Optical element having a toric surface and method of making
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorWilliam E. Phillips, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image forming system is described that includes a light source that provides a light beam and an anamorphic refractive optical element. A first outer surface of the anamorphic element faces the light source and includes a toric surface. The light beam is incident upon the first outer face and then an incident surface of the anamorphic element. The anamorphic element directs the light beam to an image forming device. An illumination system is also described where an anamorphic element includes a toric surface and a facet surface.
Claims22
An image forming system comprising:
- a light source that provides a light beam;
- an anamorphic refractive optical element comprising a first outer surface for facing the light source and an incident surface, wherein the first outer surface includes a toric surface, wherein the refractive optical element is configured so that the light beam is incident on the first outer surface and then the incident surface;
- an image forming device;
- and
- a reflective polarizer disposed adjacent the incident surface;
- wherein the anamorphic element directs the light beam to the image forming device.
An illumination system comprising:
- a light source that provides a light beam;
- and
- an anamorphic refractive optical element comprising a first outer surface for facing the light source, wherein the first outer surface includes a toric surface and a first facet cut surface, wherein the first facet cut surface is a cylindrical surface.
A method of making an anamorphic component of an illumination system comprising:
- providing a portion of lens material having an edge surface;
- rotating the portion of lens material about a first rotation axis;
- while the portion is rotating, cutting into the edge surface to form a toric surface;
- and
- cutting a first facet cut surface in the toric surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.