发明人：
RAMIREZ-INIGUEZ, ROBERTO | BABADI, SINA | BOUTALEB, TULEEN
摘要：
An optical element and associated methods for generating an optical element and apparatus comprising the optical element, wherein the optical element comprises a side structure. Optical radiation passing through the optical element comprises a first portion of optical radiation which is not incident on the side structure of the optical element, and a second portion of optical radiation which is incident on the side structure of the optical element. The optical element is configured such that optical radiation emitted from the optical element comprises the first and second portions of optical radiation and is incident on a target area. The optical element is configured such that the first and second portions of optical radiation at least partially or wholly have or result in complementary intensity profiles in the target area.
权利要求：
CLAIMS:
1. An optical element comprising a first surface and a second surface, the first surface and second surface being connected together by a side structure,
the optical element being configured such that optical radiation passing through the optical element from the first surface to the second surface comprises a first portion of optical radiation that is not incident on the side structure of the optical element, and a second portion of optical radiation that is redirected by the side structure of the optical element, such that optical radiation emitted from the optical element is incident on a target area and comprises the first and second portions of optical radiation, wherein the optical element is configured such that at least part or all of the first and second portions of optical radiation received at the target area have complementary intensity profiles. 2. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the optical element is configured such that the first and second portions of optical radiation in combination approximately uniformly illuminate a target area.
3. The optical element of claim 1 or 2, wherein the totally internally reflecting profile of the side structure is such that the second portion of the optical radiation passing through the optical element is totally internally reflected by a totally internally reflecting profile of the side structure to or towards the second surface of the optical element. 4. The optical element of claim 3, wherein the totally internally reflecting profile of the side structure directs the second portion of the optical radiation towards the second surface such that the second portion of the optical radiation which is emitted from the optical element compensates for the non-uniformity of the first portion of the optical radiation illuminating the target area.
5. The optical element of any preceding claim, wherein the second surface of the optical element is curved.
6. The optical element of any preceding claim, wherein a light source is coupled to the optical element.
7. The optical element of any preceding claim, wherein the illumination of the target area is at least 95% uniform. 8. A method of designing an optical element comprising a side structure, such that optical radiation passing through the optical element comprises a first portion of optical radiation that is not incident on the side structure of the optical element, and a second portion of optical radiation that is incident on, and redirected by, the side structure of the optical element, such that optical radiation emitted from the optical element that is incident on a target area comprises the first and second portions, the method comprising:
determining illumination of the target area by the first portion of optical radiation, and
configuring the side structure such that at least part or all of the second portion of optical radiation received at the target area has a complementary intensity profile in the target area to the intensity profile in the target area of corresponding parts or all of the first portion of the optical radiation.
9. The method of claim 8, comprising configuring the side structure such that the first and second portions of optical radiation in combination substantially uniformly illuminate the target area.
10. The method of claim 9, comprising configuring the side structure such that the first and second portions of optical radiation in combination provide at least 95% uniform illumination of the target area.
1 1. The method of any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the method comprises determining or choosing a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface and second surface are connected together via the side structure of the optical element, and optical radiation enters the optical element through the first surface and is emitted from the optical element through the second surface.
12. The method of any of claims 8 to 1 1 , wherein the method comprises dividing the second portion of the optical radiation into N divisions, determining where the optical radiation of each division should be incident on the target area in order to
compliment the intensity profile of optical radiation due to the first portion, and determining the side wall structure required such that the optical radiation of each division of the second portion of the optical radiation is incident in the desired location of the target area.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method comprises the side structure being determined point-by-point, by considering the optical radiation of each division in turn.
14. The method of any of claims 8 to 13, wherein the side structure is iteratively changed until the target area is substantially uniformly illuminated by the combination of the first and second portions of the optical radiation.
15. The method of any of claims 8 to 13, wherein the method comprises determining the side structure of the optical element in 2D, and rotating the resulting structure of the optical element around the optical axis of the optical element to obtain a 3D structure.
16. An illumination system, comprising a light source and the optical element of any of claims 1 to 7.
17. A computer file, comprising a design for an optical element according to any of claims 1 to 7 and/or created using the method of any claims 8 to 15.
18. A computer program product that is configured such that, when loaded and processed by a suitable processing apparatus, causes the processing apparatus to implement or perform the method according to any of claims 8 to 15.