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Method, apparatus and product for illuminating a surface to provide a desired light intensity at discrete points on said surface

Assignee: Sunkist Growers Inc
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Filing: 1983-10-07
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Granted: 1986-01-14
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Expires: 2003-10-07
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for illuminating a surface to provide a desired light intensity. The light intensity at discrete points along the illuminated surface is measured through a light transparent material, and opaque materials are applied to the transparent material to block out some of the light and thereby produce a light filter such that the desired intensity at each of the discrete points along the surface is obtained. An oscilliscope, or alternatively, a computer display to indicate light intensity are used.

Inventors

  • 👤 Nicholas M. Myrman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 17:44
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V9/00; F21V9/08; G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 167 words
The method of illuminating a surface to provide a desired light intensity comprising: a. positioning a single light source at a distance from said surface; b. positioning a light transparent material, intermediate said light source and said surface; c. illuminating said surface through said light transparent material; d. measuring the light intensity at discrete points along the illuminated surface by means of a light sensing device being capable of sensing light intensity at discrete points along said surface said light sensing device being electronically connected to an oscilliscope and wherein a light intensity curve corresponding to the intensity of light along said illuminated surface is produced on said oscilliscope; and e. applying opaque materials to said light transparent material in response to said measurement to block out some of the light such that the desired intensity at each of said discrete points along said surface will be obtained and said light intensity curve on said oscilliscope is adjusted to the desired light intensity along said illuminated surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 167 words
The method of illuminating a surface to provide a desired light intensity comprising: a. positioning a single light source at a distance from said surface; b. positioning a light transparent material, intermediate said light source and said surface; c. illuminating said surface through said light transparent material; d. measuring the light intensity at discrete points along the illuminated surface by means of a light sensing device being capable of sensing light intensity at discrete points along said surface said light sensing device being electronically connected to an oscilliscope and wherein a light intensity curve corresponding to the intensity of light along said illuminated surface is produced on said oscilliscope; and e. applying opaque materials to said light transparent material in response to said measurement to block out some of the light such that the desired intensity at each of said discrete points along said surface will be obtained and said light intensity curve on said oscilliscope is adjusted to the desired light intensity along said illuminated surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 97 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of photographing the oscilliscope curve to produce an oscilliscope trace, assigning percent light transmittance values to preselected points on said oscilliscope trace ranging from 0% to 100% and applying opaque strips of equal width to the light transparent material according to the formula: ##EQU2## wherein d n equals total distance of the center line of said opaque strip to the center line of said filter; W equals the width of said opaque strips and T n % equals the percent assigned light transmittance at such preselected points.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 179 words
The method of illuminating a surface to provide a desired light intensity comprising: a. positioning a single light source at a distance from said surface; b. positioning a light transparent material, intermediate said light source and said surface; c. illuminating said surface through said light transparent material; d. measuring the light intensity at discrete points along the illuminated surface by means of a light sensing device being capable of sensing light intensity at discrete points along said surface said light sensing device being electronically connected to a computer and a computer display device and wherein a light intensity curve corresponding to the intensity of light along said illuminated surface is produced by said computer on said computer display device; and e. applying opaque materials to said light transparent material in response to said measurement to block out some of the light such that the desired intensity at each of said discrete points along said surface will be obtained and said light intensity curve on said computer display device is adjusted to the desired light intensity along said illuminated surface.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 179 words
The method of illuminating a surface to provide a desired light intensity comprising: a. positioning a single light source at a distance from said surface; b. positioning a light transparent material, intermediate said light source and said surface; c. illuminating said surface through said light transparent material; d. measuring the light intensity at discrete points along the illuminated surface by means of a light sensing device being capable of sensing light intensity at discrete points along said surface said light sensing device being electronically connected to a computer and a computer display device and wherein a light intensity curve corresponding to the intensity of light along said illuminated surface is produced by said computer on said computer display device; and e. applying opaque materials to said light transparent material in response to said measurement to block out some of the light such that the desired intensity at each of said discrete points along said surface will be obtained and said light intensity curve on said computer display device is adjusted to the desired light intensity along said illuminated surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 1 or 3 wherein said opaque materials are elongate rectangular strips of constant width.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 1 or 3 wherein said opaque materials are elongate rectangular strips of variable width.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said computer display device is a computer printer and said computer prints out a filter pattern which can be applied to said light transparent material to attain the desired light intensity along said illuminated surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
A method according to claim 1 or 3 wherein said light source is an unequal distance from points along said illuminated surface and wherein the desired light intensity along said surface is substantially constant.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 163 words
An apparatus for illuminating a surface with light of a desired intensity along the axis of said surface comprising a point light source at a distance from said surface and a light filter positioned intermediate said light source and said surface, said filter having opaque materials positioned thereon, said opaque materials having been selectively applied to a light transparent material to form said filter in response to measurement of light intensity at discrete points along said illuminated surface such that the desired intensity at each of said discrete points along said axis will be obtained, said opaque materials being opaque strips of equal width and being positioned on said light transparent material according to the formula: ##EQU3## wherein d n equals total distance of the center lines of said opaque strip to the center line of said filter; W equals the width of said opaque strips and T n % equals the percent assigned light transmittance at such preselected points on said filter.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 163 words
An apparatus for illuminating a surface with light of a desired intensity along the axis of said surface comprising a point light source at a distance from said surface and a light filter positioned intermediate said light source and said surface, said filter having opaque materials positioned thereon, said opaque materials having been selectively applied to a light transparent material to form said filter in response to measurement of light intensity at discrete points along said illuminated surface such that the desired intensity at each of said discrete points along said axis will be obtained, said opaque materials being opaque strips of equal width and being positioned on said light transparent material according to the formula: ##EQU3## wherein d n equals total distance of the center lines of said opaque strip to the center line of said filter; W equals the width of said opaque strips and T n % equals the percent assigned light transmittance at such preselected points on said filter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said opaque materials are elongate rectangular strips of constant width.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said opaque materials are elongate rectangular strips of variable width.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 156 words
A light filter adapted to be used in connection with a single light source to provide light of desired intensity along an axis of a surface to be illuminated by said light source, said filter comprising a transparent base having opaque areas thereon, said opaque materials having been selectively applied to said filter in response to the measurement of light through said filter such that the desired intensity of light on said surface to be illuminated at discrete points along the axis of said surface will be obtained, said opaque materials being opaque strips of equal width and being positioned on said light transparent material according to the formula: ##EQU4## wherein d n equals total distance of the center lines of said opaque strip to the center line of said filter; W equals the width of said opaque strips and T n % equals the percent assigned light transmittance at such preselected points on said filter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 156 words
A light filter adapted to be used in connection with a single light source to provide light of desired intensity along an axis of a surface to be illuminated by said light source, said filter comprising a transparent base having opaque areas thereon, said opaque materials having been selectively applied to said filter in response to the measurement of light through said filter such that the desired intensity of light on said surface to be illuminated at discrete points along the axis of said surface will be obtained, said opaque materials being opaque strips of equal width and being positioned on said light transparent material according to the formula: ##EQU4## wherein d n equals total distance of the center lines of said opaque strip to the center line of said filter; W equals the width of said opaque strips and T n % equals the percent assigned light transmittance at such preselected points on said filter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 18 words
A light filter according to claim 11 wherein said opaque materials are elongate rectangular strips of constant width.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 18 words
A light filter according to claim 11 wherein said opaque materials are elongate rectangular strips of variable width.

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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) 1989-01-13 1989-07-15 1990-01-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-01-13 1993-07-15 1994-01-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-01-13 1997-07-15 1998-01-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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