Optical system for generating lines of light using crossed cylindrical lenses
May 1, 2010. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 3629594 3861807 Soft and line laser Peripheral vision horizon device Method of projecting a line image of uniform brightness Beam shaping optical system Crossed cylindrical lens Image forming optical system for semiconductor laser Laser beam recorder Beam shaping optical system InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 517376 filed on 05/01/1990US Classes:359/668, Anamorphic359/710CylindricalExaminersPrimary: Sugarman, Scott J.Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassesG02B 013/08G02B 003/06 AbstractAn optical system for generating lines includes a source of a diverging light beam, a first cylindrical lens (104) which receives the light beam, and a second adjacent cylindrical lens (106) which is at an angle with respect to the first. The beam of light passes through the first and second cylindrical lenses (104, 106) to produce a planar beam of light (124) which becomes a line (122) when incident upon a surface (126). The cylindrical lenses (104, 106) are mounted so as to be rotatable both simultaneously and with respect to each other. The angle of the line generated by the lens configuration is a bisector of the obtuse angles formed by the principal axes of the cylindrical lenses (104, 106) except where the lenses are at right angles to one another. The rotation of both lenses simultaneously changes the angle of the line (128) while rotation of one lens with respect to the other adjusts the focus of the line. The system generates long, sharp lines of substantially even brightness along the length of the line while allowing control of the focus (zoom capability) and the length of the projected line, and enabling two short focal length lenses to perform like one long focal length lens. The system for generating lines may be used as part of a patient positioning system.Other References
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