Wide field of view concentrator

US9383080B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Director, National Security Agency · US

Inventors

• Brian S. McGarvey · Arnold, US
• David Ortiz · New York, US
• Mario A. Serna · Albuquerque, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 21, 2014
• Grant date: Jul 5, 2016
• Expiry date: Jan 9, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P70/50
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention is a system that offers a capability to concentrate light from a large focal point onto a small spot on a detector. The system also offers off-axis capability should the system be moved, poorly pointed, off axis or jostled while in use. As designed, the present invention includes a half-ball lens having a front end and a back end, a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) having a front end and a back end, wherein the front end of said CPC is adjacent to the back end of the half-ball lens such that the CPC is centered against the back end of the half-ball lens, and a detector, wherein the detector is adjacent to the back end of the CPC.