US6639733B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High efficiency non-imaging optics
Assignee: Light Prescriptions Innovators LLC
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Filing: 2001-03-16
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Granted: 2003-10-28
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Expires: 2021-03-16
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Juan C. Minano
- 👤 Pablo Benitez
- 👤 Juan C. Gonzalez
- 👤 Waqidi Falicoff
- 👤 H. J. Caulfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:16
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B19/00; G02B19/0033; G02B19/0047; G02B19/0061; F; F21; F21V; F21V7/00; F21V7/04; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; G02B19/0004; G02B19/0028; G02B19/0038; G02B19/0042; F21Y; F21Y2115/00; F21Y2115/10; H; H10; H10H; H10H20/00; H10H20/80; H10H20/85; H10H20/852; H10H20/853; H10W; H10W74/00; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/751; H10W90/756; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
285 words
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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
285 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said active optical surfaces is substantially flat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising forming said optical surfaces on a transparent dielectric core.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising situating a receiver approximately at the focal area, thereby providing a concentrator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said 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 90% of the maximum transmission efficiency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a diffuser on at least one of said optical surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said diffuser transforms incident radiation into a predetermined shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of symmetrically extending said two-dimensional representation includes extruding said two-dimensional representation to provide a linearly-symmetric optical device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising situating an extended linearly extruded light source approximately at the focal area, thereby providing a collimator with an approximately rectangular cross-sectional output.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said optical surfaces are formed to define an RR device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising forming said optical surfaces to form a folded edge ray device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said optical surfaces are formed to define an RX device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said optical surfaces are formed to define an RXI device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said optical surfaces are formed to define an XX device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said optical surfaces are formed to define an XR device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of symmetrically extending said two-dimensional representation includes rotating said two-dimensional representation so that said optical device is rotationally symmetric about a central axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising forming said optical surfaces on a transparent dielectric core, and forming a cylindrical hole substantially centered about said central axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of inserting a receiver into said cylindrical hole and positioning said receiver approximately at said focal area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of attaching said receiver to said dielectric core using a material that has a substantially different index of refraction than said dielectric core.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of inserting an extended source into said cylindrical hole and positioning said source approximately at said focal area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of attaching said source to said dielectric core using a material that has a substantially different index of refraction than said dielectric core.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said optical surfaces is formed to comprise facets including an active facet and an inactive facet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the optical surfaces are formed to define an aspect ratio that is within a range of about 0.65 to about 0.1.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 22 wherein one of said active optical surfaces comprises a cuspoid shape that approaches said focal area.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising situating an extended light source approximately at the focal area, thereby providing a collimator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said optical surfaces are formed so that the average angle of the output distribution of radiation is less than about ±15° from normal incidence.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 25 comprising situating an LED light source approximately at said focal area.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 25 comprising situating an array of LED light sources approximately at said focal area.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
117 words
An optical device that converts a first distribution of an input radiation to a second distribution of output radiation, comprising: 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.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
117 words
An optical device that converts a first distribution of an input radiation to a second distribution of output radiation, comprising: 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.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The optical device of claim 29 wherein said optical device is rotationally-symmetric.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical device of claim 29 further comprising a transparent dielectric core, and wherein said optical surfaces are formed on said optical core.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical device of claim 29 further a receiver situated approximately at the focal area, thereby providing a concentrator.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
The optical device of claim 29 wherein said theoretical transmission efficiency of said first input radiation distribution to said second input radiation distribution, neglecting attenuation losses in the processing path, is greater than about 90% of the maximum transmission efficiency.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical device of claim 29 wherein one of said optical surfaces is substantially flat.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical device of claim 29 wherein said optical device is linearly-symmetric, so that said focal area comprises a linear shape.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical device of claim 29 further comprising a linear extended light source that extends along said focal area, thereby providing a collimator with an approximately rectangular cross-sectional output.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical device of claim 29 wherein said optical surfaces define an RR device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical device of claim 29 wherein said optical surfaces define a folded edge ray device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical device of claim 38 wherein said optical surfaces define an RX device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical device of claim 38 wherein said optical surfaces define an RXI device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical device of claim 38 wherein said optical surfaces define an XX device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical device of claim 38 wherein said optical surfaces define an XR device.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical device of claim 29 wherein at least one of said optical surfaces comprises facets including an active facet and an inactive facet.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical device of claim 43 wherein the optical surfaces define an aspect ratio within a range of about 0.65 to about 0.1.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical device of claim 43 wherein one of said active surfaces comprises a cuspoid shape that approaches said focal area.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical device of claim 29 wherein at least one of said optical surfaces comprises a diffuser formed thereon.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical device of claim 46 wherein said diffuser transforms incident radiation into a predetermined shape.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical device of claim 29 further comprising a light source situated approximately at the focal area, thereby providing a collimator.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical device of claim 48 wherein said optical surfaces define an average angle of the output distribution of radiation that is less than about ±15° from normal incidence.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
13 words
The optical device of claim 48 wherein said light source comprises an LED.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical device of claim 48 wherein said light source comprises an array of LEDs.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
34 words
The optical device of claim 29 wherein said optical device comprises a transparent dielectric core and said optical device is rotationally symmetric so that said optical device is rotationally symmetric around a central axis.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
33 words
The optical device of claim 52 wherein said optical device further comprises: a cylindrical hole centered about said central axis; and a receiver positioned in said cylindrical hole approximately at said focal area.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
33 words
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.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optical device of claim 52 wherein said optical device further comprises: a cylindrical hole centered about said central axis; and an extended light source positioned in said cylindrical hole approximately at said focal area.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
34 words
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.
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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) | 2006-10-27 | 2007-04-28 | 2007-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-04-28 | 2011-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-10-27 | 2015-04-28 | 2015-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |