Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for improving the uniformity of the intensity distribution across the width of a light beam comprising primary optical means (16) for focusing said beam into a primary focus line (P) extending across the axis of said beam and a primary plane reflecting surface (18) located so as to reflect said beam in the region of said primary focus line, characterised in that said primary plane reflecting surface is located so that said primary focus line extends parallel to and adjacent to said primary reflecting surface and in that said primary reflecting surface is inclined at a first angle to said axis of said beam so as to reflect said beam at a plane inclined at said first angle to said axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for improving the uniformity of the intensity distribution across the width of a light beam comprising primary optical means (16) for focusing said beam into a primary focus line (P) extending across the axis of said beam and a primary plane reflecting surface (18) located so as to reflect said beam in the region of said primary focus line, characterised in that said primary plane reflecting surface is located so that said primary focus line extends parallel to and adjacent to said primary reflecting surface and in that said primary reflecting surface is inclined at a first angle to said axis of said beam so as to reflect said beam at a plane inclined at said first angle to said axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that said primary focus line extends perpendicular to the axis of said beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in either of the preceding claims characterised in that said first angle is zero.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising an additional primary plane reflecting surface (24) located so as to reflect said beam in the region of said primary focus line and characterised in that said additional primary plane reflecting surface is located so that said primary focus line extends parallel to and adjacent to said additional primary reflecting surface and in that said additional primary reflecting surface extends at a second angle to said axis of said beam so as to reflect said beam at a plane inclined at said second angle to said axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprising a further optical means (23) located so as to receive said beam on emergence from said primary plane reflecting surfaces and operable to focus said emergent beam into a further focus line extending across the axis of said emergent beam and substantially parallel to said primary focus line and a further plane reflecting surface (25) located so as to reflect said emergent beam in the region of said further focus line, characterised in that said further plane reflecting surface is located so that said further focus line extends parallel to and adjacent to said further reflecting surface and in that said further plane reflecting surface extends parallel to the axis of said emergent beam so as to reflect said beam at a plane parallel to said axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprising a secondary optical means (30) located so as to receive said beam on emergence from said primary plane reflecting surfaces and operable to focus said emergent beam into a secondary focus line extending across the axis of said emergent beam and substantially at right angles to said primary focus line and a secondary plane reflecting surface (34) located so as to reflect said emergent beam in the region of said secondary focus line characterised in that said secondary plane reflecting surface is located so that said secondary focus line extends parallel to and adjacent to said secondary reflecting surface and in that said secondary reflecting surface is inclined at a third angle to said axis of said emergent beam so as to reflect said emergent beam at a plane inclined at said third angle to said axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 characterised in that said secondary focus line extends perpendicular to the axis of said emergent beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 characterised in that said third angle is zero.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6,7 or 8 comprising an additional secondary plane reflecting surface (36) located so as to reflect said emergent beam in the region of said secondary focus line and characterised in that said additional secondary plane reflecting surface is located so that said secondary focus line extends parallel to and adjacent to said additional secondary reflecting surface and in that said additional secondary reflecting surface extends at a fourth angle to said axis of said emergent beam so as to reflect said emergent beam at a plane inclined at said fourth angle to said axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 characterised in that said primary and secondary optical means are combined together and in that said primary and secondary plane reflecting surfaces are combined into a single structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 characterised in that said primary and secondary plane reflecting surfaces are formed by the surfaces of a solid light transmitting body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 characterised in that said solid body is a conical body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 characterised in that solid body is made of quartz.