Light integrator
US5672864A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 26, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 30, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N1/02815
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A light integrator in a first aspect, comprises: PA1 an elongated tapered solid core having first and second ends and an elongated surface therebetween, down which a decreasing total proportion of light can propagate by total internal reflection at the elongated surface; PA1 a layer of reflective material positioned adjacent at least a portion of the elongated surface, which reflective layer is of a first material having sufficient porosity, with pores which are vacant or contain a second material having an index of refraction lower than that of the core, such that the layer reduces total internal reflection in the core less than it would be reduced using a non-porous layer of the same dimensions of only the first material; and PA1 first and second light ports defined by regions of the core not covered by the reflective material, positioned such that light can pass through the first port, propagate down the core by total internal reflection at the elongated surface, while an increasing total proportion passes through the elongated surface to be reflected by the reflective material and escape through the second port. A scanner is also provided which uses a light integrator of the pr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.