Multichannel optics for imaging and nonimaging applications

Compacting devices is an increasingly demanding requirement for many applications in nonimaging and imaging optics. “Compacting” means here decreasing the volume of the space between the entry and the exit aperture without decreasing the optical performance. After reviewing the different techniques to do so, we analyze here the multichannel strategies. These type of designs split the incoming bundle of rays in different sub-bundles that are optically processed (independently) and then recombined in a single outgoing bundle. The optics volume decreases rapidly with the number of sub-bundles. These designs usually need to be combinedwith freeform optics for optimum performance.