Non-Circular Aperture Optical System Beam Shaping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical systems face challenges in efficiently managing larger light beams without increasing the size and cost of optical elements, as small apertures reduce beam energy and adding lenses can cause optical aberrations and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a non-circular aperture and a variable density filter apparatus positioned proximate to the aperture, which allows selective filtration and beam shaping using a lens to optimize light throughput without increasing the size or cost of the optical system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a small aperture is used to prevent a larger light beam from passing around an optical element, then the size and cost of the optical element can be reduced, but the energy in the beam is reduced by blocking off a portion of the beam
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by replacing the conventional circular aperture with a non-circular aperture whose shape corresponds to the beam cross-section profile. This asymmetric design allows the aperture to match the actual light distribution, permitting more light energy to pass through while still defining the beam boundaries, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing optical element size and maintaining beam energy.
2Area of stationary object
If lenses are added to reduce the size of the light beam prior to the beam arriving at a small optical element, then the beam size can be reduced, but the length, weight, and cost of the optical system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the unnecessary circular aperture from the optical system, replacing it with a non-circular aperture that directly defines the beam shape. This eliminates the need for additional lenses that would otherwise be required to shape the beam, thereby reducing optical system complexity, length, weight, and cost while achieving the desired beam size control.
3Area of stationary object
If lenses are added to reduce the size of the light beam, then the beam size can be reduced, but optical aberrations or losses downstream increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by using the non-circular aperture to pre-define the beam cross-section profile at the source, before the beam propagates through the optical system. This preliminary shaping eliminates the need for downstream lenses that would introduce optical aberrations, thereby maintaining high optical performance and reliability while achieving the desired beam size reduction.
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 non-circular aperture design enhances light throughput by allowing more light to pass through the filter while maintaining system efficiency and reducing the need for larger optical elements, thus minimizing energy loss and optical aberrations.
Implementation Method 1
The lens collects the portion of the first beam of light passed by the non-circular aperture to produce a second beam of light
Implementation Method 2
The filter apparatus is positioned proximate to the non-circular aperture and is operable to selectively position a desired portion of a variable density filter in the portion of the first beam of light passed by the non-circular aperture
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system, light fixture and method are provided that include a light source, a non-circular aperture, a filter apparatus, and a lens. The light source produces a first beam of light, a portion of which is passed by the non-circular aperture. The filter apparatus is positioned proximate to the non-circular aperture and is operable to selectively position a desired portion of a variable density filter in the portion of the first beam of light passed by the non-circular aperture. The lens collects the portion of the first beam of light passed by the non-circular aperture to produce a second beam of light.