US5075716A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for precisely exposing radiation sensitive materials
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1990-11-29
•
Granted: 1991-12-24
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Expires: 2010-11-29
Abstract
Abstract Radiant energy is directed from a source (14,16) to an illumination plane (28) where the light receiving ends of groups (36) of optic fibers are arranged in coplanar striations (100), after which the radiant energy passes through the groups of optic fibers into individual exposure columns (40) and on to an exposure plane (42) where a radiation sensitive sample is exposed in individual areas to different, readily adjustable levels of illuminance from each of the groups of optic fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard P. Jehan
- 👤 Eugene R. Clemons
- 👤 Thomas W. McKeehan
- 👤 Brian A. Reed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/0006; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/02; G03B27/14; G03B27/16; G03B27/72; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
Apparatus for precisely exposing radiation sensitive webs, comprising: means for positioning a sample of such webs at an exposure plane; a source of radiant energy; a plurality of longitudinally extending optic fibers having their one ends arranged substantially in an illumination plane facing said source, their other ends being arranged in groups of differing numbers of fibers with the other ends of the optic fibers of each group facing said exposure plane; and means for adjusting individually the positions of said other ends of each group relative to said exposure plane to obtain a desired illuminance at said exposure plane opposite said other ends of each of said groups of optic fibers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus for precisely exposing radiation sensitive webs, comprising: means for positioning a sample of such webs at an exposure plane; a source of radiant energy; a plurality of longitudinally extending optic fibers having their one ends arranged substantially in an illumination plane facing said source, their other ends being arranged in groups of differing numbers of fibers with the other ends of the optic fibers of each group facing said exposure plane; and means for adjusting individually the positions of said other ends of each group relative to said exposure plane to obtain a desired illuminance at said exposure plane opposite said other ends of each of said groups of optic fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said source comprises an incandescent lamp and an elliptical reflector positioned on the opposite side of said lamp from said illumination plane, said illumination plane being positioned near a focus of said elliptical reflector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising color correction filters between said source and said illumination plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one ends of said optic fibers of each of said groups are arranged at said illumination plane in striations, said apparatus further comprising shutter means between said source and said illumination plane for sequentially exposing said striations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said shutter means comprises a rotatable sector wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said shutter means comprises a movable blade.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one ends of said optic fibers of each of said groups are arranged at said illumination plane in striations, the number of said fibers in each group being chosen to provide a logarithmic progression of the illuminance at said exposure plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising mask means positioned at said illumination plane for blocking radiation from portions of said striations to expand the range of said logarithmic progression.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising mask means positioned at said illumination plane for blocking radiation from portions of said striations to contract the range of said logarithmic progression.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for measuring the illuminance at said exposure plane from said other ends of the optic fibers of each group, said means for adjusting being responsive to said means for measuring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting comprises: a plurality of elongated chambers, one for each of said groups, each said chamber having an end opening toward said exposure plane; a plurality of fixture means, one slidably mounted in each of said chambers, for holding said other ends coplanar within each of said groups; and means for moving said fixture means toward or away from said exposure plane to adjust the illuminance at said exposure plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for precisely exposing radiation sensitive webs, comprising: means for positioning a sample of such webs at an exposure plane; a source of radiant energy; a plurality of longitudinally extending optic fibers having their one ends arranged substantially in an illumination plane facing said source, their other ends being arranged in groups of differing numbers of fibers with the other ends of the optic fibers of each group spaced from and faced toward said exposure plane; and means between said other ends and said exposure plane for eliminating off-axis radiation issuing from said other ends of each of said groups.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for precisely exposing radiation sensitive webs, comprising: means for positioning a sample of such webs at an exposure plane; a source of radiant energy; a plurality of longitudinally extending optic fibers having their one ends arranged substantially in an illumination plane facing said source, their other ends being arranged in groups of differing numbers of fibers with the other ends of the optic fibers of each group spaced from and faced toward said exposure plane; and means between said other ends and said exposure plane for eliminating off-axis radiation issuing from said other ends of each of said groups.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said source comprises an incandescent lamp and an elliptical reflector positioned on the opposite side of said lamp from said illumination plane, said illumination plane being positioned near a focus of said elliptical reflector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising color correction filters between said source and said illumination plane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said one ends of said optic fibers of each of said groups are arranged at said illumination plane in striations, said apparatus further comprising shutter means between said source and said illumination plane for sequentially exposing said striations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said shutter means comprises a rotatable sector wheel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said shutter means comprises a movable blade.