# US 9,039,213 B2 · Light concentration apparatus, systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,213 B2 - Document ID: US9039213B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/967,278 - Filed: 2013-08-14 - Published: 2013-12-12 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-30 - Assignees: The Regents of the University of California - Applicants: The Regents of the University of California - Inventors: Roland Winston; Weiya Zhang; Kevin Michael Balkoski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039213B2 ## CPC - F24S 23/71: with parabolic reflective surfaces (with cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces F24S23/74) - G02B 5/10: with curved faces - G02B 17/08: Catadioptric systems {(used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00)} - G02B 19/0028: {refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems} - G02B 19/0042: {for use with direct solar radiation} - G02B 19/0076: {for use with a detector (G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence)} - F24S 23/74: with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces - G02B 3/08: with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens {(diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876)} - G02B 5/1876: {Diffractive Fresnel lenses; Zone plates; Kinoforms (G02B5/1842, G02B5/1847 take precedence; optical systems having diffractive correction means G02B27/0037; Fresnel lenses operating by refraction G02B3/08)} - Y02E 10/40: Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract An optical device is disclosed including: a non-imaging secondary concentrator having an entry aperture and an exit aperture, and configured to receive light focused by a primary focusing element from a source onto the entry aperture. The non-imaging secondary concentrator includes: a first portion proximal the entry aperture; and a second portion proximal the exit aperture which is not rotationally symmetric about an optic axis. The optical device further comprises a means for homogenizing the light focused onto the entry aperture of the secondary concentrator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical device, comprising: a non-imaging secondary concentrator having an entry aperture and an exit aperture, and configured to receive light focused by a primary focusing element from a source onto the entry aperture, wherein the non-imaging secondary concentrator comprises: a first portion proximal the entry aperture; and a second portion proximal the exit aperture which is not rotationally symmetric about an optic axis; and further comprising a means for homogenizing the light focused onto the entry aperture of the secondary concentrator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a receiver located proximal to the exit aperture of the secondary concentrator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the receiver is optically coupled to the exit aperture of the secondary concentrator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the second portion extends and tapers along the optic axis from a wide end proximal the first portion to a narrow end comprising the exit aperture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the shape of the exit aperture corresponds to the shape of the receiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the receiver is square shaped, and the second portion of the non-imaging secondary concentrator comprises a truncated substantially square pyramidal portion, which extends and tapers along the optic axis from a wide end proximal the first portion to a narrow end comprising the exit aperture. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the non-imaging secondary concentrator is composed of a transparent dielectric material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the non-imaging secondary concentrator operates by total internal reflection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the non-imaging secondary concentrator operates by both total internal reflection and specular reflection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the secondary concentrator includes a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the non-imaging secondary concentrator comprises a spherical or aspheric-shaped entrance aperture. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, further comprising a means for homogenizing the light focused onto the entry aperture of the secondary concentrator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the primary focusing element includes a diffractive lens. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the secondary concentrator includes an angle transformer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising the primary focusing element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the primary focusing element has an f-number that is greater than about 0.9. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the primary focusing element includes a Fresnel lens. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the Fresnel lens is flat. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the Fresnel lens is substantially square. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the Fresnel lens is curved. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the primary focusing element has an f-number that is greater than about 1.5. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the primary focusing element includes a Fresnel reflector. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the primary focusing element includes a diffractive lens. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the first portion proximal the entry aperture is rotationally symmetric about the optic axis. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the first potion proximal the entry aperture is squared off or trimmed. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the entry aperture is substantially square with rounded corners. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the secondary concentrator has an f-number of 0.5 or less. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the secondary concentrator has an f-number of 1.0 or less. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion proximal the entry aperture is rotationally symmetric about the optic axis. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first potion proximal the entry aperture is squared off or trimmed. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the entry aperture is substantially square with rounded corners. ### Claim 32 An optical device, comprising: a non-imaging secondary concentrator having an entry aperture and an exit aperture, and configured to receive light focused by a primary focusing element from a source onto the entry aperture, wherein the non-imaging secondary concentrator comprises: a first portion proximal the entry aperture; and a second portion proximal the exit aperture which is not rotationally symmetric about an optic axis; and a receiver located proximal to the exit aperture of the secondary concentrator; wherein the optical device satisfies at least one of the following conditions: (a) the device further comprises the primary focusing element, the primary focusing element having an f-number that is greater than about 0.9; and (b) wherein the secondary concentrator has an f-number of 1.0 or less. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The device of claim 32, the optical device satisfies condition (a). ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The device of claim 33, wherein the primary focusing element has an f-number that is greater than about 1.5. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The device of claim 33, wherein the primary focusing element includes a Fresnel lens. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The device of claim 35, wherein the Fresnel lens is flat. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The device of claim 35, wherein the Fresnel lens is substantially square. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The device of claim 35, wherein the Fresnel lens is curved. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The device of claim 38, wherein the primary focusing element includes a diffractive lens. ### Claim 40 (depends on 33) The device of claim 33, wherein the first portion proximal the entry aperture is rotationally symmetric about the optic axis. ### Claim 41 (depends on 33) The device of claim 33, wherein the first potion proximal the entry aperture is squared off or trimmed. ### Claim 42 (depends on 33) The device of claim 33, wherein the entry aperture is substantially square with rounded corners. ### Claim 43 (depends on 32) The device of claim 32, wherein the device satisfies condition (b). ### Claim 44 (depends on 32) The device of claim 32, wherein the secondary concentrator has an f-number of 0.5 or less. ### Claim 45 (depends on 32) The device of claim 32, wherein the first portion proximal the entry aperture is rotationally symmetric about the optic axis. ### Claim 46 (depends on 32) The device of claim 32, wherein the first potion proximal the entry aperture is squared off or trimmed. ### Claim 47 (depends on 32) The device of claim 32, wherein the entry aperture is substantially square with rounded corners. ### Claim 48 An optical device, comprising: a non-imaging secondary concentrator having an entry aperture and an exit aperture, and configured to receive light focused by a primary focusing element from a source onto the entry aperture; wherein the non-imaging secondary concentrator comprises: a first portion proximal the entry aperture; and a second portion proximal the exit aperture which is not rotationally symmetric about an optic axis, wherein the secondary concentrator includes a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC); wherein the first portion of the non-imaging secondary concentrator comprises a spherical or aspheric-shaped entrance aperture, and wherein the primary focusing element includes a Fresnel reflector.