Combined prism for directional propagation of light rays

Abstract

The invention provides a light directional propagation combined prism which is formed by combining a light leading-in prism made of a material with the refractive index of n1 and a refraction and reflection optical element made of a material with the refractive index of n2, and the condition that n2 is larger than n1 is met. The combined surfaces of the two prisms are curved surfaces or broken line surfaces with consistent surface shapes, and a plurality of light directional propagation combined prisms are sequentially arranged and combined into a whole to form an array. Light rays in a large incident angle variation range can form light ray directional propagation by changing the propagation direction and path of the light rays, and the device is suitable for various application scenes such as light ray directional deflection illumination and static tracking-free condensation and can be widely applied to the fields of solar energy utilization and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optical technologies, and particularly to a combined prism for directional light propagation. Background Art

[0002] Utilizing condensing technologies to increase the energy flux density of sunlight is a key development direction in solar energy application fields such as optical fiber lighting, concentrating power generation, and heat collection and energy storage. Developing non-tracking condensing technologies is the direction pursued by people to achieve the economic, efficient, safe, and convenient utilization of sunlight resources.

[0003] Due to the regular trajectory of the sun's movement relative to the earth, its altitude angle and azimuth angle are constantly changing, causing the direction of the incident sunlight on the earth to change at all times. The large range of changes in the incident angle makes it difficult to effectively converge light without using tracking technologies. Therefore, existing condensing technologies generally adopt a heliostat tracking system. Although the development of heliostat tracking technologies and related trackers has made great progress in recent years, there are still prominent problems such as relatively bulky and complex structures, harsh installation conditions, high operation failure rates, high maintenance costs, and poor economy, resulting in the difficulty of large-scale application and popularization of existing solar condensing technologies.

[0004] Using modern optical technologies to change the propagation direction and path of the constantly changing incident light, and realizing the directional propagation of light within a large range of incident angle changes, promoting and driving the development and progress of lightweight non-tracking condensing technologies, is an effective method and technical approach to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To solve the above problems existing in the existing solar condensing technologies, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a combined prism for directional light propagation, which can be combined into an array to achieve the purpose of directional light propagation by changing the propagation direction and path of light within a large range of incident angle changes.

[0006] To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: A combined prism for directional light propagation, characterized in that: a light guiding prism made of a material with a refractive index of n 1 and a refractive optical element made of a material with a refractive index of n 2 are combined into a combined prism for directional light propagation; the combined prism for directional light propagation is marked as ABC, and the prism angle formed by the AB surface and the AC surface is α; the light guiding prism is marked as ABDC, and the refractive optical element is marked as BDCB, and the joint surface BDC surface of the two is a curved surface or a broken line surface with the same surface shape; the refractive index n 1 of the light guiding prism and the refractive index n 2 of the refractive optical element satisfy the condition: n 2 > n 1 .

[0007] Furthermore, for the light-directing propagation combined prism ABC, the AB surface is the light-receiving surface, the BC surface is the light-emitting surface, and the AC surface is the reflecting surface. The prism angle formed by the light-receiving surface AB and the reflecting surface AC of the light-directing propagation combined prism is α, and the opening direction of the α angle is the same as the light-directing propagation direction; an array is formed by arranging a plurality of the light-directing propagation combined prisms in sequence with the same opening direction of the prism angle α, the light-receiving surface AB facing upward and located on the same horizontal plane and combining them into one body.

[0008] For the light-directing propagation combined prism ABC, the AB surface is the light-receiving surface, the AC surface is the light-emitting surface, and the BC surface is both the reflecting surface of the refractive and reflective optical element and the common reflecting surface of the light-directing propagation combined prism ABC. The light-directing propagation direction of the formed light-directing propagation combined prism is opposite to the opening direction of the prism angle α; an array is formed by arranging a plurality of the light-directing propagation combined prisms in sequence with the same opening direction of the prism angle α, the light-receiving surface AB facing upward and located on the same horizontal plane and combining them into one body.

[0009] For the light-directing propagation combined prism ABC, the AB surface is the light-receiving surface, the BC surface is the light-emitting surface, and the AC surface is the total internal reflection surface. A reflecting plate is installed below the light-directing propagation combined prism and the array.

[0010] The light-directing propagation combined prisms are arranged in sequence with a spacing of d from each other and are integrally combined with a flat plate having a refractive index of n 1 and a thickness of t to form an array.

