Apparatus and method for providing uniform illumination of a sample plane

A conical illuminator, comprising:

• a source of light;
• an integrating chamber for homogenizing said light;
• an annular stop for geometrically conforming said light to a pre-selected standard;
• an imaging optic for relaying said conformed light to a sample plane, said annular stop located at or near the tangential focal length of said imaging optic, and;
• means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.

A conical illuminator comprising:

• lamp means for emitting light;
• an integrating chamber having a diffuse reflective surface for integrating the light introduced into said chamber, said chamber having an exit port for releasing the integrated light;
• an annular stop for geometrically conforming the integrated light that is released from said exit port into a conical configuration defined by pre-selected standards;
• an imaging optic for relaying said geometrically conformed light uniformly onto a sample plane, wherein said annular stop is placed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic;
• and
• means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.

A conical illuminator comprising:

• lamp means for emitting light;
• an integrating chamber having a diffuse reflective surface for integrating the light introduced into said chamber, said chamber having an exit port for releasing the integrated light;
• an annular stop for geometrically conforming the integrated light that is released from said exit port into a conical configuration defined by pre-selected standards, comprising a first light blocking portion in communication with said exit port and defining a rounded opening symmetrically disposed parallel to and about the central axis of said illuminator, said rounded opening having a free edge portion, said annular stop further comprising a second rounded light blocking portion in communication with said first light blocking portion and symmetrically disposed perpendicular to and about the central axis of said illuminator, said second rounded light blocking portion having a free edge portion,
• wherein the free edge portions of said rounded opening and second rounded light blocking portion define an open gap constituting said annular aperture,
• wherein said first light blocking portion comprises a hollow cylinder, and said second light blocking portion comprises a round plate;
• an imaging optic for relaying said geometrically conformed light uniformly onto a sample plane, wherein said annular stop is placed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic;
• and
• means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.

A conical illuminator comprising:

• lamp means for emitting light;
• an integrating chamber having a diffuse reflective surface for integrating the light introduced into said chamber, said chamber having an exit port for releasing the integrated light;
• an annular stop for geometrically conforming the integrated light that is released from said exit port into a conical configuration defined by pre-selected standards, comprising a first light blocking portion in communication with said exit port and defining a rounded opening symmetrically disposed parallel to and about the central axis of said illuminator, said rounded opening having a free edge portion said annular stop further comprising a second rounded light blocking portion in communication with said first light blocking portion and symmetrically disposed perpendicular to and about the central axis of said illuminator, said second rounded light blocking portion having a free edge portion,
• wherein the free edge portions of said rounded opening and second rounded light blocking portion define an open gap constituting said annular aperture,
• wherein said first light blocking portion comprises an annular spheroidal mirror section having a center of curvature at or near the plane of the exit port, and said second light blocking portion comprises a rounded spheroidal mirror section having a center of curvature at or near the center of the plane of the exit port;
• an imaging optic for relaying said geometrically conformed light uniformly onto a sample plane, wherein said annular stop is placed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic;
• and
• means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.

A conical illuminator comprising:

• lamp means for emitting light;
• an integrating chamber having a diffuse reflective surface for integrating the light introduced into said chamber, said chamber having an exit port for releasing the integrated light;
• an annular stop for geometrically conforming the integrated light that is released from said exit port into a conical configuration defined by pre-selected standards, comprising a first light blocking portion in communication with said exit port and defining a rounded opening symmetrically disposed parallel to and about the central axis of said illuminator, said rounded opening having a free edge portion, and a second rounded light blocking portion in communication with said first light blocking portion and symmetrically disposed perpendicular to and about the central axis of said illuminator, said second rounded light blocking portion having a free edge portion,
• wherein the free edge portions of said rounded opening and second rounded light blocking portion define an open gap constituting said annular aperture,
• wherein said first light blocking portion comprises a hollowed rounded portion having an interior surface with a plurality of mirrored grooves formed thereon, said grooves concentric about the central axis of the illuminator, and wherein said second light blocking portion comprises a rounded plate having a surface with a plurality of mirrored grooves formed thereon, said grooves concentric about the central axis of the illuminator;
• an imaging optic for relaying said geometrically conformed light uniformly onto a sample plane, wherein said annular stop is placed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic;
• and
• means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.

