US5997164A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dark field illuminator ringlight adaptor
Assignee: Dolan-Jenner Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1998-09-18
•
Granted: 1999-12-07
•
Expires: 2018-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A system enabling conversion of a conventional ringlight for differential illumination such as dark field or Rheinberg illumination is disclosed. The system comprises a ringlight having an annular light emitting portion and a hood that fits over the ringlight. The hood has an aperture and an annular reflective surface, disposed opposite the light emitting portion, that reflects the light from the ringlight through the aperture. An angle of the annular reflective surface is selected relative to a direction of light from the ringlight to form a cone of light exiting the aperture. To ensure good contrast, a light baffle in the form of a sleeve, inserted into the ringlight, may be incorporated to prevent stray light from the ringlight from directly exiting through the aperture. The differential illumination produced by the invention is applicable to machine vision applications, but also microscopy, gemology, and serology, for example.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Betts
- 👤 Joseph J. Muratore
- 👤 Brian C. Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:26
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/06; G02B21/08; G02B21/10; G02B21/082; G02B21/084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
An illumination system, comprising: a ringlight having an annular light emitting portion; an annular reflective surface disposed opposite the light emitting portion for reflecting the light from the ringlight through an aperture in the ringlight; and a light baffle to prevent light from the ringlight from exiting through the aperture without first being reflected by the annular reflective surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
An illumination system, comprising: a ringlight having an annular light emitting portion; an annular reflective surface disposed opposite the light emitting portion for reflecting the light from the ringlight through an aperture in the ringlight; and a light baffle to prevent light from the ringlight from exiting through the aperture without first being reflected by the annular reflective surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An illumination system as described in claim 1, wherein the ringlight receives light via a fiber optic bundle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An illumination system as described in claim 2, wherein the annular light emitting portion comprises a ring of fibers from the fiber optic bundle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An illumination system as described in claim 1, wherein an angle of the annular reflective surface is selected relative to a direction of light from the ringlight to form a cone of light exiting the aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An illumination system as described in claim 1, further comprising a field illumination light source for emitting light parallel to an axis of the ringlight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An illumination system as described in claim 1, wherein the ringlight is installed on a microscope without the reflective surface in one mode of operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An illumination system as described in claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting the distance between the ringlight and the annular reflective surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An illumination system as described in claim 7, wherein the annular reflective surface is curved to change an angle of the light exiting the aperture in response to changes in the distance between the ringlight and the reflective surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An illumination system as described in claim 8, wherein the reflective surface has a continuous curvature.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
64 words
A system for converting a ringlight for differential illumination, the system comprising: a hood adapted to fit over the ringlight, the hood having an aperture and an annular reflective surface for reflecting light from the ringlight through the aperture; and a light baffle that prevents stray light from the ringlight from exiting through the aperture without first being reflected by the annular reflective surface.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
64 words
A system for converting a ringlight for differential illumination, the system comprising: a hood adapted to fit over the ringlight, the hood having an aperture and an annular reflective surface for reflecting light from the ringlight through the aperture; and a light baffle that prevents stray light from the ringlight from exiting through the aperture without first being reflected by the annular reflective surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as described in claim 10, wherein an angle of the annular reflective surface is selected relative to a direction of light from the ringlight to generate a cone of light exiting the aperture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as described in claim 10, further comprising a field illumination light source for emitting light parallel to an axis of the ringlight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as described in claim 12, further comprising a filter for changing a color of the light from the light source.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for converting a ringlight for differential illumination from viewing device, the method comprising: blocking light from the ringlight from being transmitted directly into the viewing device; reflecting the light from the ringlight to form a hollow cone of light; and positioning an objective of the viewing device within the hollow cone of light.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for converting a ringlight for differential illumination from viewing device, the method comprising: blocking light from the ringlight from being transmitted directly into the viewing device; reflecting the light from the ringlight to form a hollow cone of light; and positioning an objective of the viewing device within the hollow cone of light.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as described in claim 14, further comprising emitting light within the hollow cone of light from the ringlight.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4160578A
Cited
EP0019309A1
Cited
DE3100662A1
Cited
US4626079A
Cited
US4687304A
Cited
US4706168A
Cited
US4779967A
Cited
US5102227A
Cited
US4974094A
Cited
EP0504940A2
Cited
US5325231A
Cited
US5268749A
Cited
US5820250A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-06-07 | 2003-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-06 | 2007-06-07 | 2007-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-06 | 2011-06-07 | 2011-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |