The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 15, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 16, 1998
Ronald K. Lohrding, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Michael A. Wolf, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Jerome Conia, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Richard D. Zigweid, Albuquerque, NM (US);
David J. Costello, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Barry A. Hudy, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for protecting at least one component of a light source are provided. The apparatus includes a shield for the component, with this shield having a plurality of locations that are substantially transparent to an emission wave length of the light source. The shield is positioned such that during use of the light source, one of the substantially transparent locations of the shield is disposed between the at least one component of the light source and an object that is to be irradiated. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for advancing the shield upon activation of the light source or an element thereof in order to be able to dispose a different one of the substantially transparent locations of the shield between the at least one component of the light source and an object that is to be irradiated.