NON-IMAGING OPTICAL ILLUMINATION SYSTEM
The present invention is directed generally to a method and apparatus for providing user selected nonimaging optical outputs from electromagnetic energy sources of finite but small extent. More particularly, the invention is directed to a method and apparatus wherein the design profile of an optical apparatus for small, finite optical sources can be a variable of the acceptance angle of reflection of the source ray from the optical surface. By permitting such a functional
dependence, the nonimaging output can be well controlled.
Methods and apparatus concerning illumination by light sources of finite extent are set forth in a number of U.S.
patents including 3,957,031; 4,240,692; 4,359,265; 4,387,961; 4,483,007; 4,114,592; 4,130,107; 4,237,332; 4,230,095;
3,923,381; 4,002,499; 4,045,246; 4,912,614 and 4,003,638 all of which are incorporated by reference herein. In one of these patents the nonimaging illumination performance was enhanced by requiring the optical design to have the reflector constrained to begin on the emitting surface of the optical source.
However, in practice such a design was impractical to implement due to the very high temperatures developed by optical sources, such as infrared lamps, and because of the thick protective layers or glass envelopes required on the optical source. In other designs it is required that the optical source be
separated substantial distances from the optical source. In addition, when the optical source is small compared to other parameters of the problem, the prior art methods which use the approach designed for finite size sources provide a nonimaging output which is not well controlled; and this results in less than ideal illumination. Substantial difficulties therefore arise when the optical design involves situations such as: (1) the source size is much less than the closest distance of approach to any reflective or refractive component or (2) the angle subtended by the source at any ref lective or ref ractive component is much smaller than the angular divergence of an optical beam.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for producing a user selected nonimaging optical output.
It is another object of the invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for providing user selected nonimaging optical output of electromagnetic energy from optical designs using small, but finite, electromagnetic energy sources.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved optical apparatus and method of design wherein the optical acceptance angle for an electromagnetic ray is a function of the profile parameters of both two and three dimensional optical devices.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved optical apparatus and method of design for radiation collection. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a novel optical device and method for producing a user selected intensity output over an angular range of interest.
It is still an additional object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for providing a nonimaging optical illumination system which generates a substantially uniform optical output over a wide range of output angles.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings described below wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several views.
Description of the Drawings
FIGURE 1 shows a two-dimensional optical device for
providing nonimaging output;
FIGURE 2 illustrates a portion of the optical device of
FIG. 1 associated with the optical source and immediate
reflecting surface of the device.
FIGURE 3A illustrates a bottom portion of an optical system and FIG. 3B shows the involute portion of the reflecting
surface with selected critical design dimensions and angular design parameters associated with the source;
FIGURE 4A shows a perspective view of a three-dimensional optical system for nonimaging illumination and FIG. 4B
illustrates a portion of the optical system of FIG. 4A; and
FIG. 5A shows such intensity contours for an embodiment of the invention and FIGURE 5B illustrates nonimaging intensity output contours from a prior art optical design.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
In the design of optical systems for providing nonimaging illumination using optical sources which are small relative to other system parameters, one should consider the limiting case where the source has no extent. This is in a sense the opposite of the usual nonimaging problem where the finite size and specific shape of the source is critical in determining the design. In any practical situation, a source of finite, but small, extent can better be accommodated by the small-source nonimaging design described herein rather than by the existing prior art finite-source designs.
We can idealize a source by a line or point with negligible diameter and seek a one-reflection solution in analogy with the conventional "edge-ray methods" of nonimaging optics (see, for example, W. T. Welford and R . Winston "High Collection
Nonimaging Optics," Academic Press, New York, New York
/ (1989)). Polar coordinates R,Φ are used with the source as origin and θ for the angle of the ref lected ray as shown in FIG . 3 . The geometry in FIG. 3 shows that the following relation between source angle and reflected angle applies:
d/dΦ(logR) = tanα, (1)
where α is the angle of incidence with respect to the normal. Therefore,
α = (Φ-θ)/2 (2)
Equation (1) is readily integrated to yield,
log(R) - ∫tanαdΦ + const. (3)
so that,
R = const. exp(∫tanαdΦ) (4)
This equation ( A ) determines the reflector profile R(Φ) for any desired functional dependence θ(Φ).
