Eastman-kodak Company

Radiant Imaging, Inc.

Remote Source Lighting International, Inc.

Other

Richard E Albrecht

Ronald F Rykowski

David R Dowe

Andrew P Riser

Douglas Kreysar

Dale Frederick McIntyre

Mark M Meyers

Jon M Kriegel

Matthew Lekson

David H Liu

Nguyen V To

The present disclosure is directed to imaging device, systems, and methods for collecting optical data for use with spectrometers. An imaging device configured in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes a lens configured to introduce light into the imaging device along an optical path, and an image sensor spaced apart from the lens and configured to receive at least a portion of the light along the optical path. The imaging device further includes a filter assembly positioned between the lens and the image sensor, and a reflector or mirror carried by the filter assembly. The filter assembly is configured to move the reflector between first and second positions. In the first position the reflector is at least partially aligned with the optical path and reflects at least a portion of the light to a corresponding light input for a spectrometer. In the second position the reflector is positioned outside of the optical path.

Imaging devices with components for reflecting optical data and associated methods of use and manufacture

The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for on-site calibration of a visual display sign. In one exemplary implementation of the invention, an imaging device captures image data from a visual display sign. The imaging device can include a CCD digital camera and optics for long-range imaging. The captured image data is sent to an interface that compiles the data. The interface then calculates correction factors for the image data that may be used to achieve target color and brightness values for the image data. The interface then uploads the adjusted image data back to the visual display sign.

Method and apparatus for on-site calibration of visual displays

Rotary shutter assemblies for imaging photometers and methods for using such shutters are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, a method for capturing an image with an imaging photometer can include positioning a rotary shutter having an aperture at a first position such that the shutter blocks light traveling along an optical axis from a light source being measured to an image sensor of the photometer. The method can include pivotably moving the shutter at a generally constant angular speed to a second position with the aperture aligned with the optical axis to expose at least a portion of the image sensor to the light for a first predetermined exposure time. After exposing each portion of the image sensor to the light for the first exposure time, the method can include pivotably moving the shutter at the angular speed to a third position such the aperture is not aligned the optical axis, and then pivotably moving the shutter from the third position back to the first position without rotating the shutter 360 degrees.

Rotary shutter assemblies for imaging photometers and methods for using such shutter assemblies

An optical fiber light distribution system has a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber. The first optical fiber has a side surface, an axis, and a length. The second optical fiber is wrapped about the side surface such that the second optical fiber defines a plurality of wraps about the first optical fiber. The plurality of wraps have a pitch. Pitch is the distance between corresponding points of adjacent wraps measured parallel to the first optical fiber axis. When light is directed through the first optical fiber, portions of the light are extracted by portions of the second optical fiber that contact the first optical fiber. The lower the pitch of the plurality of wraps, the greater the percentage of light extracted into the second optical fiber from the first optical fiber. Further, softer first optical fibers which incur more deformation have increased contact surface with the second optical fiber. The increased contact surface results in an increased percentage of light being extracted into the second optical fiber. Cladding or potting may be used to inhibit light extraction. A process for making the optical fiber distribution system has the step of wrapping the second optical fiber about the first optical fiber. A process for illumination has the step of directing light through the optical fiber light distribution system.

Optical fiber light distribution system and method of manufacture and

A visual display sign having a lighting unit that provides high-efficiency light output from a non-point source of light. The reflector in the lighting unit is sealed and has a shaped reflecting surface obtained by generating a curve from a set of predetermined curve reference points. The shaped reflecting surface provides a light output efficiency of about 60 percent from a non-point source of light and spreads the emitted light about eight degrees from the plane of circumference of the reflector. The lighting units are attached to the visual display sign at a downward angle of about eight degrees from the horizontal.

Incandescent visual display system having a shaped reflector

The present invention comprises a lighting unit having a light source emitting light, a reflector placed behind the light source for reflecting the emitted light, and a lens held in front of the light source. The lens is substantially flat and circular. The lens has a predetermined structure that comprises a light-emitting surface and a light-incident surface opposing the light-emitting surface. The light-incident surface of the lens is formed into a vertically oriented high-frequency waveform. In the first embodiment of the lens, the light-emitting surface is substantially flat and the high-frequency waveform is obtained from a combination of a first primary waveform and the third harmonic of the first primary waveform; that is, the high-frequency waveform is derived from the equation ##EQU1## The first embodiment of the lens spreads the emitted light with a graduated distribution horizontally about 20 degrees as measured from the edge of the lens. In the second embodiment of the lens, the light-emitting surface is formed into a vertically oriented low-frequency waveform derived from the equation ##EQU2## The light-incident surface is formed into a vertically oriented high-frequency waveform obtained from a combination of a second primary waveform and the third and fifth harmonics of the second primary waveform. That is, the high-frequency waveform of the second embodiment is derived from the equation ##EQU3## The second lens embodiment spreads the emitted light with a graduated distribution horizontally about 45 degrees as measured from the edge of the lens.

