Line-focus solar concentration 10 times higher than the 2D thermodynamic limit.

Line-focus solar concentrators have traditionally been limited by the 2D concentration limit due to the continuous translational symmetry in these systems. This limit is orders of magnitude lower than the 3D limit, severely limiting the achievable concentration ratio compared to point-focus systems. We propose a design principle for line-focus solar concentrators that bypasses this 2D limit, while maintaining a trough-like configuration and only requiring single-axis external solar tracking.

Second-order semi-aplanatic freeform optics as a limit case of the SMS 3D design method.

Second-order semi-aplanatism provides better imaging quality along a line of the object plane close to a point than conventional aplanatic optics, which is of interest in applications with high aspect ratio sensors. Designing an optic with second-order semi-aplanatism requires the use of freeform surfaces, and can be done as a limit case of the SMS 3D design method applied to stigmatically image 3 collinear object points. The algorithm for this specific design problem is described and a lens example with 3 freeform surfaces is designed and analyzed.

Compact illumination optic with three freeform surfaces for improved beam control.

Multi-chip and large size LEDs dominate the lighting market in developed countries these days. Nevertheless, a general optical design method to create prescribed intensity patterns for this type of extended sources does not exist. We present a design strategy in which the source and the target pattern are described by means of "edge wavefronts" of the system.

Three surface freeform aplanatic systems.

We address, in detail, the system of differential equations determining a freeform aplanatic system with illustrative examples. We also demonstrate how two optical surfaces, in general, are insufficient in achieving freeform aplanatism through the use of integrability condition for a given reflective freeform aplanatic configuration. This result also alludes to the fact that a freeform aplanatic system fulfills a broader set of conditions than its rotationally symmetric counterpart.

Analytical solution of an afocal two freeform mirror design problem.

We investigate a new afocal two freeform mirror design problem in first order optics. The resulting first-order partial differential equations for the freeform two mirror system have an analytic solution with the sole condition that the x-y and x'-y' axes are parallel. Two selected solutions are presented.

Freeform aplanatic systems as a limiting case of SMS.

We present here aplanatic systems in 3D geometry as a limiting case of a SMS 3D design. We extend the basic formulations governing rotationally symmetric aplanatic systems to freeform aplanatic systems and provide a formal proof that a SMS 3D design in the limiting case of 3 coincident points leads to a freeform aplanatic system.

Multifield direct design method for ultrashort throw ratio projection optics with two tailored mirrors.

In this work, we present a multifield direct design method for ultrashort throw ratio projection optics. The multifield design method allows us to directly calculate two freeform mirror profiles, which are fitted by odd polynomials and imported into an optical design program as an excellent starting point. Afterward, these two mirrors are represented by XY polynomial freeform surfaces for further optimization.

Simultaneous multiple surface design method for diffractive surfaces.

The simultaneous multiple surface (SMS) design method is extended to include design of diffractive optical surfaces besides refractive and reflective ones. This method involves the simultaneous and direct (no optimization) calculation of diffractive and refractive/reflective surfaces. Using the phase-shift properties of diffractive elements as an extra degree of freedom, two rays for each point on each diffractive surface are controlled.

Design of compact and ultra efficient aspherical lenses for extended Lambertian sources in two-dimensional geometry.

The energy efficiency and compactness of an illumination system are two main concerns in illumination design for extended sources. In this paper, we present two methods to design compact, ultra efficient aspherical lenses for extended Lambertian sources in two-dimensional geometry. The light rays are directed by using two aspherical surfaces in the first method and one aspherical surface along with an optimized parabola in the second method.

Modal wavefront estimation from its slopes by numerical orthogonal transformation method over general shaped aperture.

Wavefront estimation from the slope-based sensing metrologies zis important in modern optical testing. A numerical orthogonal transformation method is proposed for deriving the numerical orthogonal gradient polynomials as numerical orthogonal basis functions for directly fitting the measured slope data and then converting to the wavefront in a straightforward way in the modal approach. The presented method can be employed in the wavefront estimation from its slopes over the general shaped aperture.

Direct design of aspherical lenses for extended non-Lambertian sources in two-dimensional geometry.

Illumination design for extended sources is very important for practical applications. The existing direct methods that are all developed for extended Lambertian sources are not applicable to extended non-Lambertian sources whose luminance is a function of position and direction. What we present in this Letter is to our knowledge the first direct method for extended non-Lambertian sources.

Double aspheric imaging design with unconstrained object to image mapping.

An imaging design approach for optical systems consisting of two aspheres which is free of astigmatism is presented in this paper. A set of implicit differential equations is derived from generalized ray tracing. The solution of the derived equations provides the profiles of the two aspheres as well as the object to image mapping.

Prescribed intensity design for extended sources in three-dimensional rotational geometry.

