LED Illumination Device with Cubic Zirconia Lens

Abstract

A lens element has a curved surface mounted adjacent an LED for improving the light transmission efficiency and the dispersal pattern of radiation emitted by the LED.

1 . An illumination device, comprising:
 an LED;   a lens element made of Cubic Zirconia with a curved surface positioned opposite a light emitting surface of the LED; and   a quantity of transparent material joining the lens element and light emitting surface of the LED.   
   
   
       2 . The illumination device of  claim 1  and further comprising a second lens element mounted adjacent the lens element positioned opposite the light emitting surface of the LED. 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . The illumination device of  claim 1  wherein a distance between a light emitting surface of the LED and the curved surface of the lens element is less than about two times a longest dimension of the light emitting surface of the LED. 
   
   
       5 . The illumination device of  claim 1  wherein the lens element is generally spherical and has a diameter greater than about three times a longest dimension of a light emitting surface of the LED. 
   
   
       6 . The illumination device of  claim 1  wherein the lens element has an index of refraction greater than about 1.65 and the silicone gel has an index of refraction less than about 1.50. 
   
   
       7 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . An illumination device, comprising:
 a light emitting diode;   a generally spherical lens made of Cubic Zirconia mounted adjacent to a light emitting surface face of the light emitting diode and positioned no further away from the light emitting surface than twice the longest dimension of the light emitting surface;   the spherical lens having an index of refraction relative to light emitted by the diode greater than about 1.65;   the spherical lens having a diameter greater than three times the longest dimension of the light emitting surface; and   a space between the spherical lens and the light emitting surface being filled with an intervening optically transparent material selected from the group consisting of fluid, grease, gel and elastomer having an index of refraction less than about 1.50.   
   
   
       12 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . The illumination device of  claim 11 , wherein the intervening optically transparent material is silicone gel. 
   
   
       16 . The illumination device of  claim 11 , wherein the intervening optically transparent material is silicone rubber. 
   
   
       17 . The illumination device of  claim 11  wherein the Cubic Zirconia spherical lens is press fit into a thermally conductive metal support structure. 
   
   
       18 - 28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . A illuminated device, comprising:
 a light emitting diode;   a generally spherical lens element made of Cubic Zirconia mounted adjacent to a light emitting surface of the light emitting diode;   the spherical lens element having an index of refraction relative to light emitted by the diode that is greater than about 1.65; and   a side of the spherical lens element opposite the light emitting surface being in contact with an optically transparent material with an index of refraction greater than about 1.20.   
   
   
       30 . The illumination device of  claim 29  wherein the optically transparent material is water. 
   
   
       31 . The illumination device of  claim 29  wherein the optically transparent material is mineral oil. 
   
   
       32 . The illumination device of  claim 29  wherein the optically transparent material is a 3M Fluorinert™ fluid. 
   
   
       33 . The illumination device of  claim 29  wherein the optically transparent material is a 3M Novec™ fluid. 
   
   
       34 . The illumination device of  claim 29  wherein the optically transparent material is silicone rubber. 
   
   
       35 . The illumination device of  claim 29  wherein the optically transparent material is silicone grease. 
   
   
       36 . The illumination device of  claim 29  wherein the optically transparent material is polyurethane rubber. 
   
   
       37 . An illumination device, comprising:
 a light emitting diode;   a spherical lens element made of Cubic Zirconia mounted adjacent a light emitting surface of the light emitting diode;   the spherical lens element having an index of refraction relative to light emitted by the diode of greater than about 1.80; and   a negative focal length optical element placed in front of the spherical lens element to form the light into a beam having a predetermined shape.   
   
   
       38 . The illumination device of  claim 37  wherein the negative optical element has a prismatic component to redirect the light beam off axis. 
   
   
       39 . The illumination device of  claim 37  wherein the negative focal length optical element has a cylindrical component to change an aspect ratio of the light beam. 
   
   
       40 - 48 . (canceled) 
   
   
       49 . An illumination device, comprising:
 a light emitting diode;   a generally spherical lens element made of Cubic Zirconia mounted adjacent a light emitting surface face of the light emitting diode and placed no further away from said light emitting surface than about twice the longest dimension of said light emitting surface;   the spherical lens element having an index of refraction relative to light emitted by the diode of greater than about 1.80 to converge the light to a focus;   the spherical lens element having a diameter greater than about three times the longest dimension of the light emitting surface;   a light path optical space between the spherical lens element and the light emitting surface being filled with an intervening optically transparent material selected from the group consisting of fluid, grease, gel elastomer and rubber-like material having an index of refraction less than about 1.60; and   an aperture placed approximately at a plane of focus smaller than a diameter of the spherical lens.   
   
   
       50 . (canceled) 
   
   
       51 . An illumination device, comprising:
 a light emitting diode;   a generally spherical lens element made of Cubic Zirconia mounted adjacent to a light emitting surface face the light emitting diode and placed no further away from the light emitting surface than about twice a longest dimension of the light emitting surface;   the spherical lens element having an index of refraction relative to light emitted by the diode greater than about 1.80 to converge the light to a focus;   the spherical lens element having a diameter greater than about three times the longest dimension of the light emitting surface;   a light path optical space between the spherical lens element and the light emitting surface being filled with an intervening optically transparent material selected from the group consisting of fluid, grease, gel, elastomer or rubber-like material having an index of refraction less than about 1.60; and   a spacer to set the distance between the spherical lens element and the light emitting surface to a predetermined distance.   
   
   
       52 . The illumination device of  claim 51  wherein the inside surface of the spacer is reflectorized.