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US4663698A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for directing a beam of light

Assignee: Wynne Willson Gottelier Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-03-06
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Granted: 1987-05-05
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Expires: 2006-03-06
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Abstract

Abstract An optical system directs the output beam of a light source along a first axis fixed relative to a first support carrying the light source. A second support mounted on the first support is rotated by a first motor about the first axis. A first reflector on the second support is oblique to and always intersected by the first axis. A third support mounted on the second support is rotated by a second motor about a second axis coincident with the reflection of the first axis in the first reflector. A second reflector on the third support is oblique to and always intersected by the second axis. By appropriate energization of the motors the light beam can be reflected in any direction.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ernest V. Tomlinson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 15:50
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V7/00; F21S; F21S10/00; F21S10/06; F21V21/00; F21V21/14; F21V21/30; G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/0816

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 188 words
Apparatus for directing a beam of light in any direction, comprising a first support, a light source mounted on the first support, an optical system arranged to direct the output beam of the light source along a first axis fixed in relation to the first support, a second support mounted on the first support for rotation substantially about the first axis, a first motor for rotating the second support about the first axis, a first reflector mounted on the second support so that the first axis passes through it in all angular positions of the second support about the first axis, the first reflector being oblique to the first axis, a third support mounted on the second support for rotation substantially about a second axis which coincides with the reflection of the first axis in the first reflector, a second motor for rotating the third support about the second axis, and a second reflector mounted on the third support so that the second axis passes through it in all angular positions of the third support about the second axis, the second reflector being oblique to the second axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 188 words
Apparatus for directing a beam of light in any direction, comprising a first support, a light source mounted on the first support, an optical system arranged to direct the output beam of the light source along a first axis fixed in relation to the first support, a second support mounted on the first support for rotation substantially about the first axis, a first motor for rotating the second support about the first axis, a first reflector mounted on the second support so that the first axis passes through it in all angular positions of the second support about the first axis, the first reflector being oblique to the first axis, a third support mounted on the second support for rotation substantially about a second axis which coincides with the reflection of the first axis in the first reflector, a second motor for rotating the third support about the second axis, and a second reflector mounted on the third support so that the second axis passes through it in all angular positions of the third support about the second axis, the second reflector being oblique to the second axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the first mirror is at 45° to planes orthogonal to the first axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the second mirror is at 45° to planes orthogonal to the second axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the first mirror is at 45° to planes orthogonal to the first axis and the second mirror is at 45° to planes orthogonal to the second axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the second support has a tubular portion rotatably mounted on the first support, and the first motor is carried by the first support and is kinematically connected to the said tubular portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the third support has a tubular portion rotatably mounted on the second support, and the second motor is carried by the second support and is kinematically connected to the tubular portion of the third support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the supports is in the form of a housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the reflectors is a mirror.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 12 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the mirror is plane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the first axis is substantially vertical.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US478510A Cited
US1607688A Cited
US1828924A Cited
US2909652A Cited
DE1180160B Cited
US3609339A Cited
US4260217A Cited
US4304535A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-05-04 1990-11-03 1991-05-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-05-04 1994-11-03 1995-05-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-05-04 1998-11-03 1999-05-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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