US4907864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Macro-gradient optical density transmissive light concentrators, lenses and compound lenses of large geometry
Assignee: Integrated Solar Technologies Corp
•
Filing: 1988-06-17
•
Granted: 1990-03-13
•
Expires: 2008-06-17
Abstract
Abstract Gradient optical density transmissive light directing devices (24, 26, 28, 30) and fabrication thereof are disclosed herein. Example of such devices include concentrators, lenses and compound lenses. The present invention teaches a process for the fabrication of glass light transmitting devices having a chosen gradient in index of refraction either bidirectionally (radially and longitudinally relative to an optical axis) or in three dimensions. The present invention further describes the design of several interesting optical devices by particular choices of the gradient in the index of refraction thereof. Such articles have numerous uses in the optics, optical fiber and solar technology industries for the purposes of designing compound lens systems using a single, integral lens, coupling light into fibers and for concentrating and directing light from a source having a significant angular variation to an energy collecting and/or conversion devices such as a photovoltaic cell, to name but a few applications.
Inventors
- 👤 James J. Hagerty
- 👤 Leslie A. Danziger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:37
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/0087; C; C03; C03B; C03B19/00; C03B19/09; F; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/30; G02B19/00; G02B19/0004; G02B19/0009; G02B19/0014; G02B19/0028; G02B19/0033; G02B19/0038; G02B19/0042; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02P; Y02P80/00; Y02P80/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A light directing device comprising: a transmissive refractive material having an optical axis, an entrance surface and an exit surface, the optical axis passing through the entrance surface and through the exit surface, said light directing device further having a bidirectional gradient in the refractive index thereof, the gradient changing in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and changing in a direction parallel thereto in the direction from the entrance surface to the exit surface of the refractive medium, said entrance surface comprising a material of a first composition having a first refractive index of refraction and said exit surface comprising a second material having a second index of refraction, said gradient derived from a gradient in composition between said first and said second compositions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A light directing device comprising: a transmissive refractive material having an optical axis, an entrance surface and an exit surface, the optical axis passing through the entrance surface and through the exit surface, said light directing device further having a bidirectional gradient in the refractive index thereof, the gradient changing in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and changing in a direction parallel thereto in the direction from the entrance surface to the exit surface of the refractive medium, said entrance surface comprising a material of a first composition having a first refractive index of refraction and said exit surface comprising a second material having a second index of refraction, said gradient derived from a gradient in composition between said first and said second compositions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The light directing device as described in claim 1, wherein the entrance surface is generally flat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The light directing device as described in claim 1, wherein the exit surface is generally flat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light directing device as described in claim 1, wherein both the entrance surface and the exit surface are generally flat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The light directing device as described in claim 1, wherein the radial gradient is a generally monotonic gradient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The light directing device as described in claim 5, wherein the radial gradient has a generally quadratic functional form.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The light directing device as described in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal gradient is a generally monotonic gradient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The light directing device as described in claim 1, wherein both the radial gradient and the longitudinal gradient are generally monotonic gradients.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light directing device as described in claim 1, wherein said refractive material has substantially cylindrical symmetry about the optical axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light directing device as described in claim 1, wherein the index of refraction is substantially constant along the optical axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The light directing device as described in claim 1, comprising a light concentrator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The light directing device as described in claim 11, wherein the gradient generally decreases in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and generally increases in a direction parallel to the optical axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The light directing device as described in claim 12, further comprising reflective boundaries so contoured that energy incident on the entrance surface and directed thereto by said refractive material is substantially directed to the exit surface of said refractive material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The light directing device as described in claim 13, wherein said reflective boundaries are opposing surfaces symmetrically disposed about the optical axis extending between the entrance surface and the exit surface and generally contoured such that said refractive material defines a device wherein the entrance surface has a larger area than the exit surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light directing device as described in claim 14, wherein said refractive material has substantially cylindrical symmetry about the optical axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The light directing device as described in claim 14, comprising a generally trough spaced device having a top surface and a bottom surface substantially parallel to each other, with said top surface comprising said entrance surface and said bottom surface comprising said exit surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The light directing device as described in claim 14, wherein said reflective boundaries are coated with a reflective material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The light directing device as described in claim 1, comprising an image reducing device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
87 words
The light directing device as described in claim 18, wherein the gradient generally decreases in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, and generally increases in a direction parallel thereto in the direction from the entrance surface to the exit surface up to the position of approximately one-half of the length of the optical axis, and having substantially the opposite variation of the index of refraction both along the optical axis and radially away therefrom from the approximate midpoint thereof to the exit surface of said device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The light directing device as described in claim 1, comprising an image enlarging device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
95 words
The light directing device as described in claim 20, wherein the gradient generally increases in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, and generally decreases in a direction parallel thereto in the direction from the entrance surface to the exit surface of the refractive medium from the entrance surface to the position of approximately one-half of the length of the optical axis, and further having substantially the opposite variation of the index of refraction both along the optical axis and radially away therefrom from the approximate midpoint thereof to the exit surface of the device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
128 words
A non-tracking transmission light concentrator comprising: a transmissive refractive material having an optical axis, an entrance surface and an exit surface, the optical axis passing through the entrance surface and through the exit surface, said light concentrator further having a bidirectional gradient in the refractive index thereof, the gradient generally decreasing in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and generally increasing in a direction parallel thereto in the direction from the entrance surface to the exit surface of the refractive medium, said entrance surface comprising a material of a first composition having a first refractive index of refraction and said exit surface comprising a second material having a second index of refraction, said gradient derived from a gradient in composition between said first and said second compositions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
128 words