Lens design for outdoor sign

An optical pipe illumination system is provided for coupling light from an illumination source to a number of output 'light pipes', which are used for a variety of purposes, such as illuminating pools, spas, hazardous material zones, jail cells, and other applications where direct lighting is dangerous, difficult to maintain, or subject to vandalism. The illumination system employs an illumination reflector which has been customized to maximize the efficiency of light transmission between the illumination source, such as an arc lamp, and the cores of the output pipes. A method of fabricating the customized illumination reflector includes mapping the radiation patterns of the particular illumination source to be utilized, creating a database of those radiation patterns, and utilizing the database to generate an optimal illumination reflector configuration. The computer-generated reflector will virtually always be a non-conic section, because the illumination source is not ideal.

Reflector and illumination system

Diffractive optics using surface relief profiles, also known as blazed gratings having ramps and edges or steps (also referred to as blazed facets with discontinuities at the interfaces between adjacent facets) defining grating lines and phase delays to which light propagating through the grating are subject. Diffractive lenses which are known as phased Fresnel zone plate lenses or kinoforms, also have annular blazed facets with discontinuities, steps at the interface between adjacent facets at the steps which facets define the zones of the lens. These steps are either aligned parallel to the light incident on the grating or coated with an optically opaque material, thereby preventing the transmission of incident light which is not diffracted, but would be scattered or transmitted at the steps. The contrast and quality of an image provided by the diffractive lens at a plane spaced from the grating, which may be the focal plane of the diffractive lens, is therefore enhanced.

Technique to eliminate scattered light in diffractive optical elements

A light guide illumination system is provided for coupling light from an illumination source to a number of output 'light guides', which are used for a variety of purposes, such as illuminating pools, spas, hazardous material zones, jail cells, and other applications where direct lighting is dangerous, difficult to maintain, or subject to vandalism. The illumination system employs an illumination reflector which has been customized to maximize the efficiency of light transmission between the illumination source, such as an arc lamp, and the cores of the output light guides. A method of fabricating the customized illumination reflector includes mapping the radiation patterns of the particular illumination source to be utilized, creating a database of those radiation patterns, and utilizing the database to generate an optimal illumination reflector configuration. The computer-generated reflector will virtually always be a non-conic section, because the illumination source is not ideal.

In a camera having, a viewfinder, a microcontroller, and a laser pointer for providing a visible pointer, incorporated therein for aiding in the pointing of the camera the improvement comprising:

System for switching pointing indices in laser aimed cameras

A photographic flash apparatus includes a flash tube for producing a flash of light; a reflector located behind the flash tube for concentrating the light produced by the flash tube into a beam having a particular scene coverage angle; and an adjustable wave-lens device positioned in the beam to adjust the scene coverage angle of the beam. The adjustable wave-lens device includes first and second wave-lens elements and a lever for displacing one of the wave-lens elements with respect to the other to vary the optical power of the adjustable wave-lens element, thereby adjusting the scene coverage angle of the beam.

Zoom flash with wave-lens

An anamorphic lens (10) having a first surface (14) which has either a cylindrical or an acylindrical radius of curvature, and a second surface (16) having either a cylindrical or an acylindrical radius of curvature. Each surface has a primary longitudinal axis (22, 24,) which is preferably but not necessarily orthogonal to the optical axis (18) of the lens (10); and the longitudinal axes are crossed. Preferred applications for the anamorphic lens include non-image forming illumination systems wherein independent illumination control in two coplanar directions at the object is desired. A process for recycling a single use camera having such an anamorphic lens is also disclosed.

Anamorphic lens for a photographic flash assembly

A camera includes means for supporting an imaging element for recording a scene, an electrochromic filter disposed between the scene and the imaging element and a photoelectric element which emits electrical energy the value of which depends on an amount of scene light which is incident on the photoelectric element. At least a portion of the electrical energy emitted by the photoelectric element is used to directly control the optical density of the electrochromic filter, thereby controlling the amount of scene light which reaches the imaging element.

Camera with electrochromic filter

A coupling device for controlling the shutter blades of a leaf type shutter. The coupling device includes two or more hubs that are each coupled to a shutter blade and a portion of a base and a continuous belt that is in contact with the hubs so that when the hubs rotate in a first direction the shutter blades will open and when the hubs rotate in a second direction the shutter blades will close.

Belt drive shutter device

A camera having a sensor array, a lens, and shutter blades, for focusing the lens in preparation for exposing a frame of photographic film, comprises a means for oscillating the shutter blades, separately, between open and closed positions to expose said sensor array with image light passing through corresponding pupils of the lens. A control means, responsive to said oscillating means, controls the sensor array to sample image light received through the corresponding pupils. A comparing means compares the sensed image light of the pupils with each other and produces a focus adjustment signal representative of a direction of focus error. Lastly, a focusing means, responsive to said focus adjustment signal, focuses said lens according to the focus error.

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Richard E Albrecht