A conical illuminator comprising:

• a first integrating chamber having a diffuse reflective surface, for integrating light introduced into said chamber, the chamber having an exit port and entrance port;
• a second integrating chamber having an opening in sealed communication with said entrance port and having a diffuse reflective surface for integrating light;
• lamp means disposed within the second integrating chamber for emitting light through the entrance port;
• an annular stop for geometrically conforming the integrated light that is released through the exit port into a conical configuration defined by a pre-selected standard;
• an imaging optic having a tangential focal length and disposed between the annular stop and the sample plane, for relaying the geometrically conformed light uniformly across the sample plane, wherein the annular stop is placed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic;
• and
• means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.

A conical illuminator comprising:

• lamp means for emitting light;
• a diffuser for homogenizing said light;
• an annular stop for geometrically conforming said light to a pre-selected standard;
• an imaging optic for relaying said conformed light to a sample plane, said annular stop located at or near the tangential focal length of said imaging optic;
• and
• means for establishing spacing from said imaging optic to said sample plane.

A method for conforming light into a standardized conical configuration and relaying the conformed light onto a sample plane, comprising the step of:

• homogenizing the light;
• passing the homogenized light to an annular stop the annular stop having an annular aperture for shaping the light into a standardized conical configuration while blocking errant light from passing through the aperture;
• passing the conically shaped light through the annular aperture and onto an imaging optic, wherein the annular aperture is disposed at the tangential focal length of the imaging optic;
• and
• reflecting the conically shaped light off of the imaging optic onto the sample plane at angles of incidence conforming to the standardized configuration.

A method for conforming light into a standardized conical configuration and relaying the conformed light onto a sample plane, comprising the steps of:

• homogenizing the light;
• passing the homogenized light to an annular stop the annular stop having an annular aperture for shaping the light into a standardized conical configuration while blocking errant light from passing through the aperture;
• passing the conically shaped light through the annular aperture and onto an imaging optic, wherein the annular aperture is disposed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic;
• and
• reflecting the conically shaped light off the imaging optic onto the sample plane at angles of incidence conforming to the standardized configuration,
• further comprising the step of providing a mirrored spherical surface on the annular stop.

A method for conforming light into a standardized conical configuration and relaying the conformed light onto a sample plane, comprising the steps of:

• homogenizing the light;
• passing the homogenized light to an annular stop, the annular stop having an annular aperture for shaping the light into a standardized conical configuration while blocking errant light from passing through the aperture;
• passing the conically shaped light through the annular aperture and onto an imaging optic, wherein the annular aperture is disposed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic;
• and
• reflecting the conically shaped light off the imaging optic onto the sample plane at angles of incidence conforming to the standardized configuration,
• further comprising the step of providing a mirrored spherical surface on a portion of an annular stop.

A method for conforming light into a standardized conical configuration and relaying the conformed light onto a sample plane, comprising the steps of:

• homogenizing the light;
• passing the homogenized light to an annular stop the annular stop having an annular aperture for shaping the light into a standardized conical configuration while blocking errant light from passing through the aperture;
• passing the conically shaped light through the annular aperture and onto an imaging optic, wherein the annular aperture is disposed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic;
• and
• reflecting the conically shaped light off the imaging optic onto the sample plane at angles of incidence conforming to the standardized configuration,
• further comprising the step of grooving the surface of the annular stop with mirrored grooves concentric about the central axis of the illuminator.

A method for conforming light into a standardized conical configuration and relaying the conformed light onto a sample plane, comprising the steps of:

• homogenizing the light;
• passing the homogenized light to an annular stop, the annular stop having an annular aperture for shaping the light into a standardized conical configuration while blocking errant light from passing through the aperture;
• passing the conically shaped light through the annular aperture and onto an imaging optic, wherein the annular aperture is disposed at or near the tangential focal length of the imaging optic;
• and
• reflecting the conically shaped light off the imaging optic onto the sample plane at angles of incidence conforming to the standardized configuration,
• further comprising the step of grooving a portion of the surface of the annular stop with mirrored grooves concentric about the central axis of the illuminator.