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. 29, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 16, 1999
David P. Ramer, Reston, VA (US);
Jack C. Rains, Jr., Herndon, VA (US);
Richard S. Bagwell, Chesterfield, VA (US);
George David Crowley, III, Chevy Chase, MD (US);
Advanced Optical Technologies, L.L.C., McLean, VA (US);
Abstract
The optical system of the present invention efficiently projects electromagnetic radiation such as visible light over a predetermined field of illumination with a tailored intensity distribution. The system includes a base having an optical area that faces the area to be illuminated. The apparatus further includes a mask spaced over the optical area of the base. The system also includes a cavity with an aperture, formed in either the optical area of the base or in a surface of the mask facing toward the base. The base and mask are arranged so that the mask constructively occludes the optical area of the base and/or the aperture of the cavity, with respect to the field of illumination. The system further includes a baffle. The baffle may be between the mask and the base. The baffle may extend into or be within the cavity. The base, the mask, and the baffle have outer surfaces that are reflective, and preferably exhibit a significant diffuse, reflective characteristic. A source emits electromagnetic radiation (e.g., visible light) into the cavity, and the base, mask and baffle redirect this radiation, for illumination of the intended footprint with the tailored intensity distribution. One example of a tailored distribution is a uniform distribution over a hemisphere, or,&pgr; steradians. In another example, the system uniformly illuminates a designated planar surface.