Light collection system
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorAnurag Gupta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A light collection system includes a substantially elliptical first reflector that defines first and second focal points on an axis. The first reflector has an annular region that encompasses the first focal point. The annular region has a width W that is the distance of its projection onto the axis in a direction perpendicular to the axis and the width W is less than or equal to about 1/20 of a distance Df between the first and second focal points. A second reflector has an aperture through the second reflector on the axis. The second reflector is shaped and positioned to reflect electromagnetic radiation from the annular region on the first reflector back to the annular region for reflection to a different portion of the annular region and back to the aperture.
Claims51
A light collection system, comprising:
- a substantially elliptical first reflector defining first and second focal points on an axis and having an annular region encompassing the first focal point, the annular region having a width W that is the distance of its projection onto the axis in a direction perpendicular to the axis and the width W is less than or equal to about 1/20 of a distance Df between the first and second focal points;
- a second reflector with an aperture through the second reflector on the axis, shaped and positioned to reflect electromagnetic radiation from the annular region on the first reflector back to the annular region for reflection to a different portion of the annular region and back to the aperture.
A light collection system, comprising:
- a substantially elliptical first reflector having a radius of aperture and defining a first focal point and a second focal point, wherein the first and second focal points define an axis;
- and
- a second reflector having an aperture with a maximum opening formed through the second reflector and on the axis, and a radius of aperture less than the radius of aperture of the first reflector and less than the maximum opening, wherein the second reflector is positioned to reflect electromagnetic radiation from the first reflector to the first reflector.
A light collection system, comprising:
- a substantially elliptical first reflector defining a first focal point and a second focal point, wherein the first and second focal points define an axis and the first reflector has a numerical aperture NA;
- a spatial homogenizer having a proximate end positioned substantially at the second focal point and extending away from the first reflector to a distal end;
- and
- a second reflector having a center of curvature substantially on the axis and an aperture formed through the second reflector and on the axis, wherein the second reflector is positioned to reflect radiation from the first reflector to the first reflector and has a curvature such that substantially all of the radiation reflected from the second reflector back to the first reflector that enters the proximate end of the special homogenizer has a maximum angle of acceptance A substantially such that sin(A)≦NA.
A light collection system, comprising:
- a first reflector having a substantially elliptical surface with a radius of aperture, the first reflector defines a first focal point and a second focal point, which define an axis,
- a source of light located substantially at the first focal point;
- and
- a second reflector having a center of retroflection substantially on the axis, an aperture having a maximum opening, formed through the second reflector and substantially centered on the axis, and a radius of aperture less than the radius of aperture of the first reflector and less than the maximum opening of the aperture through the second reflector, wherein the second reflector is positioned to reflect light from a region of the first reflector to the same region of the first reflector.
A method, comprising:
- providing a substantially elliptical first reflector having a radius of aperture, a first focal point and a second focal point along an axis;
- and
- positioning a curved second reflector having a center of curvature and an aperture having a maximum opening formed through the second reflector, where the second reflector is positioned so its center of curvature is substantially on the axis, its aperture is on the axis, its radius of aperture is less than the radius of aperture of the first reflector and less than the maximum opening of the aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.