Lamp having improved image resolution
AssigneeFusion Systems Corporation
InventorsRobert D. Wooten, Robert J. Sweetman, Andrew D. P. Harbourne, Michael G. Ury
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lamp including a reflector and a light source for illuminating a target area in which the light rays on the target and have a small average local divergence. The reflector and light source are configured so that the predominant portion of the light rays which strike the target area do not cross the axis of the reflector. The reflector may be segmented and the light source is located so that various points on the target receive radiation which is reflected from a different number of segments with points near the periphery of the target area receiving radiation from a greater number of segments than those near the center of the target.
Claims9
A lamp for providing substantial collimation of radiation and a small average local divergence of radiation over the extent of a target of variable transparency to be illuminated comprising:
- a light source for emitting radiation;
- and
- a reflector in which said light source is disposed, said reflector having an axis and a reflective surface which is symmetrical with respect to said axis and which is configured with respect to said source and the area of said target to be illuminated such that most points on said target receive radiation which is reflected from a plurality of different points on said reflector, with points on the target which are closer to the periphery thereof receiving radiation which is reflected from a greater area of the reflector than are points which are closer to the center of the target in such a manner that non-uniformities or discontinuities in said light source or said reflector are averaged across the entire target area, and the average local divergence of the radiation is minimized, said reflector further being configured so that a predominant portion of said radiation reflected from one side of the reflector illuminates the corresponding side of the target, thereby substantially collimating the radiation received across the target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.