Patent EP0525948A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0525948A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus and method for illuminating a sample
Assignee: GretagMacbeth LLC
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Filing: 1992-05-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A conical illuminator for use in colorimetry, spectrophotometry, densitometry or sensitometry. In a preferred embodiment, light from a source such as a pulsed xenon lamp is integrated within an integrating chamber. The light source may be placed in a second integrating chamber adjacent to the aforementioned integrating chamber. Alternatively, the lamp may be placed directly within the integrating chamber. The light is emitted through an exit port and conformed to a conical configuration, according to a pre-selected standard, via an annular stop. An imaging optic relays the conformed light uniformly onto a sample plane. The annular stop is placed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic. The annular stop may be coated with a light absorbing coating, or can be formed with a grooved or mirrored surface. Alternatively, in lieu of an integrating chamber, a diffuser may be employed for homogenizing the light. Various configurations of the imaging optic and annular stop are possible.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Weber
- 👤 Harold Van Aken
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:47
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/02; G01J3/10; G01J3/0205; G01J3/0208; G01J3/0254; G01J3/0291; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/255; G01N21/47; G01N21/4738; G01N21/474; G02; G02B; G02B13/00; G02B13/24; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/06; G01N2201/062; G01N2201/0622; G02B5/00; G02B5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A conical illuminator, comprising: a source of light; means for homogenizing the light; an annular stop for geometrically conforming said light to a pre-selected standard; an imaging optic for relaying said conformed light to a sample plane; and means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
A conical illuminator, comprising: a source of light; means for homogenizing the light; an annular stop for geometrically conforming said light to a pre-selected standard; an imaging optic for relaying said conformed light to a sample plane; and means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A conical illuminator, comprising: a source of light; an integrating chamber for homogenizing said light; an annular stop for geometrically conforming said light to a pre-selected standard; an imaging optic for relaying said conformed light to a sample plane; and means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A conical illuminator, comprising: a source of light; an integrating chamber for homogenizing said light; an annular stop for geometrically conforming said light to a pre-selected standard; an imaging optic for relaying said conformed light to a sample plane; and means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 2, further comprising means for detecting light diffused from the surface of said sample plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 3, wherein said light detecting means further comprises a mirror disposed along the central axis of said illuminator and above said sample plane for deflecting said diffused light towards said light detecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
104 words
A conical illuminator comprising: lamp means for emitting light; an integrating chamber having a diffuse reflective surface for integrating the light introduced into said chamber, said chamber having an exit port for releasing the integrated light; an annular stop for geometrically conforming the integrated light that is released from said exit port into a conical configuration defined by pre-selected standards; an imaging optic for relaying said geometrically conformed light uniformly onto a sample plane, wherein said annular stop is placed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic; and means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
A conical illuminator comprising: lamp means for emitting light; an integrating chamber having a diffuse reflective surface for integrating the light introduced into said chamber, said chamber having an exit port for releasing the integrated light; an annular stop for geometrically conforming the integrated light that is released from said exit port into a conical configuration defined by pre-selected standards; an imaging optic for relaying said geometrically conformed light uniformly onto a sample plane, wherein said annular stop is placed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic; and means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 5, further comprising means for detecting light diffused from the surface of said sample plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 5, wherein said annular stop comprises: a first light blocking portion in communication with said exit port and defining a rounded opening symmetrically disposed parallel to and about the central axis of said illuminator, said rounded opening having a free edge portion; a second rounded light blocking portion in communication with said first light blocking portion and symmetrically disposed perpendicular to and about the central axis of said illuminator, said second rounded light blocking portion having a free edge portion, wherein the free edge portions of said rounded opening and said second rounded light blocking portion define an open gap constituting said annular aperture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 7, wherein said first light blocking portion comprises a hollow cylinder, and said second light blocking portion comprises a round plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 7, wherein said first and second light blocking portions are coated with a light absorbing coating.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 5, wherein said imaging optic comprises a concave annular reflector surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 5, wherein said imaging optic comprises: a convex annular lens symmetrically disposed parallel to the central axis of said illuminator; and a cylindrical mirrored surface symmetrically disposed about said convex annular lens.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 5, wherein said imaging optic comprises a convex lens symmetrically disposed perpendicular to the central axis of said illuminator, wherein the axis of said convex lens is coaxial with the central axis of the illuminator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 7, wherein said first light blocking portion comprises an annular spheroidal mirror section having a center of curvature at or near the plane of the exit port, and said second light blocking portion comprises a rounded spheroidal mirror section having a center of curvature at or near the center of the plane of the exit port.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 7, wherein said first light blocking portion comprises a hollowed rounded portion having an interior surface with a plurality of mirrored grooves formed thereon, said grooves concentric about the central axis of the illuminator, and wherein said second light blocking portion comprises a rounded plate having a surface with a plurality of mirrored grooves formed thereon, said grooves concentric about the central axis of the illuminator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
151 words
A conical illuminator comprising: a first integrating chamber having a diffuse reflective surface, for integrating light introduced into said chamber, the chamber having an exit port and entrance port; a second integrating chamber having an opening in sealed communication with said entrance port and having a diffuse reflective surface for integrating light; lamp means disposed within the second integrating chamber for emitting light through the entrance port; an annular stop for geometrically conforming the integrated light that is released through the exit port into a conical configuration defined by a preselected standard; an imaging optic having a tangential focal length and disposed between the annular stop and the sample plane, for relaying the geometrically conformed light uniformly across the sample plane, wherein the annular stop is placed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic; and means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
151 words
