# US 2010/0165306 A1 · Beam projection systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0165306 A1 - Document ID: US20100165306A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/650,643 - Filed: 2009-12-31 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-31 - Assignees: Luxmi Corporation - Inventors: Anthony D. McGettigan; Markus Duelli; Apurba Pradhan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100165306A1 ## CPC - G03B 21/2026: {Gas discharge type light sources, e.g. arcs} - G02B 19/0028: {refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems} - G02B 19/0047: {for use with a light source (G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence; details of lighting devices in general F21V; non-semiconductor lasers having optical devices external to the laser cavity H01S3/005)} - G03B 21/208: {Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light} - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract Throughput efficiency of an optical system is enhanced by using a directional light source coupled to a non-imaging optical element matched to a size and acceptance angle of an imaging lens. In various embodiments, a beam projection system and accompanying method are described that include a lamp body formed from a dielectric material. A bulb, placed adjacent to the lamp body, has a fill that forms a plasma when RF power is coupled to the fill from the lamp body. An optical train is optically coupled to the bulb to transform light generated by the plasma. The optical train includes a non-imaging optical element, an aperture, and at least one imaging lens element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A beam projection system comprising: a lamp body comprising a dielectric material; a bulb proximate to the lamp body, the bulb containing a fill that forms a plasma when RF power is coupled to the fill from the lamp body; and an optical train optically coupled to the bulb, the optical train including: a non-imaging optical element; an aperture proximate to the non-imaging optical element; and at least one imaging lens element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The beam projection system of claim 1 wherein the non-imaging optical element has at least one reflective surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The beam projection system of claim 1 wherein the non-imaging optical element is a compound parabolic collector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The beam projection system of claim 1 wherein the non-imaging optical element is a truncated portion of a compound parabolic collector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The beam projection system of claim 1 wherein the non-imaging optical element includes a plurality of stages. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The beam projection system of claim 5 wherein a first stage of the plurality of stages of the non-imaging optical element is configured to recirculate light formed from the plasma through the bulb. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The beam projection system of claim 5 wherein a first stage of the plurality of stages of the non-imaging optical element is a scattering lightpipe configured to homogenize a color spectrum of light generated by the bulb. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The beam projection system of claim 1 wherein the non-imaging optical element includes a plurality of facets. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The beam projection system of claim 1 wherein the aperture is an annulus at an exit face of the non-imaging optical element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The beam projection system of claim 1 wherein the aperture is a reflective exit face of the non-imaging optical element. ### Claim 11 A beam projection system comprising: a directional light source; a non-imaging optical element optically coupled to receive light emitted from the directional light source; an aperture proximate to the non-imaging optical element; and at least one imaging lens element proximate to the aperture. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The beam projection system of claim 11 wherein the non-imaging optical element has at least one reflective surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The beam projection system of claim 11 wherein the non-imaging optical element is a compound parabolic collector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The beam projection system of claim 11 wherein the non-imaging optical element is a truncated portion of a compound parabolic collector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The beam projection system of claim 11 wherein the non-imaging optical element includes a plurality of stages. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The beam projection system of claim 15 wherein a first stage of the plurality of stages of the non-imaging optical element is configured to recirculate the emitted light generated by the directional light source. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The beam projection system of claim 15 wherein a first stage of the plurality of stages of the non-imaging optical element is a scattering lightpipe configured to homogenize a color spectrum of the emitted light generated by the directional light source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The beam projection system of claim 11 where the non-imaging optical element includes a plurality of facets. ### Claim 19 A method of producing an image, the method comprising: producing a beam of light from a directional light source; directing the beam of light through a non-imaging optical element; transforming a spatial and angular distribution of the beam of light in the non-imaging optical element; and forming an output beam from the transformed beam of light. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising homogenizing a color spectrum of the beam of light generated by the directional light source, the homogenization occurring in the non-imaging optical element.