Filter array for modifying radiant thermal energy
AssigneeEdtek, Inc.
InventorsWilliam E. Horne, Mark D. Morgan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for modifying the radiant energy spectrum of a thermal energy source to produce a desired spectral bandwidth profile including a frequency-selective resonant micromesh filter (50) confronting a thermal energy source (80). Micromesh filter (50) includes an array of resonant-conductive antenna elements (50', 50") and a substrate (56) for supporting the antenna elements. Thermal radiation (82) emitted from energy source (80) is filtered by micromesh filter (50), wherein radiant energy at particular wavelengths is reflected back to the energy source, while certain wavelength photons are transmitted through the micromesh filter.
Claims42
A system for modifying the radiant energy spectrum of a thermal energy source to a desired spectral bandwidth profile, comprising:
- a source of thermal energy adapted to generate incoherent thermal radiation, and
- a frequency-selective resonant micromesh filter confronting the thermal energy source, the micromesh filter including an array of resonant conductive antenna elements and a substrate for supporting the resonant conductive antenna elements,
- whereby thermal radiation emitted from the thermal energy source is filtered by the micromesh filter to produce a transmitted radiant energy spectrum modified to a desired bandwidth profile about the resonant frequency of the antenna array, and
- whereby thermal energy not passed by the micromesh filter is reflected back to the source by the filter with reflectivity >97% broadband.
A method of modifying the radiant energy spectrum of a thermal energy source to a desired bandwidth profile, comprising:
- providing a source of thermal energy adapted to generate thermal radiation, and
- filtering the thermal radiation through a frequency-selective resonant micromesh filter confronting the thermal energy source, the micromesh filter including an array of resonant conductive antenna elements and a substrate for supporting the conductive antenna elements,
- whereby thermal radiation emitted from the thermal energy source is filtered by the micromesh filter to produce a radiant energy spectrum modified to a desired spectral bandwidth profile about the resonant frequency of the antenna array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.