A conical illuminator comprising: a first integrating chamber having a diffuse reflective surface, for integrating light introduced into said chamber, the chamber having an exit port and entrance port; a second integrating chamber having an opening in sealed communication with said entrance port and having a diffuse reflective surface for integrating light; lamp means disposed within the second integrating chamber for emitting light through the entrance port; an annular stop for geometrically conforming the integrated light that is released through the exit port into a conical configuration defined by a preselected standard; an imaging optic having a tangential focal length and disposed between the annular stop and the sample plane, for relaying the geometrically conformed light uniformly across the sample plane, wherein the annular stop is placed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic; and means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 15, further comprising measurement means for measuring light diffused off of said sample plane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 15, wherein the imaging optic comprises a concave annular reflector surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 15, wherein the imaging optic comprises: a convex annular lens symmetrically disposed parallel to and about the central axis of said illuminator, and; a cylindrical mirrored surface symmetrically disposed about said convex annular lens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 15, wherein the imaging optic comprises a convex lens symmetrically disposed perpendicular to and about the central axis of said illuminator, wherein the axis of said convex lens is coaxial with the central axis of the illuminator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 16, ether comprising means for directing the light diffused from the surface of the sample plane towards the measurement means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 20, wherein said light direction means comprises a mirror angularly fixed above the surface of the sample plane for directing diffused light along a path away from said sample plane and towards said measurement means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 15, further comprising one or more light reference detectors for monitoring the integrated light.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 22, wherein the light reference detector is coupled to the measurement means and relays signals responsive to said monitoring for controlling the accuracy of the measurement means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
109 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 15, wherein the annular stop comprises: a first light blocking portion in communication with said exit port and defining a rounded opening symmetrically disposed parallel to and about the central axis of said illuminator, said rounded opening having a free edge portion; a second rounded light blocking portion in communication with said first light blocking portion and symmetrically disposed perpendicular to and about the central axis of said illuminator, said second rounded light blocking portion having a free edge portion, wherein the free edge portions of said rounded opening and said second rounded light blocking portion define an open gap constituting said annular aperture.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 24, wherein said first light blocking portion comprises a hollow cylinder, and said second light blocking portion comprises a rounded plate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 24, wherein said first and second light blocking portions are coated with a light absorbing coating.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
63 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 24, wherein said first light blocking portion comprises an annular spheroidal mirror section having a center of curvature at or near the center of the plane of the exit port, and said second light blocking portion comprises a rounded spheroidal mirror having a center of curvature at or near the center of the plane of the exit port.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 24, wherein said first light blocking portion has a mirrored surface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 24, wherein said second light blocking portion has a mirrored surface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
71 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 24, wherein said first light blocking portion comprises a hollow rounded portion having an interior surface with a plurality of mirrored grooves formed thereon, said grooves concentric about the central axis of the illuminator, and said second light blocking portion comprises a rounded plate having a surface with a plurality of mirrored grooves formed thereon, said mirrored grooves concentric about the central axis of the illuminator.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 30, wherein the mirrored grooves on the surfaces of the hollow rounded portion and/or rounded plate are formed with a 90 ° apex.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 24, wherein said first light blocking portion has an interior surface with a plurality of mirrored grooves formed thereon.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 24, wherein said second light blocking portion has a surface with a plurality of mirrored grooves formed thereon.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The conical illuminator of Claim 5, wherein said lamp means is disposed within said integrating chamber.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
52 words
A conical illuminator comprising: lamp means for emitting light; a diffuser for homogenizing said light; an annular stop for geometrically conforming said light to a pre-selected standard; an imaging optic for relaying said conformed light to a sample plane; and means for estabtishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
52 words
A conical illuminator comprising: lamp means for emitting light; a diffuser for homogenizing said light; an annular stop for geometrically conforming said light to a pre-selected standard; an imaging optic for relaying said conformed light to a sample plane; and means for estabtishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for conforming light into a standardized conical configuration and relaying the conformed light onto a sample plane, comprising the steps of: homogenizing the light; passing the homogenized light to an annular stop the annular stop having an annular aperture for shaping the light into a standardized conical configuration while blocking errant light from using through the aperture; passing the conically shaped light through the annular aperture and onto an imaging optic, wherein the annular apertere is dispoed at the focal length of the imaging optic; and reflecting the conically shaped light off of the imaging optic onto the sample plane at angles of incidence conforming to the standardized configuration.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for conforming light into a standardized conical configuration and relaying the conformed light onto a sample plane, comprising the steps of: homogenizing the light; passing the homogenized light to an annular stop the annular stop having an annular aperture for shaping the light into a standardized conical configuration while blocking errant light from using through the aperture; passing the conically shaped light through the annular aperture and onto an imaging optic, wherein the annular apertere is dispoed at the focal length of the imaging optic; and reflecting the conically shaped light off of the imaging optic onto the sample plane at angles of incidence conforming to the standardized configuration.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of Claim 36, further including the step of directing light diffused from the sample plane towards light measurement means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 36, further including the step of coating the annular stop with a light absorbing coating.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of Claim 36, wherein the step of homogenizing the light includes the step of introducing the light into an integrating chamber.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of Claim 36, wherein the step of homogenizing the light includes the step of introducing the light through a diffuser.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 36, further comprising the step of providing a mirrored spherical surface on the annular stop.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of Claim 36, further comprising the step of providing a mirrored spherical surface on a portion of the annular stop.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of Claim 36, further comprising the step of grooving the surface of the annular stop with mirrored grooves concentric about the central axis of the illuminator.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of Claim 36, further comprising the step of grooving a portion of the surface of the annular stop with mirrored grooves concentric about the central axis of the illuminator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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