US4858090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ellipsoidal reflector concentration of energy system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-06-22
•
Granted: 1989-08-15
•
Expires: 2008-06-22
Abstract
Abstract An ellipsoidal reflector system concentrating energy utilizing two effects- one being that light passing through one focus of an ellipse will tend to line up with the major axis after each reflection, combined with the other in the properties of ellipses rotated off-axis having one distributed focus and one point focus. After a few reflections light having originally passed through one focus is, for practical purposes, running along the major axis even though the major axis is approached as an asymptote. This energy concentration system would be quite useful as a source of highly collimated light such as would be more practical for field surveying work than, for example, lasers, for optical alignment, and fiber-optic carrier media input. In addition to light some of these ellipsoidal reflector systems for concentration of energy are also effective for ultrasonics and/or shock waves.
Inventors
- 👤 James W. Downs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:57
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V7/00; F21V7/04; F21V7/08; G; G02; G02B; G02B19/00; G02B19/0004; G02B19/0019; G02B19/0023; G02B19/0028; G02B19/0033; G02B19/0047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An ellipsoidal reflector system for the concentration of energy comprising: a primary ellipsoidal reflector; a secondary reflector; said primary ellipsoidal reflector having a first focal location and a second focal point; said secondary reflector being confocal with said primary ellipsoidal reflector; structural means interconnecting said primary ellipsoidal reflector and said secondary reflector; energy source means generating radiated energy moving in paths coexistent with said first focal location; said primary ellipsoidal reflector shaped to reflect said radiated energy moving in paths coexistant with said first focal location toward said second focal point; with said secondary reflector being shaped to reflect radiated energy reflected toward said second focal point to run along the major axis of said system normal to said secondary reflector approaching the major axis as an asymptote; wherein said primary ellipsoidal is one end of an ellipsoidal including said secondary reflector at the other ellipsoidal end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
An ellipsoidal reflector system for the concentration of energy comprising: a primary ellipsoidal reflector; a secondary reflector; said primary ellipsoidal reflector having a first focal location and a second focal point; said secondary reflector being confocal with said primary ellipsoidal reflector; structural means interconnecting said primary ellipsoidal reflector and said secondary reflector; energy source means generating radiated energy moving in paths coexistent with said first focal location; said primary ellipsoidal reflector shaped to reflect said radiated energy moving in paths coexistant with said first focal location toward said second focal point; with said secondary reflector being shaped to reflect radiated energy reflected toward said second focal point to run along the major axis of said system normal to said secondary reflector approaching the major axis as an asymptote; wherein said primary ellipsoidal is one end of an ellipsoidal including said secondary reflector at the other ellipsoidal end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 1, wherein said energy source means is positioned outside said first focal location with said first focal location a first focal point on the major axis also extended through said second focal point; and energy radiation focusing means confocal with said first focal point positioned along with said energy source means to focus radiated energy from said energy source means to said first focal point on to be reflected by internal reflective surface of said primary reflector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 2, wherein said energy radiation focusing means confocal with said focal point is lens means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 2, wherein said energy radiation focusing means confocal with said first focal point is an ellipsoidal reflector confocal with said primary ellipsoidal reflector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 2, wherein said energy radiation focusing means is positioned outside said primary ellipsoidal reflector; and energy radiation passing means is provided in said primary reflector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 5, wherein said energy radiation passing means is in the form of cut out means in said primary ellipsoidal reflector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 5, wherein said energy radiation passing means is in the form of one way reflective mirror area reflective on the inside and that passes radiated energy through from the outside to the inside.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 5, wherein said energy radiation means is an annulus concentric with said primary ellipsoidal reflector; and said energy source means is also an annulas concentric with said primary ellipsoidal reflector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 8, wherein said focusing means is an ellipsoidal reflector confocal with said primary ellipsoidal reflector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 8, wherein said focusing means is an annular lens band confocal with said primary ellipsoidal reflector first focal point.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 8, wherein an opening is provided at the center end of said primary ellipsoidal reflector and with said major axis concentric with said opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 11, wherein said opening is positioned to pass radiated energy reflected from said primary ellipsoidal reflector toward said second focal point and reflected back by said secondary reflector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 12, wherein said secondary reflector is an ellipsoidal reflective section positioned to the opposite side of said second focal point from said primary ellipsoid reflector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ellipsoidal reflector system of claim 13, wherein said secondary reflector is a hyperboloid reflector positioned between said second focal point and said primary ellipsoidal reflector in a Cassegrain compound reflective system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2198014A
Cited
US2755374A
Cited
US2787701A
Cited
US3251219A
Cited
US3179898A
Cited
US3887263A
Cited
US3634777A
Cited
US4058699A
Cited
US4754381A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-14 | 1993-02-13 | 1993-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-14 | 1997-02-13 | 1997-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-14 | 2001-02-13 | 2001-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |