US5313373A — Apparatus for the uniform illumination of a surfa…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 94 words

An apparatus for providing highly uniform illumination of an area within a predetermined range on a surface, comprising: (a) a chamber, defined by a wall, said wall having an opaque portion and a partially transparent portion, said partially transparent portion comprising a first section having a first average transparency and a second section having a second average transparency, an interior surface of said wall being reflective of light; and (b) a light source disposed interior to said chamber wherein a camera receiving aperture is defined in said wall, said wall substantially enclosing said chamber.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 94 words

An apparatus for providing highly uniform illumination of an area within a predetermined range on a surface, comprising: (a) a chamber, defined by a wall, said wall having an opaque portion and a partially transparent portion, said partially transparent portion comprising a first section having a first average transparency and a second section having a second average transparency, an interior surface of said wall being reflective of light; and (b) a light source disposed interior to said chamber wherein a camera receiving aperture is defined in said wall, said wall substantially enclosing said chamber.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said partially transparent wall portion comprises an opaque sheet having a plurality of transparent openings defined therethrough.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said sheet is substantially horizontal and planar.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said sheet is a substantially horizontal planar member of a uniform selected thickness, each of said openings being a transparent aperture, the largest diameter of each of said transparent apertures being significantly less than said uniform selected thickness, said openings being disposed at varying angles to sheet.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said partially transparent wall portion comprises means for diffusing light.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said partially transparent wall portion further comprises means for polarizing light.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a flash lamp.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a generally sleeve-like shroud having a generally vertical opaque wall, defining a lower opening, said chamber being mounted in an upper portion of said shroud above said lower opening.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said lower opening is defined by a lower edge of said vertical shroud Wall, said edge lying substantially in a plane.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 54 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein an interior surface of said shroud wall has a first region about said lower opening having a first light reflectivity, and a second region, above said first region and below said chamber, having a second light reflectivity, said first light reflectivity being greater than said second light reflectivity.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 114 words

An illumination apparatus, comprising a wall defining and substantially enclosing a chamber, a light source disposed in said chamber, said wall comprising an opaque wall portion and a substantially planar partially transparent wall portion having an average transparency variable with respect to position on said partially transparent wall portion, and comprising an opaque sheet having a plurality of openings which permit light to exit the interior of said chamber defined therein, said partially transparent wall portion further comprising a light diffusing means adjacent to and exterior of said opaque sheet, all interior surfaces of said chamber being reflective of light generated by said light source, said wall having a camera receiving aperture defined therethrough.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 114 words

An illumination apparatus, comprising a wall defining and substantially enclosing a chamber, a light source disposed in said chamber, said wall comprising an opaque wall portion and a substantially planar partially transparent wall portion having an average transparency variable with respect to position on said partially transparent wall portion, and comprising an opaque sheet having a plurality of openings which permit light to exit the interior of said chamber defined therein, said partially transparent wall portion further comprising a light diffusing means adjacent to and exterior of said opaque sheet, all interior surfaces of said chamber being reflective of light generated by said light source, said wall having a camera receiving aperture defined therethrough.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 103 words

A method for illuminating a surface for imaging of the surface by a camera, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a wall, defining a chamber, said wall comprising an opaque wall portion and a partially transparent wall portion, said partially transparent wall portion having a first section with a first average transparency and a second section having a second average transparency, a camera-receiving aperture being defined through said partially transparent wall portion; b) disposing a camera lens through said camera-receiving aperture to a predetermined position with respect to the surface; and (c) activating a light source in said chamber to illuminate the surface.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 103 words

A method for illuminating a surface for imaging of the surface by a camera, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a wall, defining a chamber, said wall comprising an opaque wall portion and a partially transparent wall portion, said partially transparent wall portion having a first section with a first average transparency and a second section having a second average transparency, a camera-receiving aperture being defined through said partially transparent wall portion; b) disposing a camera lens through said camera-receiving aperture to a predetermined position with respect to the surface; and (c) activating a light source in said chamber to illuminate the surface.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 12, wherein said step of activating a light source comprises activating a flash lamp.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 12, where said partially transparent wall portion comprises an opaque sheet having a plurality of transparent openings defined therethrough.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 141 words

An apparatus for providing highly uniform illumination of an area within a predetermined range on a surface, comprising: (a) a generally sleeve-like shroud having an opaque, generally vertical wall, defining a lower opening; and (b) a light source disposed in said shroud; an interior surface of said wall having a first region about said lower opening having a first light reflectivity, and a second region, above said first region, having a second light reflectivity, said first light reflectivity being greater than said second light reflectivity; wherein said first region has an average reflectivity per unit distance along a perimeter of the lower opening and at least one selected portion oaf said first region has a reflectivity per unit distance along the perimeter of the lower opening greater than said average reflectivity per unit distance along the perimeter of the lower opening.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 141 words

An apparatus for providing highly uniform illumination of an area within a predetermined range on a surface, comprising: (a) a generally sleeve-like shroud having an opaque, generally vertical wall, defining a lower opening; and (b) a light source disposed in said shroud; an interior surface of said wall having a first region about said lower opening having a first light reflectivity, and a second region, above said first region, having a second light reflectivity, said first light reflectivity being greater than said second light reflectivity; wherein said first region has an average reflectivity per unit distance along a perimeter of the lower opening and at least one selected portion oaf said first region has a reflectivity per unit distance along the perimeter of the lower opening greater than said average reflectivity per unit distance along the perimeter of the lower opening.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first region has a uniform reflectivity and an average height above the opening, the height of said first region in said selected portion being greater than said average height.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 126 words

A method for providing highly uniform illumination of an area within a predetermined range on a surface, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a generally sleeve-like shroud having an opaque, generally vertical wall, defining a lower opening, an interior surface of said wall having a first region about said lower opening having a first light reflectivity, and a section region, above said first region, having a second light reflectivity, said first light reflectivity being greater than said second light reflectivity; (b) providing a light source in said shroud; (c) placing the shroud on the surface to be illuminated with the opening facing the surface, and thereby positioning said light source a predetermined distance from the surface; and (d) activating said light source to illuminate the surface.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 126 words

A method for providing highly uniform illumination of an area within a predetermined range on a surface, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a generally sleeve-like shroud having an opaque, generally vertical wall, defining a lower opening, an interior surface of said wall having a first region about said lower opening having a first light reflectivity, and a section region, above said first region, having a second light reflectivity, said first light reflectivity being greater than said second light reflectivity; (b) providing a light source in said shroud; (c) placing the shroud on the surface to be illuminated with the opening facing the surface, and thereby positioning said light source a predetermined distance from the surface; and (d) activating said light source to illuminate the surface.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of positioning a camera lens interior to said shroud at a predetermined lens distance from the surface, to permit imaging of the illuminated surface.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 17, wherein said first region has an average reflectivity per unit distance along a perimeter of the lower opening and at least one selected portion of said first region has a reflectivity per unit distance along the perimeter of the lower opening greater than said average reflectivity.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-05-16	1997-11-15	1998-05-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-05-16	2001-11-15	2002-05-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-05-16	2005-11-15	2006-05-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for the uniform illumination of a surface

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