Claims
- 1. An optical system for uniformly illuminating a target area having a predetermined aspect ratio and two independent numerical apertures in two orthogonal directions with optical power generated by a plurality of linear arrays of individual light sources, wherein each individual light source illuminates substantially the entire target area, said system comprising:
- a plurality of microlens arrays, each microlens array comprising a linear array of microlenses, each said microlens array associated with one of said linear array of light sources, each microlens for receiving and redirecting light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the slow axis;
- a plurality of first optical elements for receiving and redirecting light from said linear array of light sources into collimated beams of light in a fast axis, each first optical element associated with one of said linear arrays of light sources;
- a second optical element optically aligned with said plurality of microlens arrays, said second optical element for receiving light in the slow axis from said plurality of microlens arrays and for focusing light therefrom onto said target area; and
- a third optical element optically aligned with said plurality of first optical elements, said third optical element for receiving light in the fast axis from said plurality of first optical elements and for focusing light therefrom onto said target area.
- 2. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein each said microlens is operative to refract light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the slow axis.
- 3. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein each said microlens is operative to diffract light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the slow axis.
- 4. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein each said microlens is operative to refract and diffract, in combination, light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the slow axis.
- 5. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein each said first optical element is operative to refract light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the fast axis.
- 6. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein each said first optical element is operative to diffract light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the fast axis.
- 7. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein each said first optical element is operative to refract and diffract, in combination, light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the fast axis.
- 8. The optical system according to claim 1, further comprising aberration means for broadening the light from said linear array of individual light sources in order to reduce the sensitivity of said optical system to individual light sources that are off axis, said aberration means placed in the fast axis of said optical system.
- 9. An optical system for uniformly illuminating a target area having a predetermined aspect ratio and two independent numerical apertures in two orthogonal directions with optical power generated by a first linear array of individual light sources and a second linear array of individual light sources, wherein each individual light source illuminates substantially the entire target area, said system comprising:
- a first microlens array and a second microlens array, said first microlens array comprising a first liar array of microlenses, said second microlens array comprising a second linear array of microlenses, said first microlens array associated with said first linear array of light sources, said second microlens array associated with said second linear array of light sources, each microlens for receiving and redirecting light from said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the slow axis;
- a first optical element and a second optical element for receiving and redirecting light from said first and second linear array of light sources, respectively, into collimated beams of light in a fast axis;
- a prism comprising at least two mirrored sides, said prism suitably positioned to closely place together in parallel said collimated beams of light from said first and second optical element;
- a third optical element optically aligned with said fist microlens arrays and said second microlens arrays, said second optical element for receiving light in the slow axis from said first microlens array and said second microlens array and for focusing light therefrom both onto said target area; and
- a fourth optical element optically aligned with said first and second optical elements, said fourth optical element for receiving light in the fast axis from said first and second optical elements and for focusing light therefrom onto said target area.
- 10. The optical system according to claim 9, wherein each said microlens is operative to refract light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the slow axis.
- 11. The optical system according to claim 9, wherein each said microlens is operative to diffract light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the slow axis.
- 12. The optical system according to claim 9, wherein each said microlens is operative to refract and diffract, in combination, light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the slow axis.
- 13. The optical system according to claim 9, wherein each said first and said second optical elements are operative to refract light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the fast axis.
- 14. The optical system according to claim 9, wherein each said first and said second optical elements are operative to diffract light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the fast axis.
- 15. The optical system according to claim 9, wherein each said first and said second optical elements are operative to refract and diffract, in combination, light from one of said individual light sources into a collimated beam of light in the fast axis.
- 16. The optical system according to claim 9, further comprising aberration means for broadening the light from said linear array of individual light sources in order to reduce the sensitivity of said optical system to individual light sources that are off axis, said aberration means placed in the fast axis of said optical system.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/838,080, filed Apr. 15, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,981.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
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Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
838080 |
Apr 1997 |
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