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:
Apr. 29, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 04, 2001
Ralph L. Hutcheson, Bozeman, MT (US);
Randy W. Equall, Bozeman, MT (US);
Scientific Materials, Corp., Billings, MT (US);
Abstract
Inorganic crystals having one or more species of dopant ions which are photo-reactive are used as visible and or infrared light optical limiters to protect against laser radiation exposure while permitting passage of the visible and or infrared light spectrum at least until exposed to high energy laser radiation. The dopant ions are selected from ions of transition metals. The exposure of these ions within the transparent crystalline matrix either photo-ionize or are elevated to an excited state and thereby absorb or otherwise attenuate the passage of the laser beam radiation sufficiently to protect human eyes or photo-sensitive equipment. The crystals may be fabricated into such items as lenses for use in eyeglasses or on shields of flight helmets to protect the eyes of aircraft pilots.