Illuminatio Solutions
Illuminatio Solutions GmbH | Optical Consulting | Imaging and Illumination Design | CH-9400 Rorschach
Reflector design
I have some experience designing reflectors for arc lamps and LEDs. Some of my reflector designs are still on the market.Köhler Illumination as a design principle
A high altitude view on Köhler‘s principle shows us that it works by imaging the homogeneous angular distribution of a source (filament, discharge, or LED) to an object (while simultaneously imaging the spatial distribution to the entrance pupil of a subsequent optics). We can use that principle for LED illumination of a gobo projector, or to homogeneously illuminate a remote disk.Straylight Analysis
First, one has to model all involved surfaces as accurately as possible. This can be difficult for the mechanical parts, so we often rely on generic settings for e.g. anodized surfaces. ISO 9358 describes the testing of a lens system for straylight: flooding the lens with light except one single dark spot whose „darkness“ is evaluated. In a simulation, I would mimic this approach by various techniques : • pivoting a small source that shines into the entrance pupil around it • using a checkerboard source extended over the full field and inspecting the images of the dark fields • always try light from outside the specified field as well Ray path analysis (supported by most non-sequential software) is a mighty tool to understand and to evaluate stray light mechanisms and plan countermeasures. Additionally, we may temporarily increase the surface reflectance and search for ghosts.Illumination Freeforms
Basically shaping a surface by solving a PDE (Monge Ampere Equation). A.k.a. Tailoring. Practically realized for example using the Lightools Advanced Design Module, Design elements that convert the light of a point source to a predescribed distribution. The design element can be a refractive or reflective one.Source combination
What can you do if the flux of a source is not sufficient ? Combine some of them. But how ? Dense array or sparse array ? What kind of optics do they need ? Left : US6196699B1. Right: demonstrator by the autor to combine four LED sources.Stage lighting
The interplay between illumination and imaging is truely exciting. Based on the specs you can calculate the etendue of the device and get this way the basis for the design of the projection lens and of the illumination system. What happens if you need 50% more light to satisfy the needs of the market ? Image : Source four public video.Gobo projection
The stage light‘s little brother. Used for signage and hospitality. Or for the IKEA arrows. Nowadays all LED based (example below). Image : my baby.Fiber light sources
Select the right high CRI white LED or LEDs for a few thousand lumens into a fiber. Add 405 nm or 780 nm light for fluorescence excitation. For very small etendue fibers: how do you like a laser phosphor source ? Where in your light source is the region with the highest luminance ?Integrators
There are rod and fly‘s eye integrators. How do they work ? Are there other types ? They are needed for projectors, but may be useful in more applications such as an accessory for Mosaic Filters.Archimedes
Did he really burn roman ships ?Color rendering
The white LED features just a color rendering index of 68, but my customer requests a value of 80. What can I do ? There‘s a famous CRI hack (US 2013/0170199A1). I just need a notch filter :
It
is
a
mistake
to
believe
that
you
have
to
exclusively
use
non-imaging
components
for illumination purposes
.
You
can
use
any
kind
of
optical
components
(including
lens
systems)
that
help to fulfill the task.
As
a
result,
there
are
often
several
solutions for a given problem.
Illumination Optics
Introducing exciting subfields or sometimes just interesting reading.
Illuminatio Solutions
Illuminatio Solutions GmbH | Optical Consulting | Imaging and Illumination Design | CH-9400 Rorschach
Reflector design
I have some experience designing reflectors for arc lamps and LEDs. Some of my reflector designs are still on the market.Köhler Illumination as a design principle
A high altitude view on Köhler‘s principle shows us that it works by imaging the homogeneous angular distribution of a source (filament, discharge, or LED) to an object (while simultaneously imaging the spatial distribution to the entrance pupil of a subsequent optics). We can use that principle for LED illumination of a gobo projector, or to homogeneously illuminate a remote disk.Straylight Analysis
First, one has to model all involved surfaces as accurately as possible. This can be difficult for the mechanical parts, so we often rely on generic settings for e.g. anodized surfaces. ISO 9358 describes the testing of a lens system for straylight: flooding the lens with light except one single dark spot whose „darkness“ is evaluated. In a simulation, I would mimic this approach by various techniques : • pivoting a small source that shines into the entrance pupil around it • using a checkerboard source extended over the full field and inspecting the images of the dark fields • always try light from outside the specified field as well Ray path analysis (supported by most non-sequential software) is a mighty tool to understand and to evaluate stray light mechanisms and plan countermeasures. Additionally, we may temporarily increase the surface reflectance and search for ghosts.Illumination Freeforms
Basically shaping a surface by solving a PDE (Monge Ampere Equation). A.k.a. Tailoring. Practically realized for example using the Lightools Advanced Design Module, Design elements that convert the light of a point source to a predescribed distribution. The design element can be a refractive or reflective one.Source combination
What can you do if the flux of a source is not sufficient ? Combine some of them. But how ? Dense array or sparse array ? What kind of optics do they need ? Left : US6196699B1. Right: demonstrator by the autor to combine four LED sources.Stage lighting
The interplay between illumination and imaging is truely exciting. Based on the specs you can calculate the etendue of the device and get this way the basis for the design of the projection lens and of the illumination system. What happens if you need 50% more light to satisfy the needs of the market ? Image : Source four public video.Gobo projection
The stage light‘s little brother. Used for signage and hospitality. Or for the IKEA arrows. Nowadays all LED based (example below). Image : my baby.Fiber light sources
Select the right high CRI white LED or LEDs for a few thousand lumens into a fiber. Add 405 nm or 780 nm light for fluorescence excitation. For very small etendue fibers: how do you like a laser phosphor source ? Where in your light source is the region with the highest luminance ?Integrators
There are rod and fly‘s eye integrators. How do they work ? Are there other types ? They are needed for projectors, but may be useful in more applications such as an accessory for Mosaic Filters.Archimedes
Did he really burn roman ships ?Color rendering
The white LED features just a color rendering index of 68, but my customer requests a value of 80. What can I do ? There‘s a famous CRI hack (US 2013/0170199A1). I just need a notch filter :
Illumination Optics
Introducing exciting subfields or sometimes just interesting reading.