Optics for Solid-State Lighting

Dr. Michael Morris
Chief Executive Officer
RPC Photonics, Inc. and Apollo Optical Systems, Inc.

ECE Seminar at Duke University
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 1:30 - 2:30pm
Schiciano Auditorium Side A

Light refreshments served at 1:15pm before seminar

A key driver in the development of new products and applications of solid-state lighting is efficiency – efficient conversion from electrons to photons, followed by efficient extraction and distribution of the photons.  This presentation will focus on the role that optics plays in the efficient extraction and distribution of light from solid-state light sources.  Precision structured surfaces consisting of a complex array of refractive microlenses, called Engineered DiffusersTM, used in conjunction with compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs) are found to be a particularly useful design form for beam shaping and homogenization of light produced from LEDs.  The general design principles, fabrication methods, and applications of Engineered Diffusers™ and CPCs for the rapidly expanding field of solid-state lighting will be discussed.

Dr. Morris is an internationally recognized expert in opto-electronic systems research.  He has been active in optical engineering research and development for over thirty-five years. He co-founded Rochester Photonics Corporation (RPC) in 1989. The firm specialized in the design, prototyping, and manufacturing of diffractive and micro-optics components and subsystems, and was acquired by Corning Incorporated in 1999. From February 1999 to December 31, 2002, Corning Rochester Photonics Corporation functioned as a wholly owned subsidiary of Corning Incorporated.  He founded Apollo Optical Systems, Inc on December 31, 2002.  Apollo Optical Systems specializes in the design and development of optical elements and systems for the vision-care industry.  In May 2003, he co-founded RPC Photonics, Inc., which specializes in the design and development of optical elements and systems for display and illumination applications for commercial products, medical products and government systems.  Morris received his Bachelor's degree with Special Distinction in Engineering Physics from the University of Oklahoma, and his Master's and Doctoral degrees in Electrical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology.