Systems and methods for transverse energy localization in energy relays using ordered structures

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for manufacturing energy relays for energy directing systems inducing Ordered Energy Localization effects. Ordered Energy Localization relay material distribution criteria are disclosed. Transverse planar as well as multi-dimensional ordered material configurations are discussed. Methods and systems are disclosed for forming non-random patterns of energy relay materials with energy localization properties.

1 . An energy relay comprising:
 a plurality of modules assembled in a structure, each module comprising first component engineered structures and second component. engineered structures;   wherein each module in the structure comprises an arrangement of the first and second component engineered structures in a substantially non-random pattern in a transverse plane of the energy relay;   wherein the first and second component engineered structures are configured to cooperate to transport energy along a longitudinal plane that is normal to the transverse plane;   the energy relay having substantially higher energy transport efficiency in the longitudinal plane than in the transverse plane.   
     
     
         2 . The energy relay of  claim 1 , wherein both the first and second component engineered structures are configured to transport at least 10% of the energy transported along the longitudinal plane. 
     
     
         3 . The energy relay of  claim 1 , wherein both the first and second component engineered structures are configured to transport energy through means other than internal reflection. 
     
     
         4 . The energy relay of  claim 1 , further comprising a third component engineered structure. 
     
     
         5 . The energy relay of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of modules further comprise the third. component engineered structure, the third component engineered structure being arranged in the substantially non-random pattern in the transverse plane. 
     
     
         6 . The energy relay of  claim 4 , wherein the third component engineered structure is arranged in interstitial regions between the plurality of modules within the structure. 
     
     
         7 . The energy relay of  claim 4 , further wherein the third component engineered structure is configured to transport energy along the longitudinal plane. 
     
     
         8 . The energy relay of  claim 4 , further wherein the third component engineered structure is configured to inhibit energy transport in the transverse plane. 
     
     
         9 . The energy relay of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of modules are periodically distributed across the transverse plane of the energy relay. 
     
     
         10 . The energy relay of  claim 1 , further wherein the substantially non-random pattern of first and second component engineered structures in the transverse plane of the energy relay comprises a transverse distortion of the substantially non-random pattern. 
     
     
         11 . The energy relay of  claim 10 , wherein the transverse distortion comprises a distortion of a boundary between adjacent first and second component engineered structures. 
     
     
         12 . The energy relay of  claim 1 , wherein the energy relay includes a first surface and a second surface, and wherein energy propagating between the first surface and the second surface travels along a path that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal plane. 
     
     
         13 . The energy relay of  claim 12 , wherein the energy is electromagnetic energy, and a variability in refractive index between the first and second. component engineered structures results in the electromagnetic energy propagating between the first and second surface to be spatially localized in the transverse plane of the energy relay. 
     
     
         14 . The energy relay of  claim 12 , wherein the energy is mechanical energy in the form of sound. waves, and a variability in acoustic impedance between the first and second component engineered structures results in the sound waves propagating between the first and second. surface to be spatially localized in the transverse plane of the energy relay. 
     
     
         15 . The energy relay of  claim 12 , wherein the energy propagating between the first surface and the second surface, upon passing through the first surface, has a first spatial resolution, and upon passing through the second surface, has a second spatial resolution that is no less than about 50% of the first spatial resolution. 
     
     
         16 . The energy relay of  claim 12 , wherein the first surface has a different surface area than the second surface, wherein the energy relay further comprises a sloped profile portion between the first surface and the second surface, and. wherein the energy propagating between the first and second surfaces is spatially magnified or spatially de-magnified. 
     
     
         17 . The energy relay of  claim 16 , wherein the sloped profile portion is angled, linear, curved, tapered, faceted, or aligned at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the longitudinal plane. 
     
     
         18 . The energy relay of  claim 12 , wherein energy with a uniform profile presented to the first surface passes through the second surface to substantially fill a cone with an opening angle of +/−10 degrees relative to the normal to the second surface, irrespective of location on the second surface. 
     
     
         19 . The energy relay of  claim 12 , wherein the energy relay includes a plurality of relay elements stacked in an end-to-end configuration in the longitudinal orientation, wherein a first element of the plurality of elements includes the first surface, and wherein a second element of the plurality of elements includes the second surface. 
     
     
         20 . The energy relay of  claim 12 , wherein the first surface is configured to receive the energy from an energy source unit, the energy source unit comprising a mechanical envelope having a width different than the width of at least one of the first surface and the second surface. 
     
