초록 ▼

A collector for propagating incident radiation to a remote location. The collector comprises, a light directing component coupled to a buffer component, a first propagation component coupled to the buffer component and configured to transmit the incident radiation into a collector region through one

A collector for propagating incident radiation to a remote location. The collector comprises, a light directing component coupled to a buffer component, a first propagation component coupled to the buffer component and configured to transmit the incident radiation into a collector region through one of a plurality of windows, and an optical transport assembly coupled to an end of the collector region and having a second propagation component. Each light directing component is configured to redirect the incident radiation from a first direction to a second direction, and the collector region includes a plurality of regions exhibiting a refractive index value that gradually transitions from about 1.5 to about 2.0. The second propagation component is further configured to retain the incident radiation.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A method of propagating collected incident radiation to a remote location, the method comprising: receiving the incident radiation from at least a first direction; redirecting the incident radiation with a light directing component into a first propagation component having a plurality o

I claim: 1. A method of propagating collected incident radiation to a remote location, the method comprising: receiving the incident radiation from at least a first direction; redirecting the incident radiation with a light directing component into a first propagation component having a plurality of windows contained therein, the light directing component being coupled to a buffer component configured to optically separate the light directing component and the first propagation component and to retain the incident radiation in the first propagation component; propagating the incident radiation into a collector region through one of the plurality of windows within the first propagation component; advancing the incident radiation within the collector region generally towards an end of the collector region, the radiation encountering a plurality of regions exhibiting a refractive index value that gradually transitions from about 1.5 to about 2.0 while advancing towards the end of the collector region; and directing the incident radiation into an optical transport assembly having a second propagation component, the second propagation component being configured to retain the incident radiation therein for being propagated to the remote location. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation is retained within the first and second propagation components by at least total internal reflection. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the light directing component includes a plurality of louvers. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of louvers each have a concave portion that is configured to direct the incident radiation into the propagation component. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the light directing component includes a diffraction grating. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the buffer component has an index of refraction from about 1.0 to about 1.3. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first propagation component has an index of refraction from about 1.5 to about 2.0. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the light directing component comprises air. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the gradual transition of the refractive index value of the plurality of regions is configured to cause the incident radiation to change from a first direction to a second direction as the incident radiation advances through each of the plurality of regions and generally towards the end of the collector region. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical transport is configured to propagate the incident radiation to the remote location through a fiber optic cable. 11. A collector for propagating incident radiation to a remote location, comprising: a light directing component coupled to a buffer component, each light directing component being configured to redirect the incident radiation from a first direction to a second direction; a first propagation component coupled to the buffer component and configured to transmit the incident radiation into a collector region through one of a plurality of windows, the collector region including a plurality of regions exhibiting a refractive index value that gradually transitions from about 1.5 to about 2.0; and an optical transport assembly coupled to an end of the collector region and having a second propagation component, the second propagation component being configured to retain the incident radiation. 12. The collector of claim 11, wherein the radiation is retained within the first and second propagation components by at least total internal reflection. 13. The collector of claim 11, wherein the light directing component includes a plurality of louvers. 14. The collector of claim 13, wherein the plurality of louvers each have a concave portion that is configured to direct the incident radiation into the propagation component. 15. The collector of claim 11, wherein the light directing component includes a diffraction grating. 16. The collector of claim 11, wherein the buffer component has an index of refraction from about 1.0 to about 1.3. 17. The collector of claim 11, wherein the first propagation component has an index of refraction from about 1.5 to about 2.0. 18. The collector of claim 11, wherein the light directing component comprises air. 19. The collector of claim 11, wherein the optical transport is configured to propagate the incident radiation to the remote location through a fiber optic cable. 20. The collector of claim 11, wherein the optical transport further comprises a second buffer component.