Light collection system converting ultraviolet energy to visible light
View Patent ↗A light collection system comprises a light source with a bulbous section for emitting radiant energy in the direction of first and second portions of the bulbous section. A reflecting surface directs visible light from the light source to the first portion. Another reflecting surface directs UV energy from the light source to the second portion. A first angle-to-area converter receives visible light in the first portion and decreases the angle of the visible light to a desired angle. A second angle-to-area converter receives UV energy in the second portion and decreases the angle of the UV energy to a desired angle. A phosphor layer receives UV energy downstream of the second angle-to-area converter and converts the UV energy to visible light. A third angle-to-area converter receives visible light from the phosphor and reducing the angle of such light to an angle optimized for entering a fiber optic cable.
1. A light collection system, comprising:
a) a light source with a bulbous section for emitting radiant energy in the direction of first and second portions of the bulbous section;
b) a reflecting surface to direct visible light from the light source to the first portion;
c) another reflecting surface to direct UV energy from the light source to the second portion;
d) a first angle-to-area converter for receiving visible light in the first portion and decreasing the angle of the visible light to a desired angle;
e) a second angle-to-area converter for receiving UV energy in the second portion and decreasing the angle of the UV energy to a desired angle;
f) a phosphor layer for receiving UV energy downstream of the second angle-to-area converter for converting the UV energy to visible light; and
g) a third angle-to-area converter for receiving visible light from the phosphor and reducing the angle of such light to an angle optimized for entering a fiber optic cable.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions comprise substantially first and second hemispheres of the bulbous section that are opposite to each other.
3. The light pipe of claim 1 , wherein:
a) the reflecting surface to direct visible light is coated on the bulbous section; and
b) the reflecting surface to direct UV energy is coated on the bulbous section.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth angle-to-area converter for receiving light from the second angle-to-area converter for increasing the angle of UV energy to about 90 degrees before delivering such energy to the phosphor layer.
5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a reflective coating on the output of the fourth angle-to-area converter that passes UV energy but reflects visible light.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the reflective coating increases the light output of the third area-to angle-converter by reflecting visible light leaving the phosphor layer in a direction not collected by the third angle-to-area converter so as to redirect such light into the third-angle-to-area converter.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fourth angle-to-area converter is solid.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fourth angle-to-area converter is made of quartz.
9. The system on claim 1 , further comprising an anti-reflective coating on an input of the fourth angle-to-area converter that allows more UV energy to enter into the converter than could enter without the coating.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and third angle-to-area converters for visible light have substantially the same shape.
11. A light collection system, comprising:
a) a light source comprising a metal halide lamp with a bulbous section for emitting radiant energy in the direction of first and second portions of the bulbous section;
b) a coating on the bulbous section to direct visible light from the light source to the first portion;
c) a coating on the bulbous section to direct UV energy from the light source to the second portion;
d) a first angle-to-area converter for receiving visible light in the first portion and decreasing the angle of the visible light to a desired angle;
e) a second angle-to-area converter for receiving UV energy in the second portion and decreasing the angle of the UV energy to a desired angle;
f) a phosphor layer for receiving UV energy downstream of the second angle-to-area converter for converting the UV energy to visible light;
g) a third angle-to-area converter for receiving visible light from the phosphor and reducing the angle of such light to an angle optimized for entering a fiber optic cable; and
h) a fourth angle-to-area converter for receiving light from the second angle-to-area converter for increasing the angle of UV energy to about 90 degrees before delivering such energy to the phosphor layer; and
i) the first and fourth angle-to-area converters are configured to create visible light a half angle below about 50 degrees.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first and second portion comprise substantially first and second hemispheres that are opposite to each other.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first and fourth angle-to-area converters are configured to create visible light a half-angle of about 38 degrees.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth angle-to-area converters are coated with any of HfO2, ZrO2, and AlO2.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the fourth angle-to-area converter comprises quartz.