[0011] An array formed by combining a plurality of the light-directing propagation combined prisms can be symmetrically arranged horizontally or obliquely on the left and right to form an array combination system, or an asymmetric array combination system can be formed by using arrays with different numbers of prism combinations, different sizes, and different installation tilting angles.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1) By adopting a unique combined structure design of a light-introducing prism and a refractive and reflective optical element, the present invention enables the refractive and reflective optical path of the combined prism to form multiple "optically thinner medium - optically denser medium - optically thinner medium" optical interfaces, causing light rays with different incident angles to undergo refraction, reflection, and total internal reflection at multiple interfaces, changing the propagation direction and path of the incident light rays, and ultimately realizing the directional propagation of light rays within a large incident angle variation range.

[0013] 2) The array of light-directing propagation combined prisms formed by the present invention can form various effective combinations. It can be applied in a miniaturized concentrator or can form a combined array system for application in a large-scale concentrating light field, realizing the replacement of the existing heliostat tracking system composed of an electromechanical structure, and providing a simple and easily implementable new optical technology approach for the development and progress of non-tracking concentrating technology.

[0014] 3) The present invention is mainly manufactured by using optical glass materials and optical processing technologies. The materials used are easily obtainable, and the industrial manufacturing technologies for optical processing are mature, with good economy and are easy to be applied and promoted. Description of the Drawings

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a light-directional propagation combined prism of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a light-directional propagation combined prism of a transformed structure of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of light propagation using a total internal reflection surface of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an array structure formed by arranging the light-directional propagation combined prisms of the present invention at intervals; Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an array combination system of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0016] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] As Figure 1 shown, a light-introducing prism 01 made of a material with a refractive index of n 1 and a refractive-reflecting optical element 02 made of a material with a refractive index of n 2 are combined into a light-directional propagation combined prism, and an array is formed by arranging a plurality of light-directional propagation combined prisms in sequence and combining them into one body.

[0018] The light-directional propagation combined prism formed by combining the light-introducing prism 01 and the refractive-reflecting optical element 02 is marked as ABC, where the AB surface is the light-receiving surface, the BC surface is the light-emitting surface, and the AC surface is the reflecting surface. The prism angle formed by the light-receiving surface AB and the reflecting surface AC of the combined prism is α, and the opening direction of the α angle is the same as the light-directional propagation direction; The light-introducing prism 01 is marked as ABDC, and the refractive-reflecting optical element 02 is marked as BDCB. The two are combined into one body through the 011 surface and the 021 surface. The combined surface BDC is a curved surface or a broken-line surface with the same surface shape, and the 022 surface, that is, the BC surface, is the light-emitting surface of the combined prism; An array is formed by arranging a plurality of light-directional propagation combined prisms in sequence with the same opening direction of the prism angle α, the light-receiving surface AB facing upward and located on the same horizontal plane and combining them into one body; For the above-mentioned light-directional propagation combined prism and array, the refractive index n 1 of the material of the light-introducing prism 01 and the refractive index n 2 of the material of the refractive-reflecting optical element 02 satisfy the condition: n2 > n 1 。

[0019] Figure 1 Details the optical path trajectory of the light from incidence to emergence within the range of the incident angle αs of the combined prism formed by the present invention, where P 0 is the normal incident (0°) light, and P 1 , P 2 are respectively the small-angle and large-angle incident lights incident from the left side of P 0 , and P 3 , P 4 are respectively the small-angle and large-angle incident lights incident from the right side of P 0 . After the lights with different incident angles enter the combined prism, they are refracted and reflected at multiple interfaces, following the laws of refraction, reflection, and total internal reflection, so that the emergent light is directionally emitted in the opening direction of the α angle.

[0020] As Figure 2 shown, transform the combined prism ABC shown in Figure 1 into: the AB surface is the light receiving surface, the AC surface is the light emergent surface, and the BC surface, i.e., the 022 surface, is the reflecting surface, forming a combined prism with the opening direction of the α angle opposite to the direction of the directional propagation of the light. The figure details the propagation direction and path of the refracted and reflected light of the (P 0 -P 5 ) light inside the combined prism.

[0021] As Figure 3 shown, set the combined prism ABC as: the AB surface is the light receiving surface, the BC surface is the light emergent surface, and the AC surface is the total internal reflection surface. Install a reflector 03 below the combined prism and the array to integrally form a combined prism with the direction of the directional propagation of the light being the same as the opening direction of the α angle.