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said one ends of said optic fibers of each of said groups are arranged at said illumination plane in striations, the number of said fibers in each group being chosen to provide a logarithmic progression of the illuminance at said exposure plane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising mask means positioned at said illumination plane for blocking radiation from portions of said striations to expand the range of said logarithmic progression.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising mask means positioned at said illumination plane for blocking radiation from portions of said striations to contract the range of said logarithmic progression.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for measuring the illuminance at said exposure plane from said other ends of the optic fibers of each group.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said means for eliminating off-axis radiation comprises: a plurality of elongated chambers, one for each of said groups, each said chamber having an end opening toward said exposure plane; a plurality of fixture means, one mounted in each of said chambers, for holding said other ends coplanar within each of said groups; and coating means on the walls of said chambers between said other ends and said exposure plane for absorbing off axis radiation issuing from said other ends.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said means for eliminating off-axis radiation comprises: a plurality of elongated chambers, one for each of said groups, each said chamber having an end opening toward said exposure plane; a plurality of fixture means, one mounted in each of said chambers, for holding said other ends coplanar within each of said groups; and at least one transparent integrating rod positioned in each of said chambers near said end opening and extended toward said other ends, said rod essentially completely filling the crossectional area of said chamber near said end opening.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said integrating rod comprises a surface facing said other ends, said surface being ground to diffuse incident radiation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising means positioned between said other ends and said integrating rod for diffusing radiation incident on said integrating rod from said other ends.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising coating means on the walls of said chambers between said other ends and said integrating rod for absorbing off axis radiation issuing from said other ends.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
(Amended) Apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising at least one color correction filter in each of said chambers between said other ends and said integrating rod.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for precisely exposing radiation sensitive webs, comprising the steps of: positioning a sample of such webs at an exposure plane; providing a source of radiant energy; providing a plurality of longitudinally extending optic fibers having their one ends arranged substantially in an illumination plane facing said source, their other ends being arranged in groups of differing numbers of fibers with the other ends of the optic fibers of each group facing said exposure plane; adjusting the position of said other ends of each group relative to said exposure plane to obtain a desired illuminance at said exposure plane opposite said other ends of each of said groups of optic fibers; and exposing such sample to radiant energy issuing from said other ends.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for precisely exposing radiation sensitive webs, comprising the steps of: positioning a sample of such webs at an exposure plane; providing a source of radiant energy; providing a plurality of longitudinally extending optic fibers having their one ends arranged substantially in an illumination plane facing said source, their other ends being arranged in groups of differing numbers of fibers with the other ends of the optic fibers of each group facing said exposure plane; adjusting the position of said other ends of each group relative to said exposure plane to obtain a desired illuminance at said exposure plane opposite said other ends of each of said groups of optic fibers; and exposing such sample to radiant energy issuing from said other ends.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 28, wherein said source comprises an incadescent lamp and an elliptical reflector positioned on the opposite side of said lamp from said illumination plane, said method further comprising the step of positioning said illumination plane at a focus of said elliptical reflector.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of color correcting said radiant energy between said source and said illumination plane.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 28, further comprising the steps of arranging said one ends of said optic fibers of each of said groups at said illumination plane in striations, and providing shutter means between said source and said illumination plane.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 28, wherein said one ends of said optic fibers of each of said groups are arranged at said illumination plane in striations, the number of said fibers in each group being chosen to provide a logarithmic progression of the illuminance at said exposure plane.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of masking radiation from portions of said striations to expand the range of said logarithmic progression.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of masking radiation from portions of said striations to contract the range of said logarithmic progression.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 28, further comprising the steps of measuring the illuminance at said exposure plane from said other ends of the optic fibers of each group and adjusting the positions of said other ends as a function of said illuminance.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method according to claim 28, wherein said adjusting step comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of elongated chambers, one for each of said groups, each said chamber having an end opening toward said exposure plane; providing a plurality of fixture means, one slidably mounted in each of said chambers, for holding said other ends coplanar within each of said groups; and moving said fixture means toward or away from said exposure plane to adjust the illuminance at said exposure plane.