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US4497013A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Illuminating apparatus

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1983-06-27
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Granted: 1985-01-29
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Expires: 2003-06-27
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Abstract

Abstract An illuminating apparatus is provided with an illuminating unit for forming a plurality of secondary light sources, the illuminating unit having a light source, a light converging device for converging photoenergy emitted from the light source, and a first multi-beam forming optical element for forming multiple light beams. A second multi-beam forming optical element produces a uniform luminance distribution and forms multiple light beams. A first converging optical system converges the photoenergy emitted from the first multi-beam forming optical element on the second multi-beam forming optical element, and a second converging optical system converges the photoenergy emitted from the second multi-beam forming optical element on a photomask.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masakatu Ohta

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 10:13
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/70; G03F7/70058

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 97 words
An illuminating apparatus for irradiating a surface, said apparatus comprising: illuminating means for forming a plurality of secondary light sources; multi-beam forming optical means for forming multiple light beams from the radiant energy from said secondary light sources; collimating optical means for substantially collimating the radiant energy from said secondary light sources and directing the radiant energy to said multi-beam forming optical means to be formed as multiple light beams thereby; and converging optical means for converging the radiant energy as the multiple light beams from said multi-beam forming optical means on the surface to be irradiated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 97 words
An illuminating apparatus for irradiating a surface, said apparatus comprising: illuminating means for forming a plurality of secondary light sources; multi-beam forming optical means for forming multiple light beams from the radiant energy from said secondary light sources; collimating optical means for substantially collimating the radiant energy from said secondary light sources and directing the radiant energy to said multi-beam forming optical means to be formed as multiple light beams thereby; and converging optical means for converging the radiant energy as the multiple light beams from said multi-beam forming optical means on the surface to be irradiated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 51 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said illuminating means comprises a light source, a multi-beam forming optical element for forming multiple light beams as said plurality of light sources, and a converging optical element for converging the radiant energy from said light source on said multi-beam forming optical element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said multi-beam forming optical element is a set of lens arrays disposed at the focus positions thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said multi-beam forming optical element is an optical fiber bundle comprising fibers at random.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said converging optical element is an elliptical mirror.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said converging optical element is a group of condenser lenses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said multi-beam forming optical means is a set of lens arrays disposed at the focus positions thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said multi-beam forming optical means is an optical fiber bundle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 78 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said multi-beam forming optical means is a set of lens arrays disposed at the focus positions thereof, and wherein in the direction of the optical axis of said apparatus, the forward one of said lens arrays is disposed substantially on the rearward focal plane of said collimating optical means, and the rearward one of said lens arrays is disposed substantially on the forward focal plane of said converging optical means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 118 words
An illuminating apparatus for irradiating a surface, said apparatus comprising: a light source for producing light; first multi-beam forming optical means for forming multiple light beams; first converging optical means for converging the light produced by said light source on said first multi-beam forming optical means to be formed into multiple light beams thereby; second multi-beam forming optical means for forming multiple light beams; lens means for converging the multiple light beams from said first multi-beam forming optical means on said second multi-beam forming optical means to be formed into multiple light beams thereby; and second converging optical means for converging the multiple light beams from said second multi-beam forming optical means on the surface to be irradiated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 118 words
An illuminating apparatus for irradiating a surface, said apparatus comprising: a light source for producing light; first multi-beam forming optical means for forming multiple light beams; first converging optical means for converging the light produced by said light source on said first multi-beam forming optical means to be formed into multiple light beams thereby; second multi-beam forming optical means for forming multiple light beams; lens means for converging the multiple light beams from said first multi-beam forming optical means on said second multi-beam forming optical means to be formed into multiple light beams thereby; and second converging optical means for converging the multiple light beams from said second multi-beam forming optical means on the surface to be irradiated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 18 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said surface to be irradiated is provided with a mask.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first multi-beam forming optical means is a set of lens arrays disposed at the focus positions thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 26 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second multi-beam forming optical means is a set of lens arrays disposed at the focus positions thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 24 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first multi-beam forming optical means is an optical fiber bundle having fibers arranged at random.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 49 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first converging optical means is an elliptical mirror, said light source is disposed at the first focal point of said elliptical mirror and said first multi-beam forming optical means is disposed at the second focal point of said elliptical mirror.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4206494A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-01-29 1988-07-30 1989-01-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-01-29 1992-07-30 1993-01-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-01-29 1996-07-30 1997-01-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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