Linear illumination sources and systems

US6550942B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• AlliedSignal, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Han Zou · Berkeley, US
• Scott M. Zimmerman · Edgewater, US
• John Colvin Wilson · Wayne, US
• Karl W. Beeson · Princeton, US
• Michael J. McFarland · Bound Brook, US
• Hefen Lin · Cupertino, US
• Jerry W. Kuper · Bound Brook, US
• Lawrence W. Shacklette · Maplewood, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 6, 2000
• Grant date: Apr 22, 2003
• Expiry date: Oct 6, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/0031
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Improved linear illumination sources are disclosed which utilize external, highly reflective enclosures containing one or more linear openings and thereby achieve improved source efficiency, output irradiance and/or output radiance. Such improved illumination sources may be combined with additional optical elements to produce more complex illumination systems.