[0022] Figure 3 Details the refracted and reflected light propagation path of the incident light (P 01 -P 04 ) at different positions on the light receiving surface AB after entering the combined prism and the array. The incident light that satisfies the total internal reflection condition passes through the multiple "optically thinner - optically denser - optically thinner" interface combination structures inside the combined prism, so that the light propagation path is restricted to achieve directional propagation.

[0023] As Figure 4 shown, 6 light directional propagation combined prisms (K 1 -K 6 ) are arranged in sequence at intervals of d, and are integrally combined with a flat plate with a refractive index of n 1 and a thickness of t to form an array.

[0024] In actual implementation, according to the specifications and quantities of the light guiding prisms 01 formed according to the array requirements, arranged in sequence with a spacing of d between each other, and the overall structure with the upper thickness of the prism being t, by using a transparent material such as optical glass or optical plastic with a refractive index of n 1 to manufacture the light guiding prism array by methods such as hot pressing or injection molding, and then combining the refractive optical element 02 with a refractive index of n 2 with the light guiding prism array into one body by methods such as optical gluing to form a light directionally propagating combined prism array.

[0025] The present invention can be used independently as a single array or in multiple combination ways according to different usage scenarios and conditions.

[0026] For example Figure 5 as shown, to improve the light receiving area and light energy utilization efficiency, an array combination system is formed by arranging the arrays combined by (K 1 -K 6 ) 6 light directionally propagating combined prisms symmetrically arranged horizontally on the left and right.

[0027] In actual application, according to different requirements of the usage scenario, an asymmetric array combination system can be adopted, which is composed of arrays with different numbers of prism combinations, different sizes, and different installation tilts.

[0028] The above description only describes the prism structure, design principle, light refraction and reflection optical path trajectory, and combined array application that constitute the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the design spirit of the present invention, various deformations and improvements made by those skilled in the art to the technical solution of the present invention should fall within the protection scope determined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A light directional propagation combined prism, characterized in that: A light-introducing prism composed of a material with a refractive index of n1 and a refracting optical element composed of a material with a refractive index of n2 is combined into a light-directing propagation combined prism; the light-directing propagation combined prism is marked as ABC, and the prism angle formed by the AB surface and the AC surface is α; the light-introducing prism is marked as ABDC, and the refracting optical element is marked as BDCB, and the combined surface BDC of the two is a curved surface or a broken line surface with a consistent surface shape; the refractive index n1 of the light-introducing prism and the refractive index n2 of the refracting optical element satisfy the condition: n2>n1.

2. The light directional propagation combined prism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light directional propagation combination prism ABC, wherein the AB surface is the light receiving surface, the BC surface is the light emitting surface, the AC surface is the reflecting surface, the prism angle formed by the light receiving surface AB and the reflecting surface AC of the light directional propagation combination prism is α, and the opening direction of the angle α is the same as the directional propagation direction of the light; a plurality of the light directional propagation combination prisms are arranged in sequence and combined into one with the same opening direction of the prism angle α, the light receiving surfaces AB facing upwards and located on the same horizontal plane to form an array.

3. The light directional propagation combined prism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light directional propagation combination prism ABC has AB surfaces as light receiving surfaces, AC surfaces as light emitting surfaces, and BC surfaces as both reflecting surfaces of the refracting optical element and the common reflecting surface of the light directional propagation combination prism ABC. The light directional propagation direction of the constructed light directional propagation combination prism is opposite to the opening direction of the prism angle α. An array is formed by a plurality of light directional propagation combination prisms which are arranged in sequence with the same opening direction of the prism angle α, with the light receiving surfaces AB facing upwards and located on the same horizontal plane, and are combined into one.

4. The light directional propagation combined prism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The directional light propagation combined prism ABC has AB surface as a light receiving surface, BC surface as a light emitting surface, and AC surface as a total internal reflection surface. A reflector is installed below the directional light propagation combined prism and the array.

5. A light directional propagation combined prism and array according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The light directional propagation combined prisms are arranged in sequence at intervals of d and are integrated with a flat plate with a refractive index of n1 and a thickness of t to form an array.

6. A light directional propagation combined prism and array according to claim 5, characterized in that: An array composed of a plurality of the light directional propagation combination prisms can form an array combination system with left-right horizontal symmetry or left-right tilted symmetry, or an asymmetric array combination system can be formed by arrays with different numbers, sizes and installation angles of prisms.

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