US3582666A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light beam alignment and photoelectric receiver apparatus
Assignee: HARMON INDUSTRIES Inc
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Filing: 1968-10-18
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1988-10-18
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a photoelectric receiver which includes a housing, a lens mounted at one end of the housing and arranged to receive a light beam from a suitable source of light, a photoelectric cell spaced from said lens and supported and surrounded by material capable of transmitting light, an iris plate mounted between the lens and the photoelectric cell at the focal point of the lens and means for making observations of the characteristics of the light transmitted by the light transmitting material surrounding the photoelectric cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Willard Geiger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A device for aligning a light-responsive element with the beam from a source of light comprising a housing, a lens positioned in an opening in said housing and exposed to the light beam, a disc having a central opening therethrough positioned at the focal point of said lens, a supporting member of lighttransmitting material disposed in the cone of light diverging from the opening in said disc, a light-responsive element mounted centrally on the face of said supporting member and means for observing the characteristics of the light falling on the face of said supporting member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A device for aligning a light-responsive element with the beam from a source of light comprising a housing, a lens positioned in an opening in said housing and exposed to the light beam, a disc having a central opening therethrough positioned at the focal point of said lens, a supporting member of lighttransmitting material disposed in the cone of light diverging from the opening in said disc, a light-responsive element mounted centrally on the face of said supporting member and means for observing the characteristics of the light falling on the face of said supporting member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for obtaining alignment with a remotely located light source, comprising a housing, a lens mounted on said housing and adapted for receipt of light from said light source, said lens having a nominal focal point located within said housing and adapted to disperse the received light into a spectrum of colors at said focal point and focus the received light into a spot central of said spectrum, an opaque member having an aperture therein located at the nominal focal point of said lens, said opaque member being adapted to block the dispersed spectrum of colors from said light source and allow passage of the central spot through said aperture therein when said housing is in accurate alignment with said light source, a light-transmitting member mounted within said housing in alignment with the aperture of said opaque member, and means on said housing for viewing said light-transmitting member thereby to evaluate the color of same and determine when accurate alignment is obtained.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for obtaining alignment with a remotely located light source, comprising a housing, a lens mounted on said housing and adapted for receipt of light from said light source, said lens having a nominal focal point located within said housing and adapted to disperse the received light into a spectrum of colors at said focal point and focus the received light into a spot central of said spectrum, an opaque member having an aperture therein located at the nominal focal point of said lens, said opaque member being adapted to block the dispersed spectrum of colors from said light source and allow passage of the central spot through said aperture therein when said housing is in accurate alignment with said light source, a light-transmitting member mounted within said housing in alignment with the aperture of said opaque member, and means on said housing for viewing said light-transmitting member thereby to evaluate the color of same and determine when accurate alignment is obtained.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including a photoelectric cell mounted on said light transmitting member and adapted for response to the light passed through said aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said light transmitting member is a bar of acrylic material in alignment with said aperture and having a face exposed to the light passed therethrough, said photoelectric cell being embedded in the central portion of said face.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further including a universal joint mounting said housing for tiltable and rotatable movement, said housing being adapted for manual adjustment to a position where only the central spot of light is passed through said aperture to said photoelectric cell and said light transmitting member.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
152 words
A device for aligning a light-responsive element with the beam from a source of light, comprising a housing, a lens mounted at the front end of the housing and exposed to the light beam, a disc having a central opening therethrough positioned at the focal point of said lens, said disc being fixedly supported in said housing, said lens and said disc being cooperable to transmit various spectral colors of the light beam to the interior of said housing along a central axis thereof, the color transmitted being dependent upon the degree of alignment of said housing with the light beam, a light-transmitting member mounted in said housing along the central axis thereof for displaying the spectral colors, and an aperture in the rear wall of said housing for viewing said light-transmitting member in order to adjust the alignment of said housing with the light beam until a desired color is transmitted.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
152 words
A device for aligning a light-responsive element with the beam from a source of light, comprising a housing, a lens mounted at the front end of the housing and exposed to the light beam, a disc having a central opening therethrough positioned at the focal point of said lens, said disc being fixedly supported in said housing, said lens and said disc being cooperable to transmit various spectral colors of the light beam to the interior of said housing along a central axis thereof, the color transmitted being dependent upon the degree of alignment of said housing with the light beam, a light-transmitting member mounted in said housing along the central axis thereof for displaying the spectral colors, and an aperture in the rear wall of said housing for viewing said light-transmitting member in order to adjust the alignment of said housing with the light beam until a desired color is transmitted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said disc is a plate of thin sheet metal, the central opening therein having a sharp edge thereabout to cooperate with said lens for transmission of the spectral colors of the light beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said lens is a single element lens having chromatic aberration producing a central image of the light source, fringed with rings of the spectral colors, said device further including a photoelectric cell mounTed in said light-transmitting member and adapted for response to the central image when said housing is in alignment with the light beam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |