Catoptric lens arrangement
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorJames R. Scholten
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A family of catoptric lens arrangements is provided for focusing a maximum mount of light from an omnidirectional source into a parallel or conical beam. A rear spherical-curvature reflector is inserted into a conventional forward spherical plus rear parabolic reflector arrangement, with its center of curvature and the light source both at the focal point of the parabolic reflector. In addition, a forward collimating lens is substituted for the central portion of the forward reflector. The theoretical 100% efficiency achieved by this arrangement is independent of the diameters of the forward and rear reflectors provided, of course, that the positions and curvatures are suitably compensated.
Claims10
A catoptric lens system for focusing a maximum amount of light from an omnidirectional source into a parallel beam comprising:
- a set of spherical reflectors disposed symmetrically in opposed reflective relationship along a common system axis, said surfaces having a common center and unequal radii;
- a parabolic reflector symmetrically disposed in said system with said center as its focal point and having its reflective surface replaced in part by said spherical reflector having the greatest radius,
- said spherical reflector having the lesser radius hemispherical in extent,
- a collimating lens symmetrically disposed in said spherical reflector of lesser radius replacing in part its reflective surface;
- and
- a substantially point source of light positioned at said center,
- whereby all light from said source is collimated and emanates from said system either directly through said lens, by reflection and re-reflection from said spherical and parabolic reflectors, or directly from said parabolic reflector.
A catoptric lens system for focusing a maximum amount of light from an omnidirectional source into beams of selective light ray alignment comprising:
- a set of spherical reflectors disposed symmetrically in opposed reflective relationship along a common axis,
- said reflectors having a common center and unequal radii;
- an omnidirectional source of light positioned at said center;
- a parabolic reflector symmetrically disposed in said system with its focal point along said axis intermediate said hemispherical reflectors and having its reflective surface replaced in part by a sector of said spherical reflector having the greatest radius,
- said spherical reflector having the lesser radius hemispherical in extent;
- and
- a lens symmetrically disposed in said spherical reflector of lesser radius replacing in part its reflective surface,
- said system producing a beam of desired ray distribution by refracting or reflecting out substantially all light rays radiating from said source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.