System and method for removing scattered side lobes formed by an integrator lenslet array.

摘要

An optical illumination apparatus includes an illumination source, a pair of spaced integrator plates each having a plurality of lenslets, a conduit array, having a respective aperture corresponding to a plurality of the lenslets disposed there between, with non-reflective optically absorptive walls, and a relay optical structure for integrating light emitted from said second array of lenslets on a focal plane. The apparatus is employed by illuminating a first integrator plate having lenslets, subject to spatial intensity variations, segregating light from each respective lenslet with an elongated baffle, having a respective aperture for each of a plurality of respective lenslets, capturing light from each aperture with a second integrator plate having lenslets, and relaying the light to a focal plane, whereby light rays impinging on the walls of the elongated baffle are not transmitted through the aperture, thus substantially attenuating light rays having acute angles, to uniformly illuminate the focal plane.