Concentrator for laser light
AssigneeThe Schepens Eye Research Institute, Inc.
InventorRobert H. Webb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical concentrator increases the power density from diffuse optical energy remitted by an optically diffusing surface by at least partially recollimating the diffuse optical energy. The concentrator includes an optical diffuser element illuminated at a first point by optical input energy and remitting incident optical energy. A reflective element has a reflective surface with a concentration point located at the first point and the reflective surface reflects diffuse optical energy incident on it from the diffuser element. At least one aperture is provided for the transmission of an output beam formed by a portion of the diffuse optical energy from at least the diffuser element.
Claims22
Apparatus for diffusing and concentrating coherent optical energy, comprising
- optical source means producing a beam of substantially coherent optical energy illuminating incident on a first point,
- diffuser means disposed at said first point for diffusely re-emitting said coherent optical energy incident thereon at said first point, said diffuser means having a surface roughness greater than the wavelength of said coherent optical energy,
- reflective means having a reflective surface having a concentration point disposed at said first point, said reflective surface being disposed for reflection of diffuse optical energy incident thereon and re-emitted from said diffuser means and for concentrating said diffuse optical energy to said concentration point, and
- means forming at least one aperture in said reflective means for the transmission of an output beam formed by a portion of said diffuse optical energy re-emitted from said diffuser means,
- said diffuser means and said reflective means and said aperture being further arranged for in part reflecting from said reflective surface to said concentration point, and for in part transmitting through said aperture, said diffuse optical energy from said diffuser means.
Optical illumination apparatus, comprising
- A) an optical source producing an input beam of substantially coherent optical energy, and
- B) an optical concentrator having
- (i) diffuser means disposed at a first point for illumination by said input beam, said diffuser means being disposed for diffusely re-emitting said substantially coherent optical energy incident thereon at said first point, said diffuser means having a surface roughness greater than the wavelength of said coherent optical energy,
- (ii) reflective means having a reflective surface having a concentration point disposed at said first point, said reflective surface being disposed for reflection of diffuse optical energy incident thereon re-emitted from said diffuser means and for concentrating said diffuse optical energy to said concentration point, and
- (iii) means forming at least one aperture in said reflective means for the transmission of an output beam formed by a portion of said diffuse optical energy re-emitted from said diffuser means,
- (iv) said diffuser means and said reflective means and said aperture being further arranged for in part reflecting from said reflective surface to said concentration point, and for in part transmitting through said aperture, said diffuse optical energy from said diffuser means.
An optical concentrator for concentrating despeckled laser radiation, comprising
- optical source means for producing a beam of laser radiation,
- despeckling means disposed at a first point for despeckling said laser radiation incident thereon at said first point, said despeckling means having a surface roughness greater than the wavelength of said laser radiation.
- reflective means having a reflective surface having a concentration point disposed at said first point, said reflective surface being disposed for reflection of despeckled laser radiation re-emitted by said despeckling means and for concentrating said despeckled laser radiation to said concentration point, and
- means forming at least one aperture in said reflective means for transmission of said despeckled laser energy re-emitted from said despeckling means,
- said despeckling means and said reflective means and said aperture being arranged for in part reflecting from said reflective surface to said concentration point, and for in part reflecting through said aperture, said despeckled laser energy re-emitted by said despeckling means.
Optical apparatus for concentrating diffuse optical energy re-emitted from a diffusely re-emitting surface, comprising
- A) means for irradiating at a first point a substantially coherent optical energy beam,
- B) means for diffusing and re-emitting said coherent optical energy beam incident at said first point, said means for diffusing having a surface roughness greater than the wavelength of said coherent optical energy beam,
- C) means for reflecting to said first point a portion of diffuse optical energy re-emitted from said first point, and
- D) means for transmitting a portion of diffuse optical energy re-emitted from said first point.
A method of concentrating diffuse optical energy re-emitted from a diffusely re-emitted surface, comprising the steps of
- A) irradiating at a first point a substantially coherent optical energy beam,
- B) diffusing and re-emitting said coherent optical energy incident at said first point,
- C) reflecting to said first point a portion of diffuse optical energy re-emitted from said first point, and
- D) transmitting a portion of diffuse optical energy re-emitted from said first point.
Optical apparatus for concentrating diffuse optical energy re-emitted from a diffusely re-emitting surface, said apparatus comprising
- optical source means for producing a substantially coherent optical energy beam,
- a diffusely re-emitting surface having a surface roughness greater than the wavelength of said coherent optical energy beam,
- means for directing said coherent optical energy beam onto a first point of said diffusely re-emitting surface,
- means for reflecting to said first point a portion of diffuse optical energy re-emitted from said first point on said diffusely re-emitting surface, and
- means for transmitting a portion of diffuse optical energy re-emitted from said first point, without such energy being again incident on said means for reflecting.
A method of concentrating diffuse optical energy re-emitted from a diffusely re-emitting surface, said method comprising the steps of
- A) directing a substantially coherent optical energy beam onto a first point of a diffusely re-emitting surface,
- B) reflecting to said first point, with a reflecting element, a portion of diffuse optical energy re-emitted from said first point on said diffusely re-emitting surface, and
- C) transmitting a portion of diffuse optical energy re-emitted from said first point, without such energy being again incident on said reflecting element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.