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Improved coupling of light from small arc lamp to larger target

A technology of optical coupling and arc gap, applied in the coupling of optical waveguides, optical fiber light guides, and light guides of lighting systems, etc., can solve problems such as amplification, inefficiency, and reduced flux density.

Inactive Publication Date: 2002-06-26
COGENT LIGHT TECH
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Converging lenses of this type usually have several disadvantages: they are often quite expensive, take up a lot of space, are inherently difficult to center, and they produce chromatic and spherical aberrations
These reflective systems are still expensive, and they have inherent disadvantages: they naturally magnify the image, causing a decrease in flux density to the target
Since this system allows increased flux density at the target point due to its inherent 1:1 image magnification, it has the disadvantage that its flux concentration efficiency scales linearly with the off-axis distance between the target 6 and the arc lamp 1 and reduce
However, with all these prior systems, the numerical aperture of the light must be increased
Therefore, these systems are inefficient when used to couple light into a fiber

Method used

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  • Improved coupling of light from small arc lamp to larger target
  • Improved coupling of light from small arc lamp to larger target
  • Improved coupling of light from small arc lamp to larger target

Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

Embodiment 1

[0050] Using an off-axis imaging system with 1:1 magnification, such as figure 1 One system is shown, which will affect the selection of the remaining components. Because the primary mirror has a large collection angle, the target image inherently has astigmatism and other optical aberrations that cause the image to necessarily be larger than the arc gap size. In a 1:1 imaging system, if the input diameter of the light conversion device 8 is 2-3 times the size of the arc gap of the lamp, then the input numerical aperture of the conversion device is similar to the numerical aperture of the input light of the target spot to obtain the maximum collection efficiency. exist figure 1 Among them, the NA of the off-axis imaging system is about 0.7, and the NA of the light conversion device is 0.66 or more.

[0051] Given that the output device is a 12 mm diameter single core plastic optical fiber with 0.6 NA, any imaging system that produces a focal point of less than about 6 mm is...

Embodiment 2

[0054] Given that the maximum collection efficiency of the present invention depends on the configuration of the collecting and converging / imaging optics and light guide, there are a range of configurations or preferred embodiments that will increase the amount of light collected and transmitted through the fiber optic target by an amount dependent on the target's size. In an off-axis configuration, achieving higher collection efficiency from the primary mirror requires an increase in the effective NA of the primary mirror. However, by increasing the solid angle over which the light is reflected to the target, some rays will magnify and some will shrink, rather than 1:1 imaging, as in figure 2 shown. For example, as shown, the ray r 3 Having the reflection point on the reflector closer to the lamp 1 than the target spot 6 will give a magnified image on the target. light r 4 , as shown, having reflection points on the mirror that are closer to the mirror than the lamp will...

Embodiment 3

[0056] Another way to collect and focus light at larger collection angles is to use an extended ellipsoidal reflector such as image 3 shown. With this configuration, most of the light is collected by the reflector, however, the amplification is not 1:1. Typically, such a configuration will have a magnification of not less than 3:1. In this case, the optical NA of the target is still too large, approximately bulk, to couple into a large diameter target, such as a fiber bundle or a large single plastic fiber, each with an NA of approximately 0.5-0.6. In prior art systems combined with elliptical collecting and converging reflectors, the reflectors are truncated and do not include image 3 The protruding part of the middle reflector 3a. In prior art systems, the light from the protruding part of reflector 3a cannot be used because the light collected from the high NA part will have too high a NA and will not couple into the usual fiber target, the NA of the usual fiber target...

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PUM

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Abstract

A light guide (8) is used to couple light from an imaging source (1) having a large numerical aperture into a fiber optic component (7) with a relatively smaller numerical aperture. A tapered cladded rod, tapered fused bundle of optical fibers, tapered hollow reflective tube, CPC or negative lens when used as a light guide, provides for efficient coupling of light into a fiber optic component without loss of flux density. Such a system is especially advantageous when used with an imaging source that produces a very small image spot size with high numerical aperture, such as one producing a 1:1 image like a spherical off-axis reflector.

Description

field of invention [0001] This invention relates to the field of systems for collecting and focusing electromagnetic radiation and coupling the radiation into a target. background of the invention [0002] In the field of fiber optic technology, a long-standing goal has been to develop a system to more efficiently collect and focus electromagnetic radiation from an incoherent source (closer to a point source). Conventional systems attempt to direct radiation originating from a generally incoherent source into a small spot size without a corresponding reduction in radiant flux. [0003] Typically, two approaches have been taken in developing such systems. The first involves the use of converging lenses between the light source and the target. Converging lenses of this type usually have several disadvantages: they are often quite expensive, take up a lot of space, are inherently difficult to center, and they suffer from chromatic and spherical aberration. Another common mea...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(China)
IPC IPC(8): F21V8/00F21Y101/00G02B6/26G02B6/42
CPCG02B6/0008G02B6/421G02B6/0006G02B6/4298G02B6/4206G02B6/4203G02B6/262G02B6/00
Inventor 肯尼斯·K·利道格拉斯·M·布伦纳钦福·郑
Owner COGENT LIGHT TECH