the specified transparent optical element into the specified lightguide element, and wherein the specified opaque coating is made with the possibility of generating internal reflection in the underlying area specified by at least one of parallel surfaces. The communication surface is inclined relatively to parallel surfaces. The communication surface and the parallel surface converge on a rounded edge, wherein the specified edge is not overlapped by the rounded edge.

EFFECT: obtaining a lightguide device with an edge providing optical cutoff.

15 cl, 9 dwg