Process for the design of free form reflectors which accounts for manufacturing tolerances
US5675495A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 7, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 18, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF21S41/334
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A process for computer-assisted-design of an optical element allows for anticipation of errors that may arise in the actual manufacture of the element. A known optical design program is first operated to determine data representing the physical characteristics of the element that will provide a desired optical output. Then, the data representing the optimum physical characteristics are modified in accordance with a statistical distribution that represents the errors in the physical elements that are expected in the actual manufacture of the physical elements. The optical output is then determined for an optical element having the modified physical characteristics. This modified optical output is compared with the desired optical output to determine whether the designed optical element will produce the desired optical output when manufactured.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.