Abstract: A light irradiation apparatus includes a plurality of light sources, a plurality of light transmission paths capable of selectively transmitting lights from the plurality of light sources, respectively, and an optical fiber path provided with a plurality of light incidence ends receiving respective lights from the plurality of light transmission paths, and a single light exit end. The optical fiber path has a plurality of optical fiber bundles. Incidence ends of the plurality of optical fiber bundles configures the plurality of light incidence ends, and exit ends of the plurality of optical fiber bundles configure the single light exit end by combining themselves. A lot of optical fibers constitute the plurality of optical fiber bundles. The optical fibers of the plurality of optical fiber bundles are dispersedly arranged with each other in uniform at the single light exit end.

Abstract: A light irradiation apparatus includes a plurality of light sources, a plurality of light transmission paths capable of selectively transmitting lights from the plurality of light sources, respectively, and an optical fiber path provided with a plurality of light incidence ends receiving respective lights from the plurality of light transmission paths, and a single light exit end. The optical fiber path has a plurality of optical fiber bundles. Incidence ends of the plurality of optical fiber bundles configures the plurality of light incidence ends, and exit ends of the plurality of optical fiber bundles configure the single light exit end by combining themselves. A lot of optical fibers constitute the plurality of optical fiber bundles. The optical fibers of the plurality of optical fiber bundles are dispersedly arranged with each other in uniform at the single light exit end.

Abstract: A light source position detection apparatus (10) has a condensing lens (32) that condenses light emitted from the sun, an image pickup device (33) that receives the light condensed by the condensing lens (32), and a CPU (21) that detects the position of the sun based on per-pixel light reception information received by the image pickup device (33), and the CPU (21) changes the shutter speed of the image pickup device (33) and adjusts the quantity of the light received by the image pickup device in response to the quantity of light emitted from the sun. The light source position detection apparatus (10) can detect the position of a light source with high accuracy, and can detect the position of the light source with high accuracy even when the light source is hidden behind clouds, for example.

Abstract: A light source position detection apparatus (10) has a condensing lens (32) that condenses light emitted from the sun, an image pickup device (33) that receives the light condensed by the condensing lens (32), and a CPU (21) that detects the position of the sun based on per-pixel light reception information received by the image pickup device (33), and the CPU (21) changes the shutter speed of the image pickup device (33) and adjusts the quantity of the light received by the image pickup device in response to the quantity of light emitted from the sun. The light source position detection apparatus (10) can detect the position of a light source with high accuracy, and can detect the position of the light source with high accuracy even when the light source is hidden behind clouds, for example.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus of the present invention quickly adjusts illuminance of the light radiated from the light source in the irradiation surface to have high uniformity. The illumination apparatus includes the light source that emits a light beam having a rectangular shape, a DMD on which light emitted from the light source is incident and which controls reflection/non-reflection of the incident light by opening/closing control of minute mirrors, an optical system that shapes the light reflected by the DMD, a half mirror that splits the light emitted from the optical system into irradiation light and monitor light, the irradiation surface irradiated with the irradiation light, a monitor unit that measures illuminance of the monitor light, and a control unit that transmits a control signal to control opening/closing of the minute mirrors of the DMD to the DMD, based on a measurement result measured by the monitor unit.

Abstract: A solar simulator that simultaneously solves problems of high parallelism and high illuminance of emission light and increases uniformity of the emission light is provided. The following is an examiner's statement of reasons for allowance: Instant application claims and discloses a solar simulator that allows light radiated from a light source to be incident on an integrator, allows light emitted from integrator to be incident on a collimation lens, and allows parallel light to be emitted from collimation lens when a circumradius of integrator is r, a parallelism angle of parallel light is .phi., and a focal distance of collimation lens is f=r/tan.phi., focal distance f is selected so parallelism angle .phi. becomes less than 2.5.degree., and when an emission angle of light emitted from integrator is .theta., a diameter of collimation lens is D, and a viewing angle of collimation lens when viewed from integrator is .theta.X=2.times.a tan (D/2f), emission angle .theta.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus of the present invention quickly adjusts illuminance of the light radiated from the light source in the irradiation surface to have high uniformity. The illumination apparatus includes the light source that emits a light beam having a rectangular shape, a DMD on which light emitted from the light source is incident and which controls reflection/non-reflection of the incident light by opening/closing control of minute mirrors, an optical system that shapes the light reflected by the DMD, a half mirror that splits the light emitted from the optical system into irradiation light and monitor light, the irradiation surface irradiated with the irradiation light, a monitor unit that measures illuminance of the monitor light, and a control unit that transmits a control signal to control opening/closing of the minute mirrors of the DMD to the DMD, based on a measurement result measured by the monitor unit.

Abstract: According to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously solve problems of high parallelism and high illuminance of emission light and increase uniformity of the emission light. In a solar simulator that allows light radiated from a light source to be incident on an integrator 4, allows light emitted from the integrator 4 to be incident on a collimation lens 5, and allows parallel light to be emitted from the collimation lens 5, when a circumradius of the integrator 4 is r, a parallelism angle of the parallel light is ?, and a focal distance of the collimation lens is f=r/tan?, the focal distance f is selected such that the parallelism angle ? becomes 2° or less. When an emission angle of the light emitted from the integrator 4 is ?, a diameter of the collimation lens 5 is D, and a viewing angle of the collimation lens 5 when viewed from the integrator 4 is ?X=2×a tan (D/2f), the emission angle ? is configured to be smaller than the viewing angle ?X.