Controlled optical beam forming device

Claim 2

A controlled optical beam forming device comprising: means for optically apportioning the light in a substantially collimated beam of light into a plurality of extensive zones, and means for diffusing the light in the zones to form an emergent beam, the emergent beam having controlled intensity and divergency distribution, the relative positions of the plurality of extensive zones controlling the divergency of the emergent beam, and the relative intensities of the plurality of extensive zones and the means for diffusing controlling the intensity distribution of the emergent beam.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, in which the means for optically apportioning the collimated light includes at least one truncated conical surface disposed coaxially with the collimated beam of light.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1, in which the means for optically apportioning the collimated light includes a plurality of cylindrical lenses disposed in and transverse to the collimated beam of light.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 3, in which the plurality of cylindrical lenses are oriented with their cylindrical axes parallel and lying normal to the collimated light beam so that a like plurality of parallel linear zones are formed.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 4, in which refracting optical wedges are associated with at least a portion of the cylindrical lenses, each refracting optical wedge having a face thereof which is essentially coextensive in the beam of light with the associated cylindrical lens.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 3, in which the cylindrical lenses are divided into a plurality of groups containing at least one cylindrical lens each, the cylindrical axes of the lenses in each group being parallel to each other, the plurality of groups being located so as to split the collimated beam of light therebetween to form a pattern of zones which is a function of the relative orientation of the cylindrical axes of the cylindrical lenses.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 6, in which there are two groups of cylindrical lenses having their axes normal to each other and which form a grid pattern of zones.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 6, in which the groups include a single lens each and the lenses are arranged with their cylindrical axes disposed radially from the axis of the beam to form a radial pattern of zones.

Claim 10

A controlled optical beam forming device for distributing light from a collimated source within a controlled solid angle and having a controlled intensity distribution within the solid angle, the device comprising an optical member having an entrance face and an exit face at least one truncated conical surface on at least one face thereof for apportioning the collimated beam of light from the source into a plurality of concentric zones within the solid angle, and means for diffusing the light in the zones to form an emergent beam within the solid angle having the controlled intensity distribution.

Claim 11

A controlled optical beam forming device for distributing light from a collimated source within a controlled solid angle and having a controlled intensity distribution within the solid angle, the device comprising an optical member having an entrance face and an exit face at least one truncated conical surface on at least one face thereof for apportioning the collimated beam of light from the source into a plurality of concentric zones within the solid angle, and means for diffusing the light in the zones to form an emergent beam within the solid angle having the controlled intensity distribution.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 9, in which the desired intensity distribution within the solid angle is substantially uniform.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 10, in which the relative intensities of the light in the concentric zones are approximately equal.

Claim 14

A device according to claim 10, in which the relative intensities of the light in the concentric zones are unequal and the means for diffusing comprises a diffuser having cHaracteristics which are complementary to the relative intensities in the zones so that substantially uniform intensity is provided across the solid angle.

Claim 15

A device according to claim 9, in which the optical member has a surface which is formed of a plurality of truncated conical surface sections each having successively smaller cone angles and the major diameter of each succeeding truncated conical surface section being equal to the minor diameter of the preceding section.

Claim 16

A device according to claim 13, in which there are two truncated conical surface sections.

Claim 17

A device according to claim 14, in which the truncated conical surface sections are convex.

Claim 18

A device according to claim 14, in which the truncated conical surface sections are concave.

Claim 19

A device according to claim 9, in which at least one truncated conical surface is formed on each face of the optical member.

Claim 20

A device according to claim 9, in which a truncated conical surface is formed on each face of the optical member.

Claim 21

A device according to claim 9, in which the collimated source is a laser.

Claim 22

A device according to claim 19, in which the laser is a gas laser.

Claim 23

A controlled optical beam forming device for a laser photocoagulator for substantially uniformly distributing the collimated beam of light emitted by the laser within a controlled solid angle, the device comprising a truncated conical optical member for apportioning the beam of collimated light into two concentric zones of approximately equal maximum intensity within the solid angle, the axis of the truncated conical optical member being substantially parallel to the collimated beam of light emitted by the laser, the first zone comprising a collimated beam surrounding the conical axis and emerging from the planar portions of the truncated conical optical element, the second zone comprising light emerging from the conical portion of the truncated conical optical element and being a divergent annular beam around the first zone, the angle of divergence being a function of the cone angle of the truncated conical optical element, and a translucent surface for diffusing the intensities of the light in the zones to form a nominally uniform distribution of light within the solid angle.

Claim 24

A controlled optical beam forming device for a laser photocoagulator for substantially uniformly distributing the collimated beam of light emitted by the laser within a controlled solid angle, the device comprising a truncated conical optical member for apportioning the beam of collimated light into two concentric zones of approximately equal maximum intensity within the solid angle, the axis of the truncated conical optical member being substantially parallel to the collimated beam of light emitted by the laser, the first zone comprising a collimated beam surrounding the conical axis and emerging from the planar portions of the truncated conical optical element, the second zone comprising light emerging from the conical portion of the truncated conical optical element and being a divergent annular beam around the first zone, the angle of divergence being a function of the cone angle of the truncated conical optical element, and a translucent surface for diffusing the intensities of the light in the zones to form a nominally uniform distribution of light within the solid angle.

Claim 25

A device according to claim 21, in which the translucent surface is an etched glass surface.

Claim 26

A device according to claim 22, in which the etched glass surface is a surface of the truncated conical optical element.