Suppose we wish to radiate power (P) with a particular angular distribution P(θ) from a line source which we assume to be axially symmetric. For example, P(θ)=const. from θ-0 to θ1 and P(θ) ~ 0 outside this angular range. By conservation of energy P(θ)dθ=P(Φ)dΦ (neglecting material reflection loss) we need only ensure that
dθdΦ=P(Φ)/P(θ) (5)
to obtain the desire radiated beam profile. To illustrate the method, consider the above example of a constant P(θ) for a line source. By rotational symmetry of the line source, dP/dΦ = a constant so that, according to Equation (4) we want θ to be
a linear function of Φ such as, θ = aΦ. Then the solution of Equation (3) is
R=R0/CoSk(Φ/k) (6)
where,
k=2/(1-a), (7)
and R0 is the value of R at Φ=0.
We note that the case a=0 (k=2) gives the parabola in polar form,
R=R0/cos2(Φ/2), (8)
while the case θ=constant=θ1 gives the off-axis parabola,
R=R0cos2(θ1/2)/cos2[Φ-θ0)/2] (9)
Suppose we desire instead to illuminate a plane with a
particular intensity distribution. Then we correlate position on the plane with angle θ and proceed as above.
Turning next to a spherically symmetric point source, we consider the case of a constant P(Ω) where Ω is the radiated solid angle. Now we have by energy conservation,
P(Ω)dΩ = P(Ω0)dΩ0 (10)
where Ωo is the solid angle radiated by the source. By
spherical symmetry of the point source, P(Ω0)=constant.
Moreover, we have dΩ=(2π)dcosθ and dΩ0=(2π)dcosΦ; therefore, we need to make cosθ a linear function of cosΦ,
cosθ=a cosΦ + b (11)1
With the boundary conditions that θ = 0 at Φ = θ, θ=θ1 at Φ=Φ0. we obtain,
a=(1-cosθ1)/(1-cosΦ0) (12)
b=(cosθ1-cosΦ0)/(1-cosΦ0) (13)
[For example, for θ1<<1 and Φ0~π/2 we have, θ~√2θ0sin(½Φ).] This functional dependence is applied to Equation (4) which is then integrated, such as by conventional numerical methods.
A useful way to describe the reflector profile R(Φ) is in terms of the envelope (or caustic) of the reflected rays r(Φ). This is most simply given in terms of the direction of the reflected ray t=(-sinθ, cosθ). Since r(Φ) lies along a
reflected ray, it has the form,
r=R+Lt. (14)
where R=R(sinΦ1-cosΦ). Moreover,
RdΦ=Ldθ (15)
which is a consequence of the law of reflection. Therefore, r=R+t/(dθ/dΦ) (16)
In the previously cited case where θ is the linear function aΦ, the caustic curve is particularly simple,
r=R+t/a (17)
In terms of the caustic, we may view the reflector profile R as the locus of a taut string; the string unwraps from the caustic r while one end is fixed at the origin.
In any practical design the small but finite size of the source will smear by a small amount the "point-like" or
"line-like" angular distributions derived above. To prevent radiation from returning to the source, one may wish to "begin" the solution in the vicinity of θ-0 with an involute to a virtual source. Thus, the reflector design should be involute to the "ice cream cone" virtual source. It is well known in the art how to execute this result (see, for example, R.
Winston, "Appl. Optics," Vol. 17, p. 166 (1978)). Also, see U.S. Patent No. 4,230,095 which is incorporated by reference herein. Similarly, the finite size of the source may be better accommodated by considering rays from the source to originate not from the center but from the periphery in the manner of the "edge rays" of nonimaging designs. This method can be
implemented and a profile calculated using the computer program of the Appendix (and see FIG. 2) and an example of a line source and profile is illustrated in FIG. 1. Also, in case the beam pattern and/or source is not rotationally symmetric, one can use crossed two-dimensional reflectors in analogy with conventional crossed parabolic shaped reflecting surfaces. In any case, the present methods are most useful when the sources are small compared to the other parameters of the problem.
