Patent · US Expired

Protective device for optical elements

US4240691A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
3References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 1979
Grant dateDec 23, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 8, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2021/151
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A device for keeping an outer surface of an optical element clean, said element being located in surroundings where deposits can be quickly formed on said element. The device has a protective device or screen with an opening placed in front of the surface to be protected. This opening has inner walls extending out from said surface of the optical element. The screen has a slot, which extends peripherally around the edge of the opening facing the surface to be protected, and gas is forced to stream through the slot. At least a part of the inner surface of the opening has an inwardly projecting part having a surface remote from the optical element which is parallel to or inclined outwardly from a symmetrical plane through the element.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.