Beam homogenizer
First Claim
1. A beam homogenizing apparatus for modifying a radiant energy beam, the apparatus comprising a cylindrical, elongate light transmissive waveguide comprisinga beam receiving input region at one end of the waveguide which receives an incoming beam at an acute angle between about 2 to 6 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide;
- a beam output region at the opposite end of the waveguide which emits the beam at a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide; and
a light reflecting surface incorporated within the waveguide and having a substructure which homogenizes said beam as it propagates along the waveguide by multiple reflections.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for the modifying the intensity profile of radiant energy beam or reducing its spatial coherence, especially that produced by a laser. The apparatus includes a waveguide having a light reflecting surface including a substructure. The light reflecting surface and substructure reflect incident light causing chaotic scattering which acts to homogenize the intensity profile of the laser beam.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A beam homogenizing apparatus for modifying a radiant energy beam, the apparatus comprising a cylindrical, elongate light transmissive waveguide comprising
a beam receiving input region at one end of the waveguide which receives an incoming beam at an acute angle between about 2 to 6 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide; -
a beam output region at the opposite end of the waveguide which emits the beam at a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide; and a light reflecting surface incorporated within the waveguide and having a substructure which homogenizes said beam as it propagates along the waveguide by multiple reflections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of modifying a radiant energy beam, the method comprising:
-
disposing an homogenizing element comprising a cylindrical, elongate light transmissive waveguide and a light reflecting surface incorporated within the waveguide having a substructure along at least a portion of the propagation path between a beam source and a target; projecting said beam through said homogenizing element at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide; and permitting said beam to reflect off the light reflecting surface as the beam propagates along the length of the homogenizing element; whereby the substructure of the light reflecting surface acts to homogenize said beam as the beam reflects off the light reflecting surface during propagation along the length of the homogenizing element. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification