Apparatus and method for providing uniform illumination of a sample plane
US5268749A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 1991 |
| Grant date | Dec 7, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B5/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A conical illuminator for use in colorimetry, spectrophotometry, densitometry or sensitometry. In a preferred embodiment, light from a source such as a pulsed xenon lamp is integrated within a integrating chamber. The light source may be placed in a second integrating chamber adjacent to the aforementioned integrating chamber. Alternatively, the lamp may be placed directly within the integrating chamber. The light is emitted through an exit port and conformed to a conical configuration, according to a pre-selected standard, via an annular stop. An imaging optic relays the conformed light uniformly onto a sample plane. The annular stop is placed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic. The annular stop may be coated with a light absorbing coating, or can be formed with a grooved or mirrored surface. Alternatively, in lieu of an integrating chamber, a diffuser may be employed for homogenizing the light. Various configurations of the imaging optic and annular stop are possible.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.