Micromilled optical elements for edge-lit illumination panels

Rahima Afrose Ronny; George K. Knopf; Evgueni V. Bordatchev; Suwas Nikumb

doi:10.1117/1.JMM.12.2.023002

25 April 2013 Micromilled optical elements for edge-lit illumination panels

Rahima Afrose Ronny, George K. Knopf, Evgueni V. Bordatchev, Suwas Nikumb

Journal of Micro/Nanolithography, MEMS, and MOEMS, Vol. 12, Issue 2, 023002 (April 2013). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMM.12.2.023002

Abstract

Edge-lit light guide panels (LGPs) with micropatterned surfaces represent a new technology for developing small- and medium-sized illumination sources for application such as automotive, residential lighting, and advertising displays. The shape, density, and spatial distribution of the micro-optical structures (MOSs) imprinted on the transparent LGP must be selected to achieve high brightness and uniform luminance over the active surface. We examine how round-tip cylindrical MOSs fabricated by precision micromilling can be used to create patterned surfaces on low-cost transparent polymethyl-methacrylate substrates for high-intensity illumination applications. The impact of varying the number, pitch, spatial distribution, and depth of the optical microstructures on lighting performance is initially investigated using LightTools™ simulation software. To illustrate the microfabrication process, several 100×100×6 mm³ LGP prototypes are constructed and tested. The prototypes include an “optimized” array of MOSs that exhibit near-uniform illumination (approximately 89%) across its active light-emitting surface. Although the average illumination was 7.3% less than the value predicted from numerical simulation, it demonstrates how LGPs can be created using micromilling operations. Customized MOS arrays with a bright rectangular pattern near the center of the panel and a sequence of MOSs that illuminate a predefined logo are also presented.

Citation Download Citation

Rahima Afrose Ronny, George K. Knopf, Evgueni V. Bordatchev, and Suwas Nikumb "Micromilled optical elements for edge-lit illumination panels," Journal of Micro/Nanolithography, MEMS, and MOEMS 12(2), 023002 (25 April 2013). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMM.12.2.023002

Published: 25 April 2013

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