High efficiency non-imaging optics
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing an optical device having two opposing active optical surfaces that convert a first distribution of an input radiation to a second distribution of output radiation, comprising:
- providing a two-dimensional mathematical model that describes the first distribution of radiation as an input bundle of edge rays and the second distribution of radiation as an output bundle of edge rays, and representing the input and output edge ray bundles each in a phase-space representation in terms of the position of each ray in space and its associated optical cosine, where the locus of the edge rays in the phase-space for the input bundle defines a closed boundary of a first planar shape, and the locus of the edge rays in the phase-space for the output bundle defines a closed boundary of a second planar shape, wherein these two planar shapes have a substantially equal area;
approximating the two-dimensional shape of the outer caustic of said input and output radiation distribution ray bundles, where the outer caustic is defined such that it does not touch any of said active optical surfaces;
defining a two-dimensional representation of said active optical surfaces responsive to the boundary conditions of the phase-space representations and the outer caustics, including defining a focal area spaced apart from, and noncontiguous with, said optical surfaces, said active optical surfaces each having a continuous second derivative, said optical surfaces further formed so that the theoretical transmission efficiency of the said first input radiation distribution to said second input radiation distribution, neglecting attenuation losses in the processing path, is greater than about 80% of the maximum transmission efficiency; and
symmetrically extending said two-dimensional representation of said optical surfaces to provide a three-dimensional optical device.
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Abstract
A highly efficient optical device comprises two opposing active non-spherical optical surfaces defined by a two-dimensional representation that is symmetrically extended to provide a three-dimensional device. A focal area, spaced apart from the optical surface and non-contiguous therewith, is defined by the two opposing active optical surfaces. The active optical surfaces each have a continuous second derivative, and the optical surfaces are defined by a polynomial with an order of at least about twenty. The optical device may comprise a transparent dielectric core, and the optical surfaces may be formed on the core. A receiver may be situated at the focal area to provide a concentrator. An extended light source such as an LED may be situated at the focal area, to provide a collimator. Faceted embodiments can provide a low aspect optical device. In some embodiments a diffuser may be used to transform incident radiation into a predetermined shape.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing an optical device having two opposing active optical surfaces that convert a first distribution of an input radiation to a second distribution of output radiation, comprising:
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providing a two-dimensional mathematical model that describes the first distribution of radiation as an input bundle of edge rays and the second distribution of radiation as an output bundle of edge rays, and representing the input and output edge ray bundles each in a phase-space representation in terms of the position of each ray in space and its associated optical cosine, where the locus of the edge rays in the phase-space for the input bundle defines a closed boundary of a first planar shape, and the locus of the edge rays in the phase-space for the output bundle defines a closed boundary of a second planar shape, wherein these two planar shapes have a substantially equal area;
approximating the two-dimensional shape of the outer caustic of said input and output radiation distribution ray bundles, where the outer caustic is defined such that it does not touch any of said active optical surfaces;
defining a two-dimensional representation of said active optical surfaces responsive to the boundary conditions of the phase-space representations and the outer caustics, including defining a focal area spaced apart from, and noncontiguous with, said optical surfaces, said active optical surfaces each having a continuous second derivative, said optical surfaces further formed so that the theoretical transmission efficiency of the said first input radiation distribution to said second input radiation distribution, neglecting attenuation losses in the processing path, is greater than about 80% of the maximum transmission efficiency; and
symmetrically extending said two-dimensional representation of said optical surfaces to provide a three-dimensional optical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An optical device that converts a first distribution of an input radiation to a second distribution of output radiation, comprising:
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two opposing active non-spherical optical surfaces defined by a two-dimensional representation that is symmetrically extended to provide a three-dimensional device;
a focal area defined by said two opposing active optical surfaces, said said active optical surfaces each having a continuous second derivative;
said optical surfaces being defined by a polynomial with an order of at least about twenty; and
said optical surfaces further providing a theoretical transmission efficiency of said first input radiation distribution to said second input radiation distribution, neglecting attenuation losses in the processing path, of greater than about 80% of the maximum transmission efficiency. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
a cylindrical hole centered about said central axis; and
a receiver positioned in said cylindrical hole approximately at said focal area.
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54. The optical device of claim 53 further comprising an attaching material for attaching said receiver to said dielectric, and wherein said attaching material has a substantially different index of refraction than said dielectric.
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55. The optical device of claim 52 wherein said optical device further comprises:
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a cylindrical hole centered about said central axis; and
an extended light source positioned in said cylindrical hole approximately at said focal area.
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56. The optical device of claim 55 further comprising an attaching material for attaching said light source to said dielectric, and wherein said attaching material has a substantially different index of refraction than said dielectric.
Specification