Various practical optical sources can include a long arc source which can be approximated by an axially symmetric line source. We then can utilize the reflector profile R(Φ)
determined hereinbefore as explained in expressions (5) to (9) and the accompanying text. This analysis applies equally to
two and three dimensional reflecting surface profiles of the optical device.
Another practical optical source is a short arc source which can be approximated by a spherically symmetric point source. The details of determining the optical profile are shown in Equations (10) through (13).
A preferred form of nonimaging optical system 20 is shown in FIG. 4A with a representative nonimaging output illustrated in FIG. 5A. Such an output can typically be obtained using conventional infrared optical sources 22 (see FIG. 4A), for example high intensity arc lamps or graphite glow bars.
Reflecting side walls 24 and 26 collect the infrared radiation emitted from the optical source 22 and reflect the radiation into the optical far field from the reflecting side walls 24 and 26. An ideal infrared generator concentrates the radiation from the optical source 22 within a particular angular range (typically a cone of about ± 15 degrees) or in an asymmetric field of ± 20 degrees in the horizontal plane by ± 6 degrees in the vertical plane. As shown from the contours of FIG. 5B, the prior art paraboloidal reflector systems (not shown) provide a nonuniform intensity output, whereas the optical system 20 provides a substantially uniform intensity output as shown in FIG. 5A. Note the excellent improvement in intensity profile from the prior art compound parabolic concentrator (CPC)
design. The improvements are summarized in tabular form in Table I below:
In a preferred embodiment designing an actual optical profile involves specification of four parameters. For example, in the case of a concentrator design, these parameters are:
1. a = the radius of a circular absorber;
2. b = the size of the gap;
3. c = the constant of proportionality between θ and
Φ-Φ0 in the equation θ=c(Φ-Φ0);
4. h = the maximum height.
A computer program has been used to carry out the
calculations, and these values are obtained from the user (see lines six and thirteen of the program which is attached as a computer software Appendix included as part of the
specification).
From Φ=0 to Φ=Φ0 in FIG. 3B the reflector profile is an involute of a circle with its distance of closest approach equal to b. The parametric equations for this curve are parameterized by the angle α (see FIG. 3A). As can be seen in
FIG. 3B, as Φ varies from 0 to Φ0, α varies from α0 to ninety degrees. The angle α0 depends on a and b, and is calculated in line fourteen of the computer software program. Between lines fifteen and one hundred and one, fifty points of the involute are calculated in polar coordinates by stepping through these parametric equations. The (r,θ) points are read to arrays r(i), and theta(i), respectively.
For va lues of Φ greater than Φ0 , the profile is the
solution to the differential equation:
d(lnr)/dΦ=tan{½[Φ-θ+arc sin(a/r]} where θ is a function of Φ. This makes the profile r(Φ) a functional of θ. In the sample calculation performed, θ is taken to be a linear function of Φ as in step 4. Other functional forms are described in the specification. It is desired to obtain one hundred fifty (r,theta) points in this region. In addition, the profile must be truncated to have the maximum height, h. We do not know the (r,theta) point which corresponds to this height, and thus, we must solve the above equation by increasing phi beyond Φ0 until the maximum height condition is met. This is carried out using the conventional fourth order Runga-Kutta numerical integration method between lines one hundred two and one hundred and fifteen. The maximum height condition is checked between lines one hundred sixteen and one hundred twenty.
Once the (r,theta) point at the maximum height is known, we can set our step sizes to calculate exactly one hundred fifty (r,theta) points between Φ0 and the point of maximum height. This is done between lines two hundred one and three hundred using the same numerical integration procedure. Again, the points are read into arrays r(i), theta(i).
In the end, we are left with two arrays: r(i) and
theta (i), each with two hundred components specifying two hundred (r,theta) points of the reflector surface. These arrays can then be used for design specifications, and ray trace applications.
