Patent · US Expired

Infrared zoom illuminator

US4948210A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
9References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 20, 1988
Grant dateAug 14, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 20, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B27/20
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An infrared zoom illuminator is contained in a cylindrical housing which may be hand-held. Power is provided to an infrared laser light source from batteries contained in the housing, and a micro lens made of gradient index material is placed between a light exit opening in the housing and the laser light source. Provision is made for selectively interconnecting and disconnecting the light source from the power supply and for changing the distance between the laser light source and the lens. This changes the focus of light exiting from the device from a predetermined maximum divergence, for illuminating a zone, down to the collimated narrow beam of light produced by the laser light source.

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