Lens Reducing Light Beam Divergence While Preserving Etendue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical systems for illuminating targets often fail to preserve the etendue of light sources, leading to deficient image quality, and collimators used to address this issue increase system size, making them unsuitable for applications like cell phones and projectors.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a light source emitting beams with a first divergence, a lens that reduces this divergence to a second divergence while maintaining optical quality and satisfying the sine condition without removing spherical aberrations, and an optional combiner with a single optically active collimating lens, which reduces system size and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a collimator is used to collimate the light beams, then the etendue of the light source is preserved, but the size of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the collimating function with the lens function by integrating the collimator into the lens assembly. The lens is configured to both focus light and collimate beams, eliminating the need for a separate collimator component and reducing overall system size while preserving etendue.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: focusing light from the light source, collimating the light beams, and preserving etendue. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing system size.
2Volume of moving object
If a lens is placed close to the light source, then the system size is reduced, but the efficiency and lifetime of the light source decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical system into distinct functional zones: a light source separation region that maintains distance for efficiency, and a lens region that performs optical manipulation. This spatial segmentation allows the light source to operate at optimal distance while the lens handles beam control, balancing system size with light source reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If spherical aberrations are removed from the light beams, then the optical quality improves, but the etendue preservation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is designed with specific parameters (curvature, thickness, material index of refraction) that allow it to satisfy the sine condition for etendue preservation while introducing controlled amounts of spherical aberration. The design accepts that some optical imperfection is necessary to maintain the fundamental etendue property, prioritizing this conservation over perfect aberration-free transmission.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system preserves the etendue of the light source, enhances image sharpness, increases the efficiency and lifespan of the light source, and reduces system size and cost by eliminating the need for additional housing.
Implementation Method 1
a lens separated from the light source. The lens is configured to substantially satisfy the sine condition without removing spherical aberrations from the one or more light beams. The lens is further configured to receive the one or more light beams with the first divergence. The lens is further configured to change the first divergence of the one or more light beams to a second divergence.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for illuminating a target includes a light source configured to emit one or more light beams with a first divergence. The system further includes a lens separated from the light source. The lens is configured to substantially satisfy the sine condition without removing spherical aberrations from the one or more light beams. The lens is further configured to receive the one or more light beams with the first divergence. The lens is further configured to change the first divergence of the one or more light beams to a second divergence. The second divergence is less than the first divergence. The second divergence is greater than zero. The lens is further configured to transmit the one or more light beams with the second divergence.