Method and apparatus for coupling light and producing magnified images using an asymmetrical ellipsoid reflective surface
US6318885A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/0006
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for condensing and collecting electromagnetic radiation comprised generally of a radiation source, a reflector and a target is disclosed. The reflector has a reflecting surface for reflecting the radiation from the source which is in the shape of a cut out portion of an ellipsoid. The reflector surface has a substantially ellipsoidal curvature which is concave relative to both the target and the source, and which has a major axis, a minor axis, and a first and second focal points. The system of the present invention redirects radiation emitted from the source, located near the first focal point of the ellipsoid, to produce a magnified image of the source at the target, located near the second focal point of the ellipsoid. To acheive this spot size magnification, the ellipsoidal reflector surface comprises a portion of an ellipsoid which lies between the major and minor axes of the ellipsoid. The method disclosed comprises producing a magnified image of the source at the target by redirecting magnification emitted from a source with reflector having a concave surface shaped substantially of an ellipsoid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.