US3676671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Devices of fiberoptic and vacuum tube construction
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-10-01
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1988-10-01
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to novel fluorescent and photoelectric screens which comprise supporting means constructed by a plurality of light conducting novel guides operating by internal reflection of light and mounted in a two-dimensional array. The invention is also directed to the use of such means in photoelectric inspection devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Emanuel Sheldon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J31/00; H01J31/08; H01J31/50; H01J31/26; H01J31/28; H01J2231/00; H01J2231/50; H01J2231/50005; H01J2231/5001; H01J2231/50015; H01J2231/50057; H01J2231/50068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
375 words
A device comprising in combination fluorescent means emitting fluorescent light, said fluorescent means mounted in a first vacuum tube, a plurality of light conducting guides, said guides conducting said light by internal reflection, said light guides having a construction in which said light guides comprise an inner core of material transparent to a visible light and of a high index of refraction and are precoated with a material of a lower index of refraction than said core, said lower index material forming a peripheral part of said guides, said peripheral part preventing escape of said light at least partially from one of said light guides to adjacent guides, said peripheral part having the thickness not exceeding a few microns, in said guides furthermore the external surface of said core being polished exactly preventing thereby further the escape of said conducted light from one of said light guides to adjacent guides, said precoated guides united together into a twodimensional array for conducting said light and forming at least a part of the endwall of said vacuum tube, said fluorescent means mounted on the ends of said light guides, said guides having an input area for said light and an exit area for said light, and photoelectric means for receiving said light from said exit area and utilizing said light, said photoelectric means mounted in a second vacuum tube, said second vacuum tube having its own endwall comprising at least a part thereof constructed of a plurality of light conducting members, said members conducting said light by internal reflection, said members comprising an inner core of material transparent to visible light and of a high index of refraction and precoated with a material of a lower index of refraction than said core, said lower index of refraction material forming a peripheral part of said members, said peripheral part preventing at least partially escape of said light from one of said members to adjacent members and having the thickness not exceeding a few microns, in said light conducting members furthermore the external surface of said core being polished exactly preventing thereby further the escape of said conducted light from one of said members to adjacent members, said photoelectric means mounted on the ends of said light conducting members.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
375 words
A device comprising in combination fluorescent means emitting fluorescent light, said fluorescent means mounted in a first vacuum tube, a plurality of light conducting guides, said guides conducting said light by internal reflection, said light guides having a construction in which said light guides comprise an inner core of material transparent to a visible light and of a high index of refraction and are precoated with a material of a lower index of refraction than said core, said lower index material forming a peripheral part of said guides, said peripheral part preventing escape of said light at least partially from one of said light guides to adjacent guides, said peripheral part having the thickness not exceeding a few microns, in said guides furthermore the external surface of said core being polished exactly preventing thereby further the escape of said conducted light from one of said light guides to adjacent guides, said precoated guides united together into a twodimensional array for conducting said light and forming at least a part of the endwall of said vacuum tube, said fluorescent means mounted on the ends of said light guides, said guides having an input area for said light and an exit area for said light, and photoelectric means for receiving said light from said exit area and utilizing said light, said photoelectric means mounted in a second vacuum tube, said second vacuum tube having its own endwall comprising at least a part thereof constructed of a plurality of light conducting members, said members conducting said light by internal reflection, said members comprising an inner core of material transparent to visible light and of a high index of refraction and precoated with a material of a lower index of refraction than said core, said lower index of refraction material forming a peripheral part of said members, said peripheral part preventing at least partially escape of said light from one of said members to adjacent members and having the thickness not exceeding a few microns, in said light conducting members furthermore the external surface of said core being polished exactly preventing thereby further the escape of said conducted light from one of said members to adjacent members, said photoelectric means mounted on the ends of said light conducting members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as defined in claim 1 in which said light conducting guides are parallel to each other at least in a part of their length and in which said input area and said exit area are on the opposite ends of said light conducting members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as defined in claim 1 in which said photoelectric means are mounted on the ends of substantially all said light conducting members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as defined in claim 1 in which said inner core of said members is of inorganic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as