US3639746A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Segmented light table
Assignee: Fma Inc
•
Filing: 1969-05-05
•
Granted: 1972-02-01
•
Expires: 1989-05-05
Abstract
Abstract An array of selectively energizable, elongated lamps that are arranged in parallel relationship. The lamps are disposed in individual compartments formed in a housing. Each compartment has a light reflective wall that opens toward a light diffusing plate covering one side of the housing. When a lamp is energized, it illuminates a segment of the plate that coincides in area with the opening of the corresponding compartment. One switch controls the energization of successive numbers of lamps from one edge of the array. Another switch controls the deenergization of any single lamp between the edges of the array.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas F Adams
- 👤 Lyle T Mattes
- 👤 Poul B Roulund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:40
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V23/00; F21V23/04; G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/02; G02B27/022; G02B27/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
An image-viewing system comprising: an array of elongated selectively energizable lamps that are arranged in parallel relationship; a housing enclosing the array of lamps; a light-diffusing plate covering one side of the housing; an elongated strip of image transparencies; a transport mechanism for transporting the strip across the plate in a direction parallel to the length of the lamps; and the interior of the housing and the lamps being arranged so one or more of the lamps when energized illuminates an area of the plate coinciding in width substantially with the strip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
An image-viewing system comprising: an array of elongated selectively energizable lamps that are arranged in parallel relationship; a housing enclosing the array of lamps; a light-diffusing plate covering one side of the housing; an elongated strip of image transparencies; a transport mechanism for transporting the strip across the plate in a direction parallel to the length of the lamps; and the interior of the housing and the lamps being arranged so one or more of the lamps when energized illuminates an area of the plate coinciding in width substantially with the strip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The image-viewing system of claim 1, in which the interior of the housing has light-reflective walls forming a plurality of elongated parallel compartments such that each lamp is disposed in one compartment, the walls of the compartments form openings adjacent to the plate, and one or more of the openings coincide in width substaNtially with the strip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image-viewing system of claim 2, in which the walls of the compartments are concavely curved.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The image-viewing system of claim 3, in which lamps are energized by first and second multiple-position switches, a different number of successive lamps from one edge of the array being energized in each position of the first switch and a different single lamp being deenergized in each position of the second switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
A segmented light table comprising: a housing forming a plurality of elongated parallel compartments having light-reflective walls opening toward one side of the housing; a light-diffusing plate covering the one side of the housing; a plurality of elongated selectively energizable lamps one of which is disposed in each compartment to illuminate when energized the segment of the plate coinciding in area with the opening of the compartment; and a transport mechanism for transporting an elongated strip of image transparencies across the plate in a direction parallel to the length of the compartments, the transport mechanism being aligned with one or more of the compartments to transport a strip across an area of the plate coinciding with one or more of the segments illuminated by the lamps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
126 words
A segmented light table comprising: a housing forming a plurality of elongated parallel compartments having light-reflective walls opening toward one side of the housing; a light-diffusing plate covering the one side of the housing; a plurality of elongated selectively energizable lamps one of which is disposed in each compartment to illuminate when energized the segment of the plate coinciding in area with the opening of the compartment; and a transport mechanism for transporting an elongated strip of image transparencies across the plate in a direction parallel to the length of the compartments, the transport mechanism being aligned with one or more of the compartments to transport a strip across an area of the plate coinciding with one or more of the segments illuminated by the lamps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The light table of claim 5, in which the walls of the compartments are concave.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The light table of claim 6, in which first and second multiple-position switches are provided to select the lamps to be energized, different numbers of successive lamps from one edge of the plurality being energized in the different positions of the first switch and different single lamps between the edges of the plurality being deenergized in the different positions of the second switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The light table of claim 5, in which first and second multiple-position switches are provided to select the lamps to be energized, different numbers of successive lamps from one edge of the plurality being energized in the different positions of the first switch and different lamps between the edges of the plurality being deenergized in the different positions of the second switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The light table of claim 8, in which a single lamp is deenergized in each position of the second switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
The light table of claim 9, additionally comprising an auxiliary transport mechanism for transporting an elongated strip of image transparencies across the plate in a direction parallel to the length of the compartments, the auxiliary transport mechanism being aligned with one or more of the compartments to transport a strip across an area of the plate coinciding with one or more of the segments illuminated by the lamps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3201883A
Cited
US1348957A
Cited
US2357541A
Cited
US2567561A
Cited
US2701838A
Cited
US2794081A
Cited
US3479119A
Cited
US3402491A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |