Compact folded-optics illumination lens
A method for manufacturing an apparatus and the apparatus being configured to convert a first distribution of an input radiation to a second distribution of output radiation. The method consists of the steps of generating a two-dimensional representation of at least three active optical surfaces of an optical device including calculating a segment of a first surface based on edge ray sets as a first generalized Cartesian oval, calculating a segment of an entry surface based on the edge ray set as a second generalized Cartesian oval, calculating a segment of a second surface based on the edge ray set as a third generalized Cartesian oval, and successively repeating the steps of calculating the segment of the first surface and calculating the segment of the second surface in a direction towards a source, and rotationally sweeping the two-dimensional representation about a central axis providing a three-dimensional representation of the optical device.
1. A method for generating an optical beam, comprising the steps of:
refracting initial light;
internally reflecting the light;
again internally reflecting the light; and
refracting the light producing an output light that is at least partially collimated,
wherein the output light is collimated to an etendue limit defined by a relative size of aperture to effective source diameter.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the steps of internally reflecting the light includes totally internally reflecting the light.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the output light is collimated to an etendue limit defined by a relative size of aperture to effective source diameter.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein both the steps of internally reflecting the light comprise totally internally reflecting the light.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the producing an output light comprises producing the output light with a central beam portion.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the central beam portion has a beam width greater than a beam width of a main beam area produced about a perimeter of the central beam portion.
7. The method as claimed claim 1 , wherein the producing an output light comprises producing a portion of the output light with a central blank portion.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
generating the initial light from a circuit board mounted light source.
9. The method as claimed claim 8 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode light source.
10. A method for generating an optical beam, comprising the steps of:
refracting initial light:
internally reflecting the light;
again internally reflecting the light;
refracting the light producing an output light that is at least partially collimated;
wherein the producing an output light comprises producing the output light with a central beam portion; and
wherein the central beam portion has a beam width greater than a beam width of a main beam area produced about a perimeter of the central beam portion.