Focusing light source with flexible mount for multiple light-emitting elements
AssigneeAugust Technology Corp.
InventorHoward W. Johnson, II
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A single flexible mount and a simple adjustment system are used to provide the means to focus the collective outputs of multiple light-emitting elements.
Claims20
A focusing light source for use with a viewing device such as a camera, comprising:
- a flexible membrane;
- a viewing opening generally centered in the membrane;
- a plurality of light emitting elements attached to the flexible membrane;
- and,
- means of flexing said membrane in a predetermined manner, whereby causing said light emitting elements to have their collective outputs focused at a common area that is relational to the degree of flex in said membrane.
A focusing light source, comprising:
- an inside housing having a first open passageway therein;
- an outside housing having a second open passageway therein aligned with the first open passageway thereby defining an aperture through the focusing light source;
- a plurality of light emitting elements dispersed around the aperture and focusable along an axis passing through the aperture;
- and,
- means for simultaneously adjusting the direction of the light output from all of the plurality of light emitting elements in a manner continually converging the light output of each of the plurality of light emitting elements together at a collective focal point as the collective focal point is adjusted along the axis to a desired focal point.
A method of simultaneously adjusting a plurality of light emitting elements housed in a flexible membrane to focus the plurality of light emitting elements at a desired focal point after each movement of the desired focal point while simultaneously viewing any specimens located at the desired focal area using a viewing device such as a camera, comprising:
- aligning a viewing device within an aperture in a flexible membrane housing a plurality of light emitting elements and affixed between a pair of axially adjustable housings;
- altering the location of a desired focal area;
- and
- simultaneously adjusting the direction of the light output from all of the plurality of light emitting elements in a manner continually converging the light output of each of the plurality of light emitting elements together at a collective focal area as the collective focal area is adjusted to the desired focal area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.