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US4116527A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for concentrating light from a linear field on to a receiver

Assignee: Erwin Sick GmbH Optik Elektronik
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Filing: 1976-11-03
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Granted: 1978-09-26
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Expires: 1996-11-03
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for concentrating light from a linear field on to a relatively small receiver disposed at the end of a rod light guide on the peripheral surface of which light emanating from the linear field is directed. The linear field is arranged substantially at the focal distance from a first concave strip mirror which is disposed so as to extend optically parallel to the field and reflects the incident light from the field to a second concave strip mirror which is optically parallel with the first mirror and forms therewith a substantially telecentric system and which, in turn, reflects the incident light to the peripheral surface of the rod light guide.

Inventors

  • 👤 Erwin Sick

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 05:25
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G02B27/14; G02B27/143; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/89; G01N21/8901

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 183 words
An apparatus for concentrating light from a linear field onto a relatively small receiver, comprising: a rod light guide with a peripheral surface, said receiver being disposed at the end of said rod light guide on the peripheral surface of which light emanating from the linear field is directed, a first concave strip mirror, said linear field being arranged substantially at the focal distance from said first concave strip mirror, said mirror being disposed so as to extend optically parallel to the field, and a second concave strip mirror, said first mirror reflecting the incident light from said field to said second concave strip mirror, said second mirror being optically parallel with the first mirror and forming therewith a substantially telecentric system and reflecting the incident light to the peripheral surface of the rod light guide, and a stepped mirror system carried by said light guide on that side of its periphery diametrically opposite the incident light, said stepped mirror system reflecting back, at angles of total reflection in the rod, incident light which strikes substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the rod.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 183 words
An apparatus for concentrating light from a linear field onto a relatively small receiver, comprising: a rod light guide with a peripheral surface, said receiver being disposed at the end of said rod light guide on the peripheral surface of which light emanating from the linear field is directed, a first concave strip mirror, said linear field being arranged substantially at the focal distance from said first concave strip mirror, said mirror being disposed so as to extend optically parallel to the field, and a second concave strip mirror, said first mirror reflecting the incident light from said field to said second concave strip mirror, said second mirror being optically parallel with the first mirror and forming therewith a substantially telecentric system and reflecting the incident light to the peripheral surface of the rod light guide, and a stepped mirror system carried by said light guide on that side of its periphery diametrically opposite the incident light, said stepped mirror system reflecting back, at angles of total reflection in the rod, incident light which strikes substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the focal length of the first concave mirror to that of the second concave mirror is from 2:1 to 8:1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said ratio is about 4:1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 12 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said concave mirrors are spherical mirrors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said concave mirrors are cylindrical mirrors co-operating with a cylindrical lens extending peripendicularly to the axis of the cylinder, the axis of the cylindrical mirrors being optically perpendicular to the direction of the linear field.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said cylindrical lens is arranged in front of said rod light guide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stepped mirror system occupies only part of the length of the rod light guide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the stepped mirror system is arranged symmetrically about the middle of the rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 81 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said linear field is the scanning range of a light spot, comprising means for forming said light spot including a laser, a light deflecting device and an imaging system with a concave mirror, said first concave mirror serving simultaneously for imaging the line of light and the received light beam is separated from the transmitted light beam between said first concave mirror and the light deflecting device and is guided to the second concave mirror.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 50 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, comprising two plane mirrors for guiding the transmitted beam between the deflecting device and the first concave mirror, and for guiding the received beam between the first concave mirror and the second concave mirror, respectively, said two plane mirrors being tilted relative to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 38 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, comprising a bent strip mirror arrangement and wherein the transmitted light beam is reflected by the light deflecting device slightly obliquely to said bent strip mirror arrangement which comprises said respective plane mirrors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a third plane mirror is located between the bent mirror arrangement and the second concave mirror.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 20 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the focal point of the second concave mirror lies on said third plane mirror.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, comprising diaphragms and wherein the third plane mirror is adapted to be masked at the ends by said diaphragms.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 32 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein approximately 1/3 of the autocollimation beam path produced by pupil division is employed for the transmitted light beam and approximately 2/3 for the received light beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 73 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rod light guide has a second side opposite said side and has a longitudinal axis, and wherein said stepped mirror system comprises a plurality of mirrors inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis and arranged substantially exactly one behind the other when looking in the direction of said axis such that light reflected by said mirrors impinges on said second side at angles of total reflection.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rod light guide has a circular cross section.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB604161A Cited
US3062965A Cited
US3758197A Cited
US3762794A Cited
US3998554A Cited
US4052120A Cited
US4033678A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-09-25 1982-03-27 1982-09-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-09-25 1986-03-27 1986-09-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-09-25 1990-03-27 1990-09-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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