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US3589799A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical system for illumination and viewing of an area

Assignee: HOTCHKISS INSTRUMENTS Inc
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Filing: 1969-02-05
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1989-02-05
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Abstract

Abstract An optical system for the concomitant illumination and viewing of recessed areas which is particularly suited for incorporation into an endoscope is disclosed. The optical viewing system is preferably formed for coincident illumination and viewing by the placement of a reflective viewing surface on the focal axis of an illuminating beam between the light source and the area to be viewed. Additionally, a reflective viewing system is preferably provided which achieves the visual sensation of ''''looking through'''' the light beam producing illuminating system and down the focal axis of the beam. Additionally, a pair of reflective surfaces is employed to achieve binocular viewing. Illumination of the viewing area is preferably achieved by an illumination system which includes a beam-reinforcing reflector means, which directs substantially all of the light into a focused illuminating beam and thereby intensifies the beam.

Inventors

  • 👤 John E Hotchkiss

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 16:07
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/0101; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00163; A61B1/06; A61B1/0661; A61B1/0669; A61B1/07; A61B1/227; G02B2027/0118

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 172 words
An optical system for use in an instrument for the coincident illumination and viewing of an area comprising: a. a light source; b. a focusing reflector positioned adjacent said light source and formed to produce a beam of light to be directed on said area; c. optical viewing means having a portion thereof disposed on the focal axis of said beam, said portion being formed and positioned to enable viewing of said area from a position outside said beam with the optical axis of said viewing means coincident with said focal axis of said beam; and d. a reinforcing reflector disposed opposite said focusing reflector and between said axially disposed portion of said viewing means and said light source adjacent said light source with a reflective side thereof facing said light source, said reinforcing reflector being formed to reflect a portion of the light emitted from said light source into said focusing reflector and to prevent the emission of light from said light source in a direction substantially transverse to said beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 172 words
An optical system for use in an instrument for the coincident illumination and viewing of an area comprising: a. a light source; b. a focusing reflector positioned adjacent said light source and formed to produce a beam of light to be directed on said area; c. optical viewing means having a portion thereof disposed on the focal axis of said beam, said portion being formed and positioned to enable viewing of said area from a position outside said beam with the optical axis of said viewing means coincident with said focal axis of said beam; and d. a reinforcing reflector disposed opposite said focusing reflector and between said axially disposed portion of said viewing means and said light source adjacent said light source with a reflective side thereof facing said light source, said reinforcing reflector being formed to reflect a portion of the light emitted from said light source into said focusing reflector and to prevent the emission of light from said light source in a direction substantially transverse to said beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 82 words
An optical system as defined in claim 1 wherein said viewing means is formed with two side-by-side reflective areas disposed on either side of the focal axis of said beam and positioned and extending to enable viewing of said area along spaced-apart substantially parallel optical axes, and said viewing means is additionally provided with two reflecting surfaces outside said beam and respectively optically aligned with said side-by-side reflective areas in order to enable binocular viewing of said area coincident with said beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 138 words
An optical system for use in an instrument for the illumination and viewing of an area comprising: a. a light source; b. a focusing reflector positioned adjacent to said light source and formed to produce a beam of light to be directed on said area; c. optical viewing means having a portion disposed on the focal axis of said beam for viewing coincident with said focal axis over a substantial depth of field and a second portion disposed outside said beam, said second portion being formed for position in optical alignment with said portion within said beam and said second portion being further formed for viewing coincident with said beam from a position behind said light source and focusing reflector and coaxial with said focal axis to give the appearance of viewing through said light source and reflector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 138 words
An optical system for use in an instrument for the illumination and viewing of an area comprising: a. a light source; b. a focusing reflector positioned adjacent to said light source and formed to produce a beam of light to be directed on said area; c. optical viewing means having a portion disposed on the focal axis of said beam for viewing coincident with said focal axis over a substantial depth of field and a second portion disposed outside said beam, said second portion being formed for position in optical alignment with said portion within said beam and said second portion being further formed for viewing coincident with said beam from a position behind said light source and focusing reflector and coaxial with said focal axis to give the appearance of viewing through said light source and reflector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 107 words
An optical system for use in an instrument for the illumination and viewing of an area coMprising: a. a light source; b. a focusing reflector positioned adjacent said light source and formed to produce a beam of light to be directed on said area; and c. optical viewing means having a portion thereof disposed on a focal axis of said beam, said portion being formed to enable viewing of said area from a position outside said beam and further being formed as two side-by-side reflector surfaces disposed on either side of the focal axis of said beam and positioned for substantially coincident binocular viewing of said area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 107 words
An optical system for use in an instrument for the illumination and viewing of an area coMprising: a. a light source; b. a focusing reflector positioned adjacent said light source and formed to produce a beam of light to be directed on said area; and c. optical viewing means having a portion thereof disposed on a focal axis of said beam, said portion being formed to enable viewing of said area from a position outside said beam and further being formed as two side-by-side reflector surfaces disposed on either side of the focal axis of said beam and positioned for substantially coincident binocular viewing of said area.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2457170A Cited
US2651237A Cited
US2823666A Cited
US2777364A Cited
US3066569A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-06-28 1974-12-28 1975-06-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-06-28 1978-12-28 1979-06-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-06-28 1982-12-28 1983-06-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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