A non-tracking transmission light concentrator comprising: a transmissive refractive material having an optical axis, an entrance surface and an exit surface, the optical axis passing through the entrance surface and through the exit surface, said light concentrator further having a bidirectional gradient in the refractive index thereof, the gradient generally decreasing in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and generally increasing in a direction parallel thereto in the direction from the entrance surface to the exit surface of the refractive medium, said entrance surface comprising a material of a first composition having a first refractive index of refraction and said exit surface comprising a second material having a second index of refraction, said gradient derived from a gradient in composition between said first and said second compositions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 22, wherein the entrance surface is generally flat.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 22, wherein the exit surface is generally flat.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 22, wherein both the entrance surface and the exit surface are generally flat.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 22, further comprising reflective boundaries so contoured that energy incident on the entrance surface and directed thereto by said refractive material is substantially directed to the exit surface of said refractive material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
53 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 26, wherein said reflective boundaries are opposing surfaces symmetrically disposed about the optical axis extending between the entrance surface and the exit surface and generally contoured such that said refractive material defines a device wherein the entrance surface has a larger area than the exit surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 27, wherein said refractive material has substantially cylindrical symmetry about the optical axis.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 27, comprising a generally trough shaped device having a top surface and a bottom surface substantially parallel to each other, with said top surface comprising said entrance surface and said bottom surface comprising said exit surface.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 27, wherein said reflective boundaries are coated with a reflective material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 22, wherein the radial gradient is a generally monotonic gradient.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 31, wherein the radial gradient has a generally quadratic functional form.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 22, wherein the longitudinal gradient is a generally monotonic gradient.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 22, wherein both the radial gradient and the longitudinal gradient are generally monotonic gradients.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The light concentrator as described in claim 22, wherein the index of refraction is substantially constant along the optical axis.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image reducing device comprising: a transmissive refractive material having an entrance and an exit surface, and having a bidirectional gradient in the refractive index thereof, the gradient generally decreasing in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, and generally increasing in a direction parallel thereto in the direction from the entrance surface to the exit surface up to the position of approximately one-half of the length of the optical axis, and having substantially the opposite variation of the index of refraction both along the optical axis and radially away therefrom from the approximate midpoint thereof to the exit surface of said device.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image reducing device comprising: a transmissive refractive material having an entrance and an exit surface, and having a bidirectional gradient in the refractive index thereof, the gradient generally decreasing in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, and generally increasing in a direction parallel thereto in the direction from the entrance surface to the exit surface up to the position of approximately one-half of the length of the optical axis, and having substantially the opposite variation of the index of refraction both along the optical axis and radially away therefrom from the approximate midpoint thereof to the exit surface of said device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image reducing device as described in claim 36, wherein the entrance surface is generally flat.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image reducing device as described in claim 36, wherein the exit surface is generally flat.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image reducing device as described in claim 36, wherein both the entrance surface and the exit surface are generally flat.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image reducing device as described in claim 36, wherein said refractive material has substantially cylindrical symmetry about the optical axis.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image reducing device as described in claim 36, wherein the radial gradient is a generally monotonic gradient.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reducing device as described in claim 41, wherein the radial gradient has a generally quadratic functional form.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image reducing device as described in claim 36, wherein the longitudinal gradient is a generally monotonic gradient.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image reducing device as described in claim 36, wherein both the radial gradient and the longitudinal gradient are generally monotonic gradients.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image reducing device as described in claim 36, wherein the index of refraction is substantially constant along the optical axis.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image enlarging device comprising: a transmissive refractive material having (a) a bidirectional gradient in the refractive index thereof, the gradient generally increasing in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, and generally decreasing in a direction parallel thereto in the direction from the entrance surface to the exit surface of the refractive medium from the entrance surface to the position of approximately one-half of the length of the optical axis, and further having substantially the opposite variation of the index of refraction both along the optical axis and radially away therefrom from the approximate midpoint thereof to the exit surface of the device.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image enlarging device comprising: a transmissive refractive material having (a) a bidirectional gradient in the refractive index thereof, the gradient generally increasing in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, and generally decreasing in a direction parallel thereto in the direction from the entrance surface to the exit surface of the refractive medium from the entrance surface to the position of approximately one-half of the length of the optical axis, and further having substantially the opposite variation of the index of refraction both along the optical axis and radially away therefrom from the approximate midpoint thereof to the exit surface of the device.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image enlarging device as described in claim 46, wherein the entrance surface is generally flat.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image enlarging device as described in claim 46, wherein the exit surface is generally flat.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image enlarging device as described in claim 46, wherein both the entrance surface and the exit surface are generally flat.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image enlarging device as described in claim 46, wherein said refractive material has substantially cylindrical symmetry about the optical axis.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image enlarging device as described in claim 46, wherein the radial gradient is a generally monotonic gradient.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image enlarging device as described in claim 51, wherein the radial gradient has a generally quadratic functional form.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image enlarging device as described in claim 46, wherein the longitudinal gradient is a generally monotonic gradient.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image enlarging device as described in claim 46, wherein both the radial gradient and the longitudinal gradient are generally monotonic gradients.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image enlarging device as described in claim 46, wherein the index of refraction is substantially constant along the optical axis.
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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) | 1993-03-12 | 1993-09-11 | 1994-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-12 | 1997-09-11 | 1998-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-12 | 2001-09-11 | 2002-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |