Condensing and collecting optical system using an ellipsoidal reflector
US5414600A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 1993 |
| Grant date | May 9, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/0006
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An off-axis optical system for collecting and condensing electromagnetic radiation utilizes an ellipsoidal reflector or a portion thereof configured so that the effects of magnification and optical aberrations (caused by the off-axis arrangement and an aspherical source envelope) are minimized. This is accomplished by the utilization of a specially designed ellipsoidal reflector having primary and secondary focal points along the major axis of the reflector or an effective reflecting portion thereof defined as that portion which is both illuminated by the source and subtended by the acceptance cone of the target. In the preferred embodiment, a single ellipsoidal reflector is configured with its major axis both non coincident with its geometric optical axis and with the optical axis of the target at an angle greater than zero degrees so as to reduce substantially the distance at which a focused image is formed and to achieve an average magnification near unity thereby maintaining the brightness of the source at the target. The radiant flux at the location of the target can be increased by incorporating a retro-reflector of toroidal or spherical design. In a second embodiment, the co…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.