     
         21 . The energy relay of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of either the first surface or the second surface is either a concave surface, a convex surface, or a fiat surface, the flat surface being sloped with a surface normal that is angled relative to the path that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal plane. 
     
     
         22 . The energy relay of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first component engineered structures and the second component engineered structure comprises at least One of: atomic or subatomic particles, glass, carbon, optical fiber, optical film, polymer or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The energy relay of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second component engineered structures further comprise a cross-sectional shape of a set of one or more shapes along the transverse plane. 
     
     
         24 . The energy relay of  claim 23 , wherein the substantially non-random pattern in the transverse plane of the energy relay comprises a tiling of the cross-sectional shapes of the first and second component engineered structures, such that there are substantially no empty spaces between the first and second. component engineered structures along the transverse plane of the energy relay. 
     
     
         25 .- 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . A method for fusing an energy relay comprising:
 providing a plurality of first component engineered structures and a plurality of second component engineered structures; and   forming an arrangement of the first and second component engineered structures comprising a substantially non-random pattern of the first and second component engineered structures in a transverse plane of the energy relay; and wherein the arrangement of first and second component engineered structures is configured to transport energy along a longitudinal plane that is normal to the transverse plane, the arrangement having substantially higher energy transport efficiency in the longitudinal plane than in the transverse plane.   
     
     
         66 . The method of claim  0 , further comprising processing the arrangement of first and second component engineered structures, wherein processing comprises a series of one or more steps, where each step comprises one of:
 applying a compressive force to the arrangement,   applying heat to the arrangement,   applying cooling to the arrangement, or   performing a chemical reaction to the arrangement.   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising:
 accommodating the arrangement of first and second component engineered structures in a constrained space prior to the processing step; and removing the arrangement of first and second component: engineered structures from the constrained space after the processing step.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein processing further comprises applying a first compressive force to the arrangement of constrained component engineered structures along at least the transverse plane,
 applying heat to the compressed arrangement in one or more stages, each stage comprising a stage temperature and a stage length of time,   applying a second compressive force to the heated arrangement in one or more stages, each stage comprising a stage compressive force and a stage length of time, and   cooling the heated arrangement.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 . wherein at least one stage temperature of the one or more stages is substantially the glass transition temperature of at least one of the first or second component engineered structures, or substantially the average glass transition temperature of all of the component engineered structures. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein processing further comprises:
 applying heat to the constrained arrangement; and   cooling the heated. arrangement while being rested within the constrained space.   
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 67 , further wherein applying heat to the arrangement comprises heating the constrained component engineered structures to a first temperature, and further applying heat to change the temperature of the heated arrangement to a second temperature, different than the first temperature, before applying cooling to the arrangement. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the constrained space is defined by a fixture comprising first and second components configured to join together to f6rm the constrained space therebetween. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the fixture is further configured to apply an adjustable compressive force to the constrained space. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the fixture is configured to release the processed arrangement after the processing step is completed, 
     
     
         75 . A method for forming an energy relay, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of first component engineered structures and a plurality of second component engineered structures; and   forming a first arrangement of the pluralities of first and second component engineered structures comprising a substantially non-random pattern of the first and second component engineered structures in a transverse plane of the energy relay; and   repeating at least the following steps until the arrangement has desired engineered properties, the steps including:   processing the first arrangement of first and second component engineered structures into an assembly; and   heating at least a first portion of the assembly, the formed energy relay having a first transverse dimension prior to being heated; and
 applying a tensile force longitudinally along at least the first portion of the heated assembly, thereby altering the first portion to have a second transverse dimension, narrower than the first transverse dimension, while substantially maintaining the substantially non-random pattern of first and second component engineered structures in the transverse plane; and 
 forming a second arrangement of a plurality of substantially similar altered first portions, where this second arrangement may be used in place of the first arrangement for further iterations of the preceding processing, heating, and applying steps. 
   
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , further wherein, once the first arrangement has the desired engineered properties, performing a final processing step comprising fusing the arrangement having the desired engineered properties. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein processing comprises a series of one or more steps, where each step comprises one of:.
 applying a compressive force to the arrangement,   applying heat to the arrangement,   applying cooling to the arrangement, or   performing a chemical reaction to the arrangement.   
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the heating step comprises heating the assembly of first and second component engineered structures to substantially the glass transition temperature of the first or the second component engineered structures. 
     
     
         79 .- 95 . (canceled)