US3893753A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical attenuator
Assignee: Beckman Coulter Inc
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Filing: 1974-02-25
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Granted: 1975-07-08
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Expires: 1994-02-25
Abstract
Abstract An optical attenuator for adjusting the amount of radiant energy passing through a variable aperture formed by a pair of apertures in opposing portions of a continuous loop metal strip encircling first and second parallel shafts with the free ends of the strip being secured to one shaft to form the loop. One of the parallel shafts is provided with cam surfaces for adjusting the spacing between the parallel shafts to thereby increase the tension on the continuous loop. Two pairs of rollers abut the outer surfaces of the metal strip to maintain the apertures in the strip in close sliding relationship. One of the shafts is provided with drive means to provide bidirectional angular rotation to thereby vary the relative positions of the pair of apertures with respect to each other to control the energy of the light beam passing therethrough.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J Glenn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/10; G01J1/20; G01J1/22; G01J1/24; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
In an optical attenuator for adjusting the amount of radiant energy passing through a variable aperture therein, the combination comprising: a frame having a window therein for passage therethrough of a beam of radiant energy; first and second parallel shafts mounted on said frame on opposite sides of said window for rotation about the axes thereof; an opaque strip encircling said first and second shafts, the free ends thereof being secured to said first shaft to form a continuous loop, said strip having a width at least equal to the width of said window, said strip having a pair of apertures adapted to be in alignment with each other and with said window in one angular position of said first shaft; bias means engaging at least one outer surface of said strip to urge the portion of the strip so engaged into sliding relation with the adjacent surface of said strip, said bias means being positioned intermediate said first and second shafts and being configured for noninterference with said beam; cam means mounted on said frame and engaging at least one of said first and second shafts for displacing the axis of rotation thereof to thereby adjust the tension on said continuous loop; and drive means coupled to oNe of said shafts for providing bidirectional angular rotation thereof to thereby vary the relative positions of said pair of apertures with respect to each other to control the amount of radiant energy passing therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
In an optical attenuator for adjusting the amount of radiant energy passing through a variable aperture therein, the combination comprising: a frame having a window therein for passage therethrough of a beam of radiant energy; first and second parallel shafts mounted on said frame on opposite sides of said window for rotation about the axes thereof; an opaque strip encircling said first and second shafts, the free ends thereof being secured to said first shaft to form a continuous loop, said strip having a width at least equal to the width of said window, said strip having a pair of apertures adapted to be in alignment with each other and with said window in one angular position of said first shaft; bias means engaging at least one outer surface of said strip to urge the portion of the strip so engaged into sliding relation with the adjacent surface of said strip, said bias means being positioned intermediate said first and second shafts and being configured for noninterference with said beam; cam means mounted on said frame and engaging at least one of said first and second shafts for displacing the axis of rotation thereof to thereby adjust the tension on said continuous loop; and drive means coupled to oNe of said shafts for providing bidirectional angular rotation thereof to thereby vary the relative positions of said pair of apertures with respect to each other to control the amount of radiant energy passing therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said cam means engages said second shaft and includes a cam roller rotatably secured to said frame, said cam roller having an axially cutaway portion, and said second shaft being mounted for rotation within the cutaway portion of said cam roller on axis offset from the axis of said cam roller whereby rotation of said cam roller varies the distance between said first and second shafts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said bias means includes first and second parallel guide rollers on either side of said window, said guide rollers being positioned intermediate and parallel to said first and second shafts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The combination according to claim 3 wherein said bias means includes a third guide roller paired with and in closely spaced relation and parallel to said first guide roller and a fourth guide roller paired with and in closely spaced relation and parallel to said second guide roller, the respective rollers of each pair of rollers engaging opposing exterior surfaces of said strip, and the spacing between said respective rollers being at least equal to twice the thickness of said strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination according to claim 4 wherein said strip is a metal strip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
205 words
In an optical attenuator for adjusting the amount of radiant energy passing through a variable width slit therein, the combination comprising: a frame having a window therein for passage therethrough of a beam of radiant energy; first and second parallel shafts mounted on said frame on opposite sides of said window for rotation about the axes thereof; an opaque strip in the form of a continuous loop encircling said first and second shafts and having a width at least equal to the width of said window, said strip having a pair of apertures adapted to be aligned with each other and with said window to define said slit; means coupling said first shaft in driving engagement with said strip; bias means engaging at least one outer surface of said strip to urge the portion of the strip so engaged into sliding relation with the adjacent surface of said strip, said bias means being positioned intermediate said first and second shafts; and drive means coupled to said first shaft for effecting bi-directional angular rotation thereof to vary the relative positions of said pair of apertures with respect to each other to vary the width of said slit thereby controlling the amount of radiant energy passing therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
205 words
In an optical attenuator for adjusting the amount of radiant energy passing through a variable width slit therein, the combination comprising: a frame having a window therein for passage therethrough of a beam of radiant energy; first and second parallel shafts mounted on said frame on opposite sides of said window for rotation about the axes thereof; an opaque strip in the form of a continuous loop encircling said first and second shafts and having a width at least equal to the width of said window, said strip having a pair of apertures adapted to be aligned with each other and with said window to define said slit; means coupling said first shaft in driving engagement with said strip; bias means engaging at least one outer surface of said strip to urge the portion of the strip so engaged into sliding relation with the adjacent surface of said strip, said bias means being positioned intermediate said first and second shafts; and drive means coupled to said first shaft for effecting bi-directional angular rotation thereof to vary the relative positions of said pair of apertures with respect to each other to vary the width of said slit thereby controlling the amount of radiant energy passing therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination according to claim 6 including means for varying the distance between the axes of said first and second shafts to adjust the tension on said continuous loop.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination according to claim 7 wherein said means for varying includes a cam roller rotatably secured to said frame and having an axially cutaway portion, said second shaft being mounted for rotation within the cutaway portion of said cam roller on an axis offset from the axis of rotation of said cam roller whereby rotation of said cam roller varies the distance between said first and second shafts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination according to claim 6 wherein said bias means includes first and second parallel guide rollers on either side of said window, said guide rollers being positioned intermediate and parallel to said first and second shafts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The combination according to claim 9 wherein said bias means includes a third guide roller paired with and in closely spaced relation and parallel to said first guide roller and a fourth guide roller paired with and in closely spaced relation and parallel to said second guide roller, the respective rollers of each pair of rollers engaging opposing exterior surfaces of said strip, and the spacing between said respective rollers being at least equal to twice the thicknEss of said strip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination according to claim 9 including means for varying the distance between the axes of said first and second shafts to adjust the tension on said continuous loop.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
The combination according to claim 11 wherein said bias means includes a third guide roller paired with and in closely spaced relation and parallel to said first guide roller and a fourth guide roller paired with and in closely spaced relation and parallel to said second guide roller, the respective rollers of each pair of rollers engaging opposing exterior surfaces of said strip, and the spacing between said respective rollers being at least equal to twice the thickness of said strip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1003536A
Cited
US2041465A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-07 | 1979-01-06 | 1979-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-07 | 1983-01-06 | 1983-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-07 | 1987-01-06 | 1987-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |