Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for projecting electromagnetic radiation with a tailored intensity distribution

US5733028A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
23References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 23, 1996
Grant dateMar 31, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 23, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S17/66
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed that efficiently projects electromagnetic radiation over a predetermined spherical sector with a tailored intensity distribution. The apparatus includes a base having a cavity and aperture that faces the spherical sector to be illuminated, with a flat, ring-shaped shoulder surrounding the aperture. The apparatus further includes a mask spaced over the aperture and a baffle projecting from the mask toward the aperture. The base, the mask, and the baffle are formed of a material having an outer surface with a significant diffuse, reflective characteristic. A source emits electromagnetic radiation (e.g., visible light) into the base cavity, and the base, mask and baffle are configured to redirect this radiation outwardly with the tailored intensity distribution (e.g., a uniform distribution) over the predetermined spherical sector (e.g., a hemisphere, or 2.PI. steradians).

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