defined in claim 1 in which said light conducting members define a cross-sectional area in said endwall, and which comprises light opaque means between said cores of said light conducting members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as defined in claim 4 in which said light conducting members define a cross-sectional area in said endwall, and which comprises light opaque means between said cores of said light conducting members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as defined in claim 4 in which said photoelectric means are in contact with Said ends of said light conducting members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as defined in claim 7 in which said light conducting members define a cross-sectional area in said endwall, in which said photoelectric means are mounted on said ends of substantially all said members, and which device comprises light opaque means between said cores of said light conducting members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as defined in claim 8 in which said photoelectric means produce a beam of free electrons, in which said second vacuum tube comprises electrostatic means for focusing said beam, and in which the outside surface of said endwall of said second vacuum tube has a planar configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as defined in claim 8 in which the outside surface of said endwall of said second vacuum tube has a planar configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as defined in claim 4 in which said second vacuum tube comprises means for producing electrical signals corresponding to said conducted light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
A device as defined in claim 7 in which said input area and said exit area are on the opposite ends of said light conducting members, in which said light conducting members define a cross-sectional area in said endwall, in which the outside surface of said endwall of said second vacuum tube has a planar configuration, and in which device said second vacuum tube comprises means for producing electrical signals corresponding to said conducted light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
218 words
A composite device comprising in combination fluorescent means emitting fluorescent light and supporting means, said fluorescent means mounted on said supporting means, said supporting means comprising a plurality of solid light conducting guides and having a construction in which said light guides comprise an inner core of inorganic material transparent to a visible light and of a high index of refraction and are precoated with a material of a lower index of refraction than said core, said lower index of refraction material forming a peripheral part of said guides, said peripheral part preventing at least partially escape of said light from said light guides to adjacent guides, said peripheral part having the thickness not exceeding a few microns, in said guides furthermore the external surface of said core being polished exactly preventing thereby further the escape of said conducted light from one of said light guides to adjacent guides, said guides having an input area for said light and an exit area for said light, said fluorescent means mounted on the ends of said light conducting guides, said guides conducting said fluorescent light by internal reflection from said input area to said exit area, said precoated guides united together into a two-dimensional array, said supporting means forming at least a part of the endwall of a vacuum tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
218 words
A composite device comprising in combination fluorescent means emitting fluorescent light and supporting means, said fluorescent means mounted on said supporting means, said supporting means comprising a plurality of solid light conducting guides and having a construction in which said light guides comprise an inner core of inorganic material transparent to a visible light and of a high index of refraction and are precoated with a material of a lower index of refraction than said core, said lower index of refraction material forming a peripheral part of said guides, said peripheral part preventing at least partially escape of said light from said light guides to adjacent guides, said peripheral part having the thickness not exceeding a few microns, in said guides furthermore the external surface of said core being polished exactly preventing thereby further the escape of said conducted light from one of said light guides to adjacent guides, said guides having an input area for said light and an exit area for said light, said fluorescent means mounted on the ends of said light conducting guides, said guides conducting said fluorescent light by internal reflection from said input area to said exit area, said precoated guides united together into a two-dimensional array, said supporting means forming at least a part of the endwall of a vacuum tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as defined in claim 13 in which said light conducting guides define a cross-sectional area in said endwall and in which said fluorescent means are mounted on the ends of substantially all said light conducting guides.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as defined in claim 14 in which said fluorescent means are mounted in contact with said ends of said light conducting guides.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as defined in claim 14 in which cores of said light conducting guides are transparent to ultraviolet light.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as defined in claim 13 which comprises light opaque means between said cores of said light conducting guides.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as defined in claim 13 which comprises in addition means for receiving said conducted light.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as defined in claim 17 in which said light conducting guides define a cross-sectional area in said endwall, and in which said vacuum tube comprises means for producing a beam of electrons to irradiate said fluorescent means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |