US4662728A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light guide apparatus
Assignee: University of British Columbia
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Filing: 1983-08-29
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Granted: 1987-05-05
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Expires: 2003-08-29
Abstract
Abstract The light guide apparatus will guide a beam whose rays have a predetermined phase space distribution with a maximum deviation angle θ max in a first plane perpendicular to the beam axis. The guiding apparatus includes an optical system positioned at a distance l/2 from the first plane for receiving light from the edge of the spreading beam along an edge of width l tan θ max and for diverting the light towards the beam axis to reproduce the predetermined spatial distribution in a second plane perpendicular to the beam axis at a distance l from the first plane. The optical system can be made from annular or cylindrical, regular or fresnel lenses. A number of systems may be sequentially mounted to guide a beam along any desired distance with in a straight line or perpendicular to its original direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Lorne A. Whitehead
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:46
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B19/00; G02B19/0004; G02B19/0009; G02B19/0014; G02B19/0028; G02B19/0033; G02B19/0038; G02B6/00; G02B6/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
Apparatus for guiding a spreading beam of light whose rays have a predetermined phase space distribution with a maximum deviation angle θ max at a first aperture perpendicular to the beam axis, along a predetermined distance nl to a further aperture perpendicular to the beam axis, where n is a whole number greater than 1, comprising: n optical systems positioned sequentially along the beam axis with a spacing l between each of the optical systems and with the initial optical system positioned at the distance l/2 from the first aperture, each of the optical systems receives light from the edge of the beam along a width w=l tan θ max and diverts the light towards the beam axis thereby reproducing the beam phase space distribution found in a first plane perpendicular to the beam axis preceding the optical system by a distance l/2 at a second plane perpendicular to the beam axis at a distance l from the first plane, wherein each of the optical systems is a peripheral lens system having a lens width=w, a focal length l/2 and a focus located at each of the first and second planes of each respective optical systems and at a distance w/2 from the edge of the beam towards the beam axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
Apparatus for guiding a spreading beam of light whose rays have a predetermined phase space distribution with a maximum deviation angle θ max at a first aperture perpendicular to the beam axis, along a predetermined distance nl to a further aperture perpendicular to the beam axis, where n is a whole number greater than 1, comprising: n optical systems positioned sequentially along the beam axis with a spacing l between each of the optical systems and with the initial optical system positioned at the distance l/2 from the first aperture, each of the optical systems receives light from the edge of the beam along a width w=l tan θ max and diverts the light towards the beam axis thereby reproducing the beam phase space distribution found in a first plane perpendicular to the beam axis preceding the optical system by a distance l/2 at a second plane perpendicular to the beam axis at a distance l from the first plane, wherein each of the optical systems is a peripheral lens system having a lens width=w, a focal length l/2 and a focus located at each of the first and second planes of each respective optical systems and at a distance w/2 from the edge of the beam towards the beam axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each peripheral lens system consists of an annular lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each peripheral lens system includes four cylindrical lenses of focal length f and width w positioned to form a square about the beam axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the cylindrical lenses overlap in the corners of the square.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein each lens is a fresnel lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the ends of the cylindrical lenses meet in the corners of the square and the optical system further includes a quarter spherical lens of focal length f in each corner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the guiding apparatus includes two optical systems positioned in two planes at an angle φ to one another, and the guiding apparatus further includes a planar mirror positioned at an angle φ/2 to the two perpendicular planes to reflect the beam at an angle φ to itself.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 where φ is approximately 90°.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-04 | 1990-11-03 | 1991-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-04 | 1994-11-03 | 1995-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-04 | 1998-11-03 | 1999-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |