US3765281A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for fabricating radiation-redistributive devices
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1971-12-13
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1991-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for fabricating radiation-redistributive devices of the type comprising precisely contoured optical microelements each being adapted to redistribute incident radiation throughout a well-defined solid angle with uniform radiance throughout. The cutting stylus of a sound recording head is used as a cutting tool to contour such optical microelements in the surface of a workpiece. Desired contours are produced by shaping the cutting stylus to an appropriate cutting profile and by modulating the movement of the stylus in a vertical plane by applying an electrical signal of appropriate amplitude and waveform to the input of the recording head.
Inventors
- 👤 R Wolfe
- 👤 Heyningen R Van
- 👤 B Palmer
- 👤 H Hoadley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:06
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/54; G03B21/56; G03B21/60; G03B21/62; G03B21/625; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T409/00; Y10T409/50; Y10T409/500164; Y10T409/500328; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/02; Y10T83/0304
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for making a radiation-redistributive device having a surface defining a plurality of rectilinear grooves, each groove varying in depth along the groove length in accordance with a predetermined undulating waveform and having a transverse cross section defined by a predetermined arcuate curve, said method comprising the steps of: moving a cutting stylus and a surface in which such grooves are to be formed relative to each other in a series of parallel traverses to cut sequentially a plurality of rectilinear grooves in such surface, such stylus having a cutting profile in accordance with said predetermined arcuate curve, and such traverses being made in a direction parallel to that of the intended grooves, and while cutting each groove, modulating the cutting depth of the stylus by applying an electrical signal thereto of such waveform that the position of said stylus is varied in a plane perpendicular to said surface whereby a groove having a depth profile in accordance with said predetermined undulating waveform is cut in said surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for making a radiation-redistributive device having a surface defining a plurality of rectilinear grooves, each groove varying in depth along the groove length in accordance with a predetermined undulating waveform and having a transverse cross section defined by a predetermined arcuate curve, said method comprising the steps of: moving a cutting stylus and a surface in which such grooves are to be formed relative to each other in a series of parallel traverses to cut sequentially a plurality of rectilinear grooves in such surface, such stylus having a cutting profile in accordance with said predetermined arcuate curve, and such traverses being made in a direction parallel to that of the intended grooves, and while cutting each groove, modulating the cutting depth of the stylus by applying an electrical signal thereto of such waveform that the position of said stylus is varied in a plane perpendicular to said surface whereby a groove having a depth profile in accordance with said predetermined undulating waveform is cut in said surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said cut is made with the cutting stylus of a sound recording head.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for making a radiation-redistributive surface which surface includes rectilinear grooves, each groove having a cross section in a first plane transverse to the groove which is curved to give a desired light distribution in said plane and has a depth profile which undulates according to a waveform to give a desired light distribution in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane and to said surface, said apparatus comprising: a sound-recording head including a movably mounted cutting stylus having a cutting profile which is curved to correspond to said cross section, and control means operatively coupled to said stylus and responsive to the waveform of an electrical signal for varying the position of said stylus in accordance with the instantaneous amplitude of said waveform; means for moving said stylus and a surface in which such grooves are to be formed relative to each other in a series of parallel traverses to cut rectilinear grooves in said surface; and circuit means coupled to said control means for generating an electrical signal having a waveform which, during relative movement between said stylus and said surface, causes the position of said stylus to vary in such a manner as to cut grooves having said depth profile.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for making a radiation-redistributive surface which surface includes rectilinear grooves, each groove having a cross section in a first plane transverse to the groove which is curved to give a desired light distribution in said plane and has a depth profile which undulates according to a waveform to give a desired light distribution in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane and to said surface, said apparatus comprising: a sound-recording head including a movably mounted cutting stylus having a cutting profile which is curved to correspond to said cross section, and control means operatively coupled to said stylus and responsive to the waveform of an electrical signal for varying the position of said stylus in accordance with the instantaneous amplitude of said waveform; means for moving said stylus and a surface in which such grooves are to be formed relative to each other in a series of parallel traverses to cut rectilinear grooves in said surface; and circuit means coupled to said control means for generating an electrical signal having a waveform which, during relative movement between said stylus and said surface, causes the position of said stylus to vary in such a manner as to cut grooves having said depth profile.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said circuit means comprises means for generating a sine wave; means operatively coupled to said sine wave generating means for producing an error signal representing the manner in which said depth profile differs from a sine wave; and means operatively coupled with said sine wave generator and said error signal producing means for combining said error signal with a sine wave to produce a signal having a waveform substantially identical to said groove depth profile.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said circuit means further comprises means for generating a sawtooth waveform, and means operatively coupled to said moving means for adding said sawtooth waveform to said electrical signal in an amount dependent upon the distance between said stylus and a line perpendicular to said grooves and passing through the center of said surface, whereby the optical axes of the microelements in each row converge at a point spaced from said surface.
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) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |