Directional signal beacon

Claim 2

A signal beacon having a predetermined field of view comprising: a converging lens mounted within an opening of a support housing, said lens having a predetermined focal plane which includes a focus point along the optical axis of said lens at a known distance from said lens; a light source positioned substantially on said Optical axis of said converging lens and spaced at a distance from said lens greater than said known distance; light reflecting means positioned on said optical axis such that said light source is located between said reflecting means and said lens for directing illumination reflected from said reflecting means parallel with said optical axis and toward said converging lens; shutter mechanism located between said lens and said light source defining an aperture for controlling the area of said converging lens receiving reflected illumination from said light reflecting means; and a lenticulated light-transmissive surface spaced between said shutter mechanism and said light source along said optical axis at a distance greater than said known distance for producing a multiplicity of light points such that said directional signal beacon provides a scintillating appearance within a predetermined field of view.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said aperture defined by said shutter mechanism is in said focal plane.

Claim 4

The signal beacon of claim 1, wherein said lenticulated lighttransmissive screen comprises a flat glass plate having a multiplicity of condenser lenses disposed in a uniform array on one side thereof.

Claim 5

The signal beacon of claim 1, wherein said shutter mechanism has a curved configuration which substantially conforms with said focal plane of said lens.

Claim 6

A signal beacon according to claim 1 wherein said aperture-defining means is adjustable to vary size and configuration of the aperture.

Claim 7

A signal beacon according to claim 1 wherein said lenticulated light transmissive screen comprises a flat glass plate having a multiplicity of condenser lenses disposed in a uniform array on both sides thereof.

Claim 8

A signal beacon according to claim 1 wherein said light reflection means is an elliptical reflector.

Claim 9

A signal beacon according to claim 7 wherein said light source is disposed at a first focus of the ellipse formed by said reflector for directing light through the second focus of said ellipse.

Claim 10

A signal beacon having a predetermined field of view comprising: a converging lens mounted within an opening of a support housing, said lens having a predetermined focal surface which surface includes a focus point along the optical axis of said lens at a known distance from said lens; a light source positioned substantially on said optical axis of said converging lens and spaced at a distance from said lens greater than said known distance; light reflecting means positioned on said optical axis such that said light source is located between said reflecting means and said lens to direct illumination reflected from said reflecting means parallel with said optical axis and toward said converging lens; shutter mechanism having a curved configuration and defining an aperture, said shutter mechanism located between said lens and said light source such that said curved configuration substantially conforms to said focal plane of said lens; and a lenticulated transmissive screen spaced between such shutter mechanism and said light source along said optical axis at a distance greater than said known distance for producing a multiplicity of light points such that said directional signal beacon provides a scintillating appearance within a predetermined field of view.

Claim 11

A signal beacon having a predetermined field of view comprising: a converging lens mounted within an opening of a support housing, said lens having a predetermined focal surface which surface includes a focus point along the optical axis of said lens at a known distance from said lens; a light source positioned substantially on said optical axis of said converging lens and spaced at a distance from said lens greater than said known distance; light reflecting means positioned on said optical axis such that said light source is located between said reflecting means and said lens to direct illumination reflected from said reflecting means parallel with said optical axis and toward said converging lens; shutter mechanism having a curved configuration and defining an aperture, said shutter mechanism located between said lens and said light source such that said curved configuration substantially conforms to said focal plane of said lens; and a lenticulated transmissive screen spaced between such shutter mechanism and said light source along said optical axis at a distance greater than said known distance for producing a multiplicity of light points such that said directional signal beacon provides a scintillating appearance within a predetermined field of view.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said curved configuration of said shutter is substantially hemispherical and further includes: a plurality of spherical segments slidably mounted on said hemispherical member for defining the size and shape of said aperture; and spring-biasing means disposed adjacent said spherical segments for frictionally maintaining the position of said segments.

Claim 13

A signal beacon according to claim 9 wherein said lenticulated, light-transmissive screen is a mosaic of condenser lenses.