US 6,649,921 B1Granted

Apparatus and method providing substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation

AssigneeFusion UV Systems, Inc.

InventorsMiodrag Cekic, Boris Geller

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Abstract

Apparatus and method providing substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation of a planar target surface. An irradiation source is within an elliptical reflecting trough, on the major axis of the trough, and spaced from the focal axes of the trough. Edges of the trough define a first plane substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the trough. Reflectors extend substantially equal distances from the longitudinal edges and the ends of the trough to define a target surface plane substantially parallel with the first plane. A translucent reflector is a positioned on the major axis of the trough, outside the trough. The translucent reflector has a first planar portion lying in a plane substantially parallel with the target surface plane, and second and third planar portions extending from the edges of the first planar portion and angled toward the target surface plane.

Claims32

Dependent claims

Apparatus for providing substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation of a relatively large planar target surface, said apparatus comprising:

an elliptical reflecting trough having a major axis, a minor axis, a first focal axis within said trough and a second focal axis outside said trough, said trough terminating in an opening with longitudinal edges defining a first plane substantially perpendicular to the major axis of said trough, the first and second longitudinal edges extending between first and second ends of said trough;
a first reflector extending from the first longitudinal edge of said trough;
a second reflector extending from the second longitudinal edge of said trough;
a third reflector extending from the first end of said trough;
a fourth reflector extending from the second end of said trough;
an irradiation source for producing irradiation to irradiate the target surface, said irradiation source being within said trough, on the major axis of said trough, spaced from the first focal axis of said trough and having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the trough first focal axis;
and
a translucent reflector positioned on the major axis of said trough and outside said trough, said translucent reflector having a first planar portion lying in a plane substantially parallel with the target surface plane and having a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel with the irradiation source longitudinal axis, wherein,
said first, second, third, and fourth reflectors extend substantially equal distances from said trough to reflector outer edges to define a plane for the target surface substantially parallel with the first plane.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.