Regulating the intensity distribution of an extended source to produce a prescribed illumination in three-dimensional (3D) rotationally symmetric geometry remains a challenging issue in illumination design. In this Letter, we present an effective method focusing on creating prescribed intensity designs for extended sources. By this method, a prescribed 3D intensity design is first converted into a two-dimensional intensity design for the extended source, a new approach is used to calculate the initial patch to generate a more stable design, and then a feedback strategy is employed to improve the performance of the aspherical lens in 3D rotational geometry.

Color uniformity in spotlights optimized with reflectors and TIR lenses.

We analyze the color uniformity in the far field of spotlight systems to estimate visual perception with a merit function derived from human factor experiments. A multi-colored light-emitting diode (LED) light engine with different light mixing levels is combined with several reflectors and total internal reflection (TIR) lenses. The optimized systems are analyzed at several color uniformity levels with regard to the efficiency, peak luminous intensity and dimensions.

Single freeform surface imaging design with unconstrained object to image mapping.

An imaging design approach which is free of third-order astigmatism for one freeform optical surface and the image is presented in this paper. A set of differential equations is derived from generalized ray tracing. The solution of the above derived equations provides the anastigmatic freeform optical surface, the image surface and the object to image mapping.

9-fold Fresnel-Köhler concentrator with Fresnel lens of variable focal point.

Non-uniform irradiance patterns over Multi-Junction Cells gives rise to power losses, especially when considering spectral irradiance distributions over different junctions. Thermal effects on Silicone-on-Glass lenses affect spectral irradiance distributions. A new Photovoltaic Concentrator (CPV), formed by nine optical channels, each one with a Köhler configuration, has been designed to overcome these effects at high concentrations for a large acceptance angle.

Initial design with L(2) Monge-Kantorovich theory for the Monge-Ampère equation method in freeform surface illumination design.

The Monge-Ampère (MA) equation arising in illumination design is highly nonlinear so that the convergence of the MA method is strongly determined by the initial design. We address the initial design of the MA method in this paper with the L(2)-Kantorovich (LMK) theory. An efficient approach is proposed to find the optimal mapping of the LMK problem.

Improving performances of Fresnel CPV systems: Fresnel-RXI Köhler concentrator.

The optical design presented here has been done in order to achieve superior optical performance in comparison with the state-of-the-art Fresnel CPV systems. The design consists of a Photovoltaic Concentrator (CPV) comprising a Fresnel lens (F) as a Primary Optical Element (POE) and a dielectric solid RXI as a Secondary Optical Element (SOE), both with free-form surfaces (i.e.

Improving performances of Fresnel CPV systems: Fresnel-RXI Köhler concentrator.

The optical design presented here has been done in order to achieve superior optical performance in comparison with the state-of-the-art Fresnel CPV systems. The design consists of a Photovoltaic Concentrator (CPV) comprising a Fresnel lens (F) as a Primary Optical Element (POE) and a dielectric solid RXI as a Secondary Optical Element (SOE), both with free-form surfaces (i.e.

Influence of the characteristics of a light source and target on the Monge-Ampére equation method in freeform optics design.

It was previously demonstrated in [Opt. Lett.38, 229 (2013)] that the problem of freeform surface illumination design can be converted into a nonlinear boundary problem for the elliptic Monge-Ampére equation based on the ideal source assumption.

Free-form optics for Fresnel-lens-based photovoltaic concentrators.

The Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV) promise relies upon the use of high-efficiency triple-junction solar cells (with proven efficiencies of over 44%) and upon high-performance optics that allow for high concentration concurrent with relaxed manufacturing tolerances (all key elements for low-cost mass production). Additionally, uniform illumination is highly desirable for efficiency and reliability reasons. All of these features have to be achieved with inexpensive optics containing only a few (in general no more than 2) optical elements.

Analytic free-form lens design in 3D: coupling three ray sets using two lens surfaces.

The two-dimensional analytic optics design method presented in a previous paper [Opt. Express 20, 5576-5585 (2012)] is extended in this work to the three-dimensional case, enabling the coupling of three ray sets with two free-form lens surfaces. Fermat's principle is used to deduce additional sets of functional differential equations which make it possible to calculate the lens surfaces.

SMS-based optimization strategy for ultra-compact SWIR telephoto lens design.

A new optical design strategy for rotational aspheres using very few parameters is presented. It consists of using the SMS method to design the aspheres embedded in a system with additional simpler surfaces (such as spheres, parabolas or other conics) and optimizing the free-parameters. Although the SMS surfaces are designed using only meridian rays, skew rays have proven to be well controlled within the optimization.

Analytic design method for optimal imaging: coupling three ray sets using two free-form lens profiles.

In this work, a new two-dimensional optics design method is proposed that enables the coupling of three ray sets with two lens surfaces. The method is especially important for optical systems designed for wide field of view and with clearly separated optical surfaces. Fermat's principle is used to deduce a set of functional differential equations fully describing the entire optical system.

LED backlight designs with the flow-line method.

An LED backlight has been designed using the flow-line design method. This method allows a very efficient control of the light extraction. The light is confined inside the guide by total internal reflection, being extracted only by specially calculated surfaces: the ejectors.