In the case of a uniform beam design profile,
(P(θ)=conεtant), a typical set of parameters is (also see FIG. l):
a = 0.055 in.
b = 0.100 in.
h = 12.36 in.
c = 0.05136
for θ(Φ) = c(Φ-Φ0)
In the case of an exponential beam profile (P(θ)=ce-aθ) a typical set of parameters is:
a ~ o h = 5.25
b = 0.100 c = 4.694
Θ(Φ) = 0.131ln(1-
A ray trace of the uniform beam profile for the optical device of FIG. 1 is shown in a tabular form of output in Table II below:
APP. DIX-COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROGRAM
1 program coordinates
2 dimension r(1:200), theta(1:200),
dzdx(1:200)
3 dimension xx(1:200), zz(1:200)
4 real 1, k1, k2, k3, k4
5 parameter (degtorad=3.1415927/180.0)
6 write(*,*) 'Enter radius of cylindrical absorber.'
7 read(*,*)a
8 write(*,*) 'Enter gap size.'
9 read(*,*)b
10 write(*,*) 'Enter constant.'
11 read(*,*)c
12 write(*,*) 'Enter maximum height.'
13 read(*,*)h
c GENERATE 50 POINTS OF AN INVOLUTE
14 alpha0=acos(a/(a + b) )
15 do 100 i=1,50,1
16 alpha= ((90*degtorad-alpha0)/49.0)
*float(i-50)+90*degtorad
17 d= (alpha-alpha0)*a + sqrt((a+b)
**2 - a**2)
18 x= a*sin(alpha) - d*cos(alpha)
19 z= -a*cos(alpha) - d*sin(alpha)
20 r(i)=sgrt(x**2 + z**2)
21 theta(i) = atan(z/x)
22 phi= theta(i) + (90.0*degtorad)
100 continue
101 theta(l)= -90.0*degtorad
c GENERATE 150 POINTS OF THE WINSTON-TYPE CONCENTRATOR
102 v= 0.0
103 h= 0.001
104 phi0= theta(50) + (90.0*degtorad) +0.001
105 phi = phi0
106 f= alog(r(50))
107 do 200 while(v.eq.0.0)
108 phi= phi + h
109 k1= h*tan(0.5*((1.0-c)*phi+
c*phi0+asin(a/exp(f))))
110 k2= h*tan(0.5*((1.0-c)*
(phi+0.5*h)+c*phi0+
& asin(a/exp(f+0.5*k1))))
111 k3= h*tan(0.5*((1.0-c)*
(phi+0.5*h)+c*phi0+
& asin(a/exp(f+0.5*k2))))
112 k4= h*tan(0.5*((1.0-c)*(phi+h)+c*phi0+ & asin(a/exp(f+k3))))
113 f= f + (kl/6.0) + (k2/3.0) +
(k3/3.0) + (k4/6.0)
114 rad= exp(f)
115 z= rad*sin(phi-(90*degtorad))
116 if(z.ge.a) then
117 phimax- phi
118 write(*,*)'phimax=',phi/degtorad
119 v= 1.0
120 endif
200 continue
201 f= alog(r(50))
202 phi= (-1.0/149.0)*(phimax-phi0)+phi0
203 h= (phimax-ρhi0)/149.0
204 do 300 i-1, 150,1
205 phi= phi + h
206 k1= h*tan(0.5*((1.0-c)*phi+
c*phi0+asin(a/exp(f))))
207 k2= h*tan(0.5*((1.0-c)*
(phi+0.5*h)+c*phi0+
& asin(a/exp(f+0.5*kl))))
208 k3= h*tan(0.5*((1.0-c)*
(phi+0.5*h)+c*phi0+
& asin(a/exp(f+0.5*k2)))))
209 k4= h*tan(0.5*((1.0-c)*(phi+h)+c*phi0+ & asin(a/exp(f+k3))))
210 f= f + (kl/6.0) + (k2/3.0) +
(k3/3.0) + (k4/6.0)
211 r(i+50)= exp(f)
212 theta(i+50)= phi - (90.0*degtorad)
300 continue
301 stop
302 end