Device and method for illuminating liquid droplets
AssigneeDisney Enterprises, Inc.
InventorGary W. Schnuckle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a liquid droplet illumination device, which includes at least one liquid droplet traveling on a first surface. The liquid droplet can be distilled water and the first surface can be a ribbon of translucent material. The liquid droplet illumination device further includes at least one light beam that is offset from the first surface. For example, the at least one light beam can be a coherent beam of light, such as a laser beam. The at least one light beam interacts with the at least one liquid droplet as it travels on the first surface, thereby illuminating the at least one liquid droplet.
Claims19
A liquid droplet illumination device comprising:
- at least one liquid droplet traveling on a first surface, wherein said liquid droplet has a thickness measured from said first surface;
- a first light source configured to provide a first light beam having a first offset distance from said first surface, wherein said first offset distance is less than said thickness of said liquid droplet, such that said first light beam can travel through said liquid droplet so as to interact with said liquid droplet, thereby illuminating said liquid droplet.
A method of illuminating liquid droplets, said method comprising:
- producing each of said liquid droplets separated by a time interval;
- placing each of said liquid droplets on a first surface;
- providing, a light beam having an offset distance from said first surface, wherein said offset distance is less than said thickness of said liquid droplet;
- and
- illuminating each of said liquid droplets traveling over said first surface using said light beam travelling through each of said liquid droplets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.