Freeform optical surface for producing sharp-edged irradiance patterns
AssigneeMitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
InventorMatthew Brand
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Abstract
An optic has a freeform optical surface transforming incident light emitted by a zero-étendue light source to form an irradiation pattern including a caustic of light rays focused along a curve. The transverse thickness of the illuminated curve is determined by the diffraction limit of the wavelength of the incident light.
Claims20
An optic having a freeform optical surface transforming incident light emitted by a zero-étendue light source to form an irradiation pattern including a caustic of light rays focused along a curve, wherein the transverse thickness of the illuminated curve is determined by the diffraction limit of the wavelength of the incident light.
A method for fabricating an optic, comprising:
- determining a freeform optical surface transforming incident light into an irradiation pattern including a caustic of light rays focused along a curve, wherein, when the freeform optical surface is illuminated by a zero-étendue light source, wherein the transverse thickness of the illuminated curve is the size of an Airy disk at the wavelength of the incident light, and wherein, when the freeform optical surface is illuminated by a spatially extended light source, the curve has sharp-edge boarders preventing spilling of the light outside of the irradiation pattern;
- and
- fabricating the optic having the freeform optical surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.