Reflector alignment tool for projection illumination systems
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsBryan R. Teichgraeber, Steven P. Krycho
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An alignment tool (300) designed to replace a high-powered lamp with a low-powered lamp to facilitate safe alignment of a projector lamp console. The alignment tool (300) comprised of a cathode portion (302) and an anode portion (304) connected by one or more rods (306). The alignment tool holds a light source such as a flashlight (324) having an exposed bulb (320) in the approximate location of the arc of the high-powered lamp. The cathode and anode sockets and the reflector of the projector lamp console are adjusted until the exposed bulb (320) is at the F1 focal point of the reflector and the optical axis of the alignment tool is the optical axis of the reflector.
Claims11
An alignment tool comprising:
- a cathode portion operable to fit into a cathode socket of a projector lamp console;
- an anode portion connected to said cathode portion operable to fit into an anode socket of said projector lamp console;
- and
- a light source connected between said cathode portion and said anode portion, said light source positioned along an axis between said cathode portion and said anode portion and positioned relative to said cathode portion and said anode portion to approximate the position of an arc in a lamp designed to fit said cathode socket and said anode socket.
A method of aligning a lamp in a projector lamp console, said method comprising the steps of:
- adjusting an alignment tool so that a distance between an end of the tool and a light source is equal to a distance between an end of said lamp and an arc of said lamp;
- installing said alignment tool in a lamp socket in said projector lamp console;
- aligning said alignment tool with an optical path of said projector lamp console;
- removing said alignment tool;
- and
- installing said lamp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.