Condensing and collecting optical system using parabolic reflectors or a corresponding ellipsoid/hyperboloid pair of reflectors

An optical device for collecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by a source of electromagnetic radiation and focusing the collected radiation onto a target, said device comprising:

• a collimating reflector comprising at least a portion of a paraboloid of revolution, said collimating reflector having an optical axis and a focal point on said optical axis, said collimating reflector producing collimated rays of radiation reflected from said collimating reflector in a direction parallel to said optical axis when a source of electromagnetic radiation is located proximate said focal point of said collimating reflector;
• and
• a focusing reflector comprising at least a portion of a paraboloid of revolution, said focusing reflector having an optical axis and a focal point on said optical axis, said focusing reflector being positioned and oriented with respect to said collimating reflector so that the collimated rays of radiation reflected from said collimating reflector are reflected by said focusing reflector and focused toward a target positioned proximate said focal point of said focusing reflector;
• wherein said collimating reflector and said focusing reflector have substantially the same size and shape and are oriented optically symmetrically with respect to each other so that each ray of radiation reflected by a surface portion of said collimating reflector is reflected by a corresponding surface portion of said focusing reflector toward said target so as to achieve substantially unit magnification between the source and an image focused onto the target.

An optical device comprising:

• a plurality of sources of electromagnetic radiation;
• a target to be illuminated with at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by said sources;
• a collimating reflector having an optical axis and a first focal point on said optical axis, said electromagnetic radiation passing substantially through said first focal point of said collimating reflector to produce collimated rays of radiation reflected from said collimating reflector in a direction substantially parallel to said optical axis;
• and
• a focusing reflector having an optical axis and a second focal point on said optical axis, said target being located proximate said second focal point of said focusing reflector, said focusing reflector being positioned and oriented with respect to said collimating reflector so that the collimated rays of radiation reflected from said collimating reflector are reflected by said focusing reflector and focused substantially toward said target;
• and
• a spherical retro-reflector having a concave mounting surface that confronts said first collimating reflector and, that has said sources mounted thereon such that the electromagnetic radiation generated by said sources converges substantially at said first focal point.

An optical device comprising:

• a plurality of sources of electromagnetic radiation;
• a collimating reflector, said collimating reflector having an optical axis and a first focal point on said optical axis, said electromagnetic radiation passing substantially through said first focal point of said collimating reflector to produce collimated rays of radiation reflected from said collimating reflector in a direction substantially parallel to said optical axis;
• and
• a focusing reflector, said focusing reflector having an optical axis and a second focal point on said optical axis, said focusing reflector being positioned and oriented with respect to said collimating reflector so that the collimated rays of radiation reflected from said collimating reflector are reflected by said focusing reflector and focused toward a target positioned proximate said second focal point of said focusing reflector;
• a secondary collimating reflector having an optical axis that substantially coincides with the optical axis of said collimating reflector and a focal point that substantially coincides with the first focal point of said collimating reflector so that rays of electromagnetic radiation reflected toward said secondary collimating reflector in a direction parallel to the optical axis of said secondary collimating reflector are reflected by said secondary collimating reflector and focused toward said focal point of said secondary collimating reflector;
• and
• a generally flat reflector with a mounting surface that confronts said secondary collimating reflector and that has said sources mounted thereon such that the electromagnetic radiation generated by said sources is radiated in parallel toward said secondary collimating reflector.

An optical device comprising:

• a plurality of sources of electromagnetic radiation;
• a target to be illuminated with at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by said sources;
• a focusing reflector having an optical axis and a focal point on said optical axis, said target being located proximate said focal point of said focusing reflector, said focusing reflector being positioned and oriented so that parallel rays of radiation are reflected by said focusing reflector and focused substantially toward said target;
• and
• a generally flat reflector with a mounting surface that confronts said focusing reflector and that has said sources mounted thereon such that the electromagnetic radiation generated by said sources is radiated in parallel toward said focusing reflector.