Illumination optics and method
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorGeorge Edward Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for producing a compact uniform illumination beam that does not have a positional blind spot. First, non-collimated light beams that have a positional blind spot are received from a light source. Next, the noncollimated light beams are converted into approximately collimated light beams without the positional blind spot. Then, the collimated light beams are split into a plurality of split beams. These split beams are then overlapped to form a compact and uniform illumination beam.
Claims7
A method for producing an illumination beam comprising:
- receiving non-collimated light beams having a positional blind spot from a light source;
- converting the non-collimated light beams into approximately collimated light beams without the positional blind spot;
- splitting the collimated light beams into a plurality of split beams;
- and
- overlapping the split beams to form a compact and uniform illumination beam.
An apparatus for removing a dark region from an illumination beam comprising:
- a collimating unit for receiving non-collimated light beams having a positional blind spot from a light source and converting the non-collimated light beams into approximately collimated light beams without the positional blind spot;
- and
- a beam-splitting unit for splitting the collimated light beams into a plurality of split beams and overlapping the split beams to form a compact and uniform illumination beam.
An apparatus producing an illumination beam comprising:
- a light source for generating non-collimated light beams having a positional blind spot;
- a collimating unit for receiving non-collimated light beams from the light source and converting the non-collimated light beams into approximately collimated light beams without the positional blind spot;
- and
- a beam-splitting unit for splitting the collimated light beams into a plurality of split beams and overlapping the split beams to form a compact and uniform illumination beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.