Line light source
AssigneeNilford Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsWendell D. Brown, William T. Glaser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for producing a pixel-modulated line light source from a point light source in which a fiber optic bundle formed of individual fibers arranged in a cylindrical array forming a tip at one end and having the individual fibers spread to a substantially flat line of fibers at the other end optically coupled with an optical shutter means which is constructed of an array of aperture cells disposd in a straight line region aligned with the flat line of fibers. The transmissivity of the aperture cells is individually controllable by electrical signals.
Claims27
An apparatus for producing a pixel-modulated line light source from a point light source comprising:
- fiber optic bundle means formed of individual fibers having a first end and a second end, said first end having said individual fibers arranged in a cylindrical array forming a first tip and being disposed to intercept light impinging thereon, said second end having said individual fibers spread to an arrangement of a generally flat line of fibers, said second end being disposed to direct light through said fibers to an optical shutter means;
- and
- an optical shutter means, said optical shutter means comprising an array of aperture cells disposed in an aperture region juxtaposed to and substantially aligned with said flat line of fibers, wherein a common optical property of each one of said aperture cells is individually controllable by means of control signals.
An apparatus for producing a pixel-modulated line light source from a point light source comprising:
- fiber optic bundle means formed of individual fibers having a first end and a second end, said first end having said individual fibers arranged in a cylindrical array forming a first tip and being disposed to intercept light impinging thereon, said second end having said individual fibers spread to an arrangement of a generally flat line of fibers, said second end being disposed to direct light through said fibers to an optical shutter means;
- and
- an optical shutter means, said optical shutter means comprising an array of aperture cells disposed in an aperture region juxtaposed to and substantially aligned with said flat line of fibers, wherein a common optical property of each one of said aperture cells is individually controllable by means of control signals, wherein said cells of said optical shutter means form a substantially straight line wherein electric fields between opposing electrode edges are oriented at forty-five degrees to the straight line of said cells such that each electrode serves two cells and said electric fields in the plane of the electrode are oriented at forty-five degrees to the axis of polarization P1 or P2 of illumination directed through the cells.
A fiber optic conduit for transmitting optical energy from a point source to a line target comprising:
- a bundle of individual fibers having a first end and a second end, said first end having said individual fibers arranged in a cylindrical array forming a first tip approximating a point and being disposed to intercept light impinging thereon and originating from a point light source, said second end having said individual fibers spread to an arrangement of a substantially flat line of fibers aligned to direct optical energy through a lens aperture;
- and
- rod means comprising an optically transmissive cylinder having a receiving end, a transmitting end and an inner wall, said inner wall being substantially totally internally reflective of light, said rod means being disposed to abut said first tip and aligned to receive impinging light from said point light source and to direct said impinging light into said first tip, said receiving end forming a lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.