Optical waveguides – Noncyclindrical or nonplanar shaped waveguide
Patent
1994-06-28
1997-04-29
Lee, John D.
Optical waveguides
Noncyclindrical or nonplanar shaped waveguide
385123, 385 48, 359503, 359894, G02B 610
Patent
active
056257384
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an optical system for providing uniform illumination of a light valve. The light source is an extended source generally emitting a non-uniform spatial distribution of light power. Source light is focused into the entrance end of a light transmitting tunnel having reflecting interior wall surfaces and having cross sectional and length dimensions chosen to deliver, at the exit end of the tunnel, light which is substantially uniform in power distribution over the surface area of the exit end. This is caused by multiple reflections from the tunnel walls. The exiting light is advantageously used to illuminate uniformly a light valve. The tunnel may be tapered to alter the exit angular aperture. The tunnel may be hollow or filled with a transparent material. In addition, the tunnel may be segmented and folded to provide a joint which conforms tunnel geometry to given spatial limitations between source and valve. The joint also provides a convenient way of directing heat out of the tunnel structure. One embodiment of the present invention includes a compound light transmitting tunnel with a plurality of segments and exit ends. A joint between adjacent segments divides light into a transmitted range of wavelengths and a reflected range of wavelengths.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3170980 (1965-02-01), Pritcchard
patent: 3832029 (1974-08-01), Bryngdahl
patent: 3913872 (1975-10-01), Weber
patent: 4045133 (1977-08-01), Carlson
patent: 5059013 (1991-10-01), Jain
Chervenak William J.
Corning Incorporated
Lee John D.
Palmer Phan T. H.
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