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for precisely exposing radiation sensitive webs, comprising the steps of: positioning a sample of such webs at an exposure plane; providing a source of radiant energy; providing a plurality of longitudinally extending optic fibers having their one ends arranged substantially in an illumination plane facing said source, their other ends being arranged in groups of differing numbers of fibers with the other ends of the optic fibers of each group spaced from and faced toward said exposure plane; between said other ends and said exposure plane, eliminating off-axis radiation issuing from said other ends of each of said groups; and exposing such sample.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for precisely exposing radiation sensitive webs, comprising the steps of: positioning a sample of such webs at an exposure plane; providing a source of radiant energy; providing a plurality of longitudinally extending optic fibers having their one ends arranged substantially in an illumination plane facing said source, their other ends being arranged in groups of differing numbers of fibers with the other ends of the optic fibers of each group spaced from and faced toward said exposure plane; between said other ends and said exposure plane, eliminating off-axis radiation issuing from said other ends of each of said groups; and exposing such sample.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 37, wherein said source comprises an incandescent lamp and an elliptical reflector positioned on the opposite side of said lamp from said illumination plane, further comprising the step of positioning said illumination plane near a focus of said elliptical reflector.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of color correcting said radiant energy between said source and said illumination plane.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 37, further comprising the steps of arranging said one ends of said optic fibers of each of said groups at said illumination plane in striations and providing shutter means between said source and said illumination plane for sequentially exposing said striations.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of arranging said one ends of said optic fibers of each of said groups at said illumination plane in striations, the number of said fibers in each group being chosen to provide a logarithmic progression of the illuminance at said exposure plane.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 41, further comprising the step of masking radiation from portions of said striations to expand the range of said logarithmic progression.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 41, further comprising the step of masking radiation from portions of said striations to contract the range of said logarithmic progression.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of measuring the illuminance at said exposure plane from said other ends of the optic fibers of each group.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method according to claim 37, wherein said step of eliminating off-axis radiation comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of elongated chambers, one for each of said groups, each said chamber having an end opening toward said exposure plane; providing a plurality of fixture means, one mounted in each of said chambers, for holding said other ends coplanar within each of said groups; and absorbing off axis radiation between said other ends and said exposure plane.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
103 words
A method according to claim 37, wherein said step of eliminating off-axis radiation comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of elongated chambers, one for each of said groups, each said chamber having an end opening toward said exposure plane; providing a plurality of fixture means, one mounted in each of said chambers, for holding said other ends coplanar within each of said groups; and providing at least one transparent integrating rod positioned in each of said chambers near said end opening and extended toward said other ends, said rod essentially completely filling the crossectional area of said chamber near said end opening.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of diffusing radiation incident on said integrating rod from said other ends.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of absorbing off axis radiation issuing from said other ends.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of color correcting said radiation in each of said chambers between said other ends and said integrating rod.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for sequentially exposing an array of light receiving objects, comprising: a source of radiant energy; a plurality of such objects arranged substantially at an illumination plane facing said source, said objects being arranged in striations, the exposed area of such objects in each striation being chosen to provide a progression of the illuminance at each striation at said illumination plane; and shutter means positioned between said source and said illumination plane for sequentially illuminating said striations.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for sequentially exposing an array of light receiving objects, comprising: a source of radiant energy; a plurality of such objects arranged substantially at an illumination plane facing said source, said objects being arranged in striations, the exposed area of such objects in each striation being chosen to provide a progression of the illuminance at each striation at said illumination plane; and shutter means positioned between said source and said illumination plane for sequentially illuminating said striations.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said shutter means comprises a rotatable sector wheel.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said shutter means comprises a movable blade.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said progression is logarithmic, further comprising mask means positioned at said illumination plane for blocking radiation from portions of said striations to expand the range of said logarithmic progression.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said progression is logarithmic, further comprising mask means positioned at said illumination plane for blocking radiation from portions of said striations to contract the range of said logarithmic progression.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising mask means positioned at said illumination plane for blocking radiation from portions of said striations to expand the range of said progression.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising mask means positioned at said illumination plane for blocking radiation from portions of said striations to contract the range of said progression.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-23 | 1995-06-24 | 1995-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-23 | 1999-06-24 | 1999-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-23 | 2003-06-24 | 2003-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |