Patent ID: 6498875
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A method for transmitting the light from one or more transmitting arrays of optical devices to one or more receiving arrays of optical devices, all of the optical devices in a transmitting array delivering light in a same general first direction, all of the optical devices in a receiving array receiving light from a same general second direction, each optical device in a transmitting array transmitting a diverging light beam, the diverging light beams of adjacent optical devices co-existing in whole or in part in the same optical space, each optical device in a transmitting array transmitting light to a single optical device in a receiving array, each optical device in a receiving array receiving a converging light beam, each optical device in a receiving array receiving light from a single optical device in a transmitting array, the method comprising the step:imaging the optical devices in one or more transmitting arrays on the optical devices in one or more receiving arrays, the light rays emitted by the optical devices having non-zero bandwidths, all changes in directions of light rays being accomplished by reflection and/or refraction at surfaces, reflection being characterized by a process whereby the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection with respect to a surface for all frequency components of the light ray, refraction being characterized by a process whereby the sine of the angle of incidence times the index of refraction equals the sine of the angle of refraction times the index of refraction with respect to a surface that separates two regions having different indices of refraction for all frequency components of the light ray, the light rays from each optical device in a transmitting array being superimposed on the light rays from the other optical devices in the transmitting array while traversing a common volume.