Introduction to Nonimaging Optics, 2nd Edition

10

Wavefronts for Prescribed Output

10.1 Introduction

Nonimaging optics are well suited to transfer light from an emitter to a receiver. However, in many applications, efficient light transfer is not sufficient, and a given irradiance pattern is also desired. In those situations, simply using the edge ray principle to couple the edges of the emitter onto the edges of the receiver, will, typically, not generate the desired result.

Shaping the output wavefronts of a nonimaging optic provides extra degrees of freedom that allow the light output to also be shaped. This process defines how much of the exit aperture of the optic illuminates a given point on the receiver and this, in turn, defines the light distribution on it. Now the edge rays ...