Patent · US Expired

Side-illuminated target structure having uniform ring illumination

US6802131B1 · kind B1 · utility

15Cited by
26References
18Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateSep 5, 2002
Grant dateOct 12, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 5, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01C15/06
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An illuminated target structure for viewing a scene includes a transparent medium having a transparent-medium peripheral rim and a light-reflective target within a transparent-medium central region. A circumferentially uniform ring illumination source is in contact with the transparent-medium peripheral rim. The ring illumination source projects a substantially uniform illumination into the transparent-medium peripheral rim and thence onto the light-reflective target. The ring illumination source preferably is a modified optical fiber structure having a modified lateral surface in facing relation to the transparent-medium peripheral rim and having a light leakage through the modified lateral surface. An image intensifier may be positioned in facing relation to a transparent-medium front face.

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