US3859539A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical system
Assignee: Instrumentation Specialties Co
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Filing: 1973-04-25
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Granted: 1975-01-07
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Expires: 1993-04-25
Abstract
Abstract To maintain the intensity of a beam of light applied to an absorbance cell constant in an optical system for measuring the light absorbance of a fluid within the absorbance cell, a primary light source, which is positioned in one focus of a prolatespheroid-shaped reflector, radiates light to a photosensitive element of a light-intensity monitor and to a light-radiating member, which is positioned in the other focus of the prolate spheroid, with the light-radiating member re-radiating the light with proportional intensities to two or more light absorbance cells. The photosensitive element generates a signal representing changes in the intensity of light from the primary light source and applies this signal through a feedback to a light-intensity control circuit which changes the intensity of light emitted by the primary light source in a direction that compensates for any changes in the intensity in the light emitted from the lightradiating member.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert William Allington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/255
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
Apparatus for applying light from a primary light source to an object with a controlled intensity comprising: a light-radiating member; focusing means for focusing light emitted through a relatively large solid angle from said light source onto a spot on said light-radiating member, whereby a substantial amount of light is radiated by said light-radiating member; said primary light source including means for emitting light in a plurality of directions with an intensity that fluctuates in one directionn with respect to the intensity in another direction; electrical power means for controlling the intensity of light from said light source; detector means for detecting the intensity of the light emitted from said light source; and feedback control means for causing said electrical power means to increase the intensity of light from said light source when said detector means detects a decrease in the intensity of said light and for causing said electrical power means to decrease the intensity of light from said light source when said detector means detects an increase in the intensity of said light; said detector means being positioned at a location where it receives substantial amounts of light flux from said primary light source; said light-radiating member being sufficiently translucent to radiate light focused upon it from any direction equally in two opposite directions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
Apparatus for applying light from a primary light source to an object with a controlled intensity comprising: a light-radiating member; focusing means for focusing light emitted through a relatively large solid angle from said light source onto a spot on said light-radiating member, whereby a substantial amount of light is radiated by said light-radiating member; said primary light source including means for emitting light in a plurality of directions with an intensity that fluctuates in one directionn with respect to the intensity in another direction; electrical power means for controlling the intensity of light from said light source; detector means for detecting the intensity of the light emitted from said light source; and feedback control means for causing said electrical power means to increase the intensity of light from said light source when said detector means detects a decrease in the intensity of said light and for causing said electrical power means to decrease the intensity of light from said light source when said detector means detects an increase in the intensity of said light; said detector means being positioned at a location where it receives substantial amounts of light flux from said primary light source; said light-radiating member being sufficiently translucent to radiate light focused upon it from any direction equally in two opposite directions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which: said light-radiating member is a passive light radiating means; and said passive light-radiating means includes means for substantially diffusing light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said light-radiating member includes a light-radiating means for radiating light along at least a first and a second path from said radiating member in response to said light from said source of light with a substantially constant ratio of the intensity of the light in said first path to the intensity of light in said second path, which ratio is substantially independent of fluctuations in the light from said light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 in which: said focusing means includes a prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector having first and second foci; said light-radiating memBer being located in said first focus of said prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector; said light source including means for emitting light from said second focus of said prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector; said prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector including a first section having internal walls defining a first hole and a second section having internal walls defining a second hole; said first hole, first path and light radiating means being aligned; and said second hole, second path and light radiating means being aligned.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which: said focusing means includes a prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector having first and second foci; said light-radiating member being located in said first focus of said prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector to radiate light along at least a first and second path from said radiating member; said light source including means for emitting light from said second focus of said prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector; said prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector including a first section having internal walls defining a first hole and a second section having internal walls defining a second hole; said first hole, first path and light-radiating member being aligned; and said second hole, second path and light-radiating member being aligned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which: said light-radiating member is a clear fluorescent means for emitting light at a first frequency when impinged upon by light having a second frequency; and said light source includes means for emitting light of said second frequency.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said fluorescent means comprises means for emitting light having a wavelength substantially in the range of 270 to 290 nanometers and said light source is an ultraviolet lamp.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said radiating member includes a light-radiating means for radiating light along at least a first and a second path from said radiating member in response to said light from said source of light with a substantially constant ratio of the intensity of the light in said first path to the intensity of the light in said second path, which ratio is substantially independent of fluctuations in the light from said light source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 in which: said focusing means includes a prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector having first and second foci: said light-radiating member being located in said first focus of said prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector; said light source including means for emitting light from said second focus of said prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector; said prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector including a first section having internal walls defining a first hole and a second section having internal walls defining a second hole; said first hole, first path and light-radiating member being aligned; and said second hole, second path and radiating means being aligned.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said light-radiating member includes means for substantially re-radiating light in directions spacially independent from the directions of the light impinging upon it.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said means for re-radiating light comprises a plurality of particles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which: said plurality of particles comprise fluorescent means for emitting light at a first frequency when impinged upon by light having a second frequency; and said light source includes means for emitting light of said second frequency, whereby fluorescent light of said first frequency is directed toward said object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which said plurality of particles comprise means for passively re-radiating diffused light and for radiating fluorescent light toward said object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 in which said light-radiating member includes a light-radiating meaNs for radiating light along at least a first and a second path from said light-radiating member in response to said light from said source of light with a substantially constant ratio of the intensity of the light in said first path to the intensity of the light in said second path, which ratio is substantially independent of fluctuations in the light from said light source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 in which: said focusing means includes an prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector having first and second foci; said light-radiating member is located in said first focus of said prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector; said light source includes means for emitting light from said second focus of said prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector; said prolate-spheroid-shaped reflector includes a first section having internal walls defining a first hole and a second section having internal walls defining a second hole; said first hole, first path and light-radiating member are aligned; and said second hole, second path and radiating member are aligned.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 in which said particles comprise means for radiating light having a wavelength substantially in the range of 270 to 290 nanometers, and said light source is an ultraviolet lamp.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which: said light source is a mercury vapor lamp; and said apparatus includes temperature control means for maintaining the temperature of the mercury vapor lamp within a predetermined range.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 in which said temperature control means is a heat sink positioned adjacent to said mercury vapor lamp.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including at least first and second photocells, means for radiating a light from said light-radiating member onto said first photocell through one light path and on said second photocell through a second light path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 further including at least first and second photocells and means for radiating light from said light-radiating member onto said first photocell along a first path and onto said second photocell along a second path.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 further including at least first and second photocells, and means for radiating light from said light-radiating member onto said first photocell through a first light path and onto said second photocell through a second light path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 further including at least first and second photocells and means for radiating light from said light-radiating member onto said first photocell through a first light path and onto said second photocell through a second light path.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 further including at least first and second photocells and means for radiating light from said light-radiating member onto said first photocell through a first light path and onto said second photocell through a second light path.
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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) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |