IP Library › Granted Patent US 12681280
Granted Patent B1
US 12681280 · App. 18/479,434 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Dual beam path optical arrangements

Inventor: Russell Howe (Wilmington, MA)
Assignee: Eagle Technology, LLC
G02B17/0642
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12681280
App. No.
18/479,434
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

The techniques described herein relate to an apparatus including: a primary reflector including an orifice and a first reflective surface, the first reflective surface including a first region and a second region; and a secondary reflector including a second reflective surface facing the first reflective surface; wherein the first region, the second regions and the second reflective surface are configured such that the apparatus provides a two-bounce beam path through the apparatus and an independent four-bounce beam path through the apparatus.

Claims (39)

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a primary reflector comprising an orifice and a first reflective surface, the first reflective surface comprising a first region and a second region; and

a secondary reflector comprising a second reflective surface facing the first reflective surface;

wherein the first region and the second reflective surface are configured such that the apparatus provides a first beam path in which light of the first beam path reflects off the first region to the second reflective surface, and reflects off the second reflective surface through the orifice, and

wherein the first region, the second region and the second reflective surface are configured such that the apparatus provides a second beam path in which light of the second beam path reflects off the first region to the second reflective surface, reflects of the second reflective surface onto the second region, reflects off the second region to the second reflective surface, and reflects off the second reflective surface through the orifice.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein primary reflector comprises an annular mirror in which the orifice is at the center of the annular mirror, the second region comprises a first annular region closest to the orifice, and the first region comprises a second annular region surrounding the first annular region.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein first region comprises a first profile and the second region comprises a second profile different from the first profile.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first region comprises a first radius of curvature and the second region comprises a second radius of curvature different from the first radius of curvature.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first beam path reflects collimated light entering the apparatus such that it initially reflects off of the primary reflector and is reflected off the secondary reflector to a focus point on an opposite side of the primary reflector from the secondary reflector;

wherein the second beam path reflects non-collimated light entering the apparatus such that it initially reflects off of the primary reflector and is reflected off the secondary reflector to the focus point.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first beam path reflects collimated light entering the apparatus such that it initially reflects off of the primary reflector and is reflected off the secondary reflector to a first focus point on an opposite side of the primary reflector from the secondary reflector; and

wherein the second beam path reflects non-collimated light entering the apparatus such that it initially reflects off of the primary reflector and is reflected off the secondary reflector to a second focus point different from the first focus point on the opposite side of the primary reflector from the secondary reflector.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first beam path comprises a first numerical aperture and the second beam path comprises a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture.

8 . An apparatus comprising:

a primary reflector comprising a first orifice and a first reflective surface;

a secondary reflector comprising a second reflective surface facing the first reflective surface; and

a third reflector comprising a second orifice and a third reflective surface facing the second reflective surface;

wherein the primary reflector, secondary reflector and third reflector are configured such that the apparatus provides a first beam path in which light of the first beam path reflects off the first reflective surface to the second reflective surface and reflects off the second reflective surface through the first orifice and the second orifice, and

wherein the primary reflector, the secondary reflector and the third reflector are configured such that the apparatus provides a second beam path in which light of the second beam path reflects off the first reflective surface to the second reflective surface, reflects off the second reflective surface to the third reflective surface, reflects off the third reflective surface to the second reflective surface, and reflects off the second reflective surface through the second orifice and the first orifice.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein primary reflector comprises a first annular mirror in which the first orifice is at the center of the first annular mirror, and the third reflector comprises a second annular mirror in which the second orifice is at the center of the second annular mirror.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein first reflective surface comprises a first profile and the third reflective surface comprises a second profile different from the first profile.

11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first reflective surface comprises a first radius of curvature and the third reflective surface comprises a second radius of curvature different from the first radius of curvature.

12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first beam path reflects collimated light entering the apparatus such that it initially reflects off of the primary reflector and is reflected off the secondary reflector to a focus point on an opposite side of the primary reflector from the secondary reflector; and

wherein the second beam path reflects non-collimated light entering the apparatus such that it initially reflects off of the primary reflector and is reflected through the first orifice and the second orifice to the focus point.

13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first beam path reflects collimated light entering the apparatus such that it initially reflects off of the primary reflector and is reflected off the secondary reflector to a first focus point on an opposite side of the primary reflector from the secondary reflector; and

Wherein the second beam path reflects non-collimated light entering the apparatus such that it initially reflects off of the primary reflector and is reflected through the first orifice and the second orifice to a second focus point different from the first focus point on the opposite side of the primary reflector from the secondary reflector.

14 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the third reflector is arranged between the primary reflector and the secondary reflector.

15 . An apparatus comprising:

a primary reflector comprising a first orifice and a first reflective surface;

a secondary reflector comprising a second reflective surface facing the first reflective surface;

a third reflector comprising a second orifice and a third reflective surface facing the second reflective surface; and

a fourth reflector comprising a fourth reflective surface facing the third reflective surface;

wherein the primary reflector, secondary reflector and third reflector are configured such that the apparatus provides a first beam path in which light of the first beam path reflects off the first reflective surface, to the second reflective surface and reflects off the second reflective surface through the first orifice and the second orifice, and

wherein the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, the third reflector and the fourth reflector are configured such that the apparatus provides a second beam path in which light of the second beam path reflects off the first reflective surface to the second reflective surface, reflects off the second reflective surface to the third reflective surface, reflects off the third reflective surface to the fourth reflective surface, and reflects off the fourth reflective surface through the second orifice and the first orifice.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein primary reflector comprises a first annular mirror in which the first orifice is at the center of the first annular mirror, and the third reflector comprises a second annular mirror in which the second orifice is at the center of the second annular mirror.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein first reflective surface comprises a first profile and the third reflective surface comprises a second profile different from the first profile.

18 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first reflective surface comprises a first radius of curvature and the third reflective surface comprises a second radius of curvature different from the first radius of curvature.

19 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the third reflector is arranged between the primary reflector and the secondary reflector.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the fourth reflector is arranged between the third reflector and the secondary reflector.