Microscopic Diagnosis Patents (Class 362/575)
  • Patent number: 9606346
    Abstract: The invention relates to an incident illumination device for a microscope, for viewing a sample (1) in the microscope (10), having a planar light source (100) for incident illumination of the sample (1), wherein the planar light source (100) comprises a panel-shaped light guide having a lower boundary surface (111), an upper boundary surface, and at least one lateral surface, as well as at least one light-emitting means that is arranged so that it irradiates light, via at least one lateral surface serving as a light entry surface, into the light guide in such a way that said light propagates in the light guide due to total reflection; wherein the total reflection is disrupted in defined fashion by an element abutting at the lower boundary surface of the light guide against a contact surface so that an outcoupling of light occurs at the upper boundary surface of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Robert Paulus, Harald Schnitzler, Reto Züst
  • Patent number: 8801255
    Abstract: An endoscope includes: a distal end rigid portion that configures a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope and has a through hole; an LED ceramic substrate including an LED light source mounted on a distal end side thereof, and arranged in the through hole so as to emit light from the through hole; an LED cable configured to be inserted in the insertion portion of the endoscope and to supply electric power to the LED light source; a ceramic cutout portion that configures a proximal end side of the LED ceramic substrate, and allows a conductive pattern for electrically connecting the LED light source and the LED cable to be exposed from inside the LED ceramic substrate and connected to the LED cable; and a reinforcement member having rigidity and fixed to the LED ceramic substrate and configured to cover the ceramic cutout portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Akira Kudo
  • Patent number: 8684577
    Abstract: A cavity illumination system according to the present disclosure may include one or more illumination elements composed of a transparent or semi-transparent, biocompatible sterilizable polymer and one or more illumination sources. The sterilizable polymer operates as a waveguide. An illumination element may incorporate micro structured optical components such as for example gratings, prisms and or diffusers to operate as precision optics for customized delivery of the light energy. The micro structured optical components may also be used to polarize and/or filter the light energy entering or exiting the illumination element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Invuity, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex Vayser
  • Patent number: 8608360
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes an irradiation source and a liquid light guide coupled thereto. The liquid light guide has the form of a goose neck. A liquid filled light guide tube of the liquid light guide is supported in a position retaining tube and at least one end of the light guiding tube, preferably the light input end, is supported rotatably in the position retaining tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Günther Nath
  • Patent number: 8534893
    Abstract: A flat panel light source (100) for a transillumination device of a microscope comprises a plate-shaped light guide (110) having a lower and an upper boundary surface, and at least one lateral surface (113 to 116), and having at least one light-emitting means (120, 122) arranged to radiate light into the light guide (110) from at least two different directions, via at least one lateral surface serving as a light entrance surface, such that the light propagates in the light guide (110) as a result of total reflection, the total reflection being disrupted in defined fashion, by an element (140) abutting against a contact surface at the lower boundary surface of the light guide (110), so that an outcoupling of light occurs on the upper boundary surface of the light guide (110), the planar area of the contact surface being smaller than the planar area of the lower boundary surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Robert Paulus, Reto Züst, Harald Schnitzler
  • Patent number: 8469572
    Abstract: A flat panel light source (100) for a transillumination device of a microscope comprises a plate-shaped light guide (110) having a lower and an upper boundary surface and at least one lateral surface (113 to 116), and at least one light-emitting means (120, 122) arranged to radiate light (130) into the light guide (110) from at least two different directions, via at least one lateral surface serving as a light entrance surface, such that light propagates in the light guide (110) by total reflection, the total reflection being disrupted in defined fashion by an element (140) abutting against a contact surface at the lower boundary surface of the light guide (110) so an outcoupling of light occurs on the upper boundary surface, the planar area of the contact surface being smaller than that of the lower boundary surface, the element (140) producing a directed reflection of the light (130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Robert Paulus, Reto Züst, Harald Schnitzler
  • Patent number: 8210728
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus that includes a plurality of LEDs of different center emission wavelengths, a photodetector, a path sharing device for introducing light emitted from the plurality of LEDs into the common optical path, a light-introducing device located on the common optical path to introduce part of the light emitted from the plurality of LEDs passing through the common optical path into the photodetector, a feedback controller controlling turning-on states of the LEDs over preset states in accordance with the amount of light emitted from the plurality of LEDs detected by the photodetector, and an illumination light supplying device located on the common optical path to supply light which is emitted from the plurality of LEDs to pass through the common optical path and is not introduced into the photodetector through the light-introducing device, as illumination light for a cellular analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Tsutsui, Yuichiro Matsuo, Yoshihiro Shimada, Mitsuo Harada
  • Patent number: 8057083
    Abstract: A fiber bundle confocal microscope or endoscope (200), comprising a light source (142) for providing a beam of light (160), a coherent fiber bundle of optical fibers (152), a scanner (202) for receiving the beam and scanning the beam over a proximal end of the bundle (162), so that the beam is launched into a plurality of the fibers sequentially, a plurality of the fibers thereby acting sequentially as an at least one delivery fiber (204), a spatial filter (172), and a photodetector (174) operatively associated with the spatial filter to receive return light from one or more of the fibers. The return light from the delivery fiber is excluded from the photodetector by the spatial filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Optiscan Pty, Ltd.
    Inventor: Martin Russell Harris
  • Patent number: 8033673
    Abstract: A light source (110) is fixed at a position and emits light in a direction away from an optical axis (A) of an objective lens. An outer reflecting mirror (an optical member) (130) and an inner reflecting mirror (an optical member) (140) are provided as a unit so that relative positions thereof are fixed. A reflecting mirror unit (120) can be moved in directions along the optical axis (A), i.e. up and down relative to the light source (110). A free-form curved surface portion (131) of the outer reflecting mirror (130) and a reflecting surface of the inner reflecting mirror (140) reflect light in different directions depending on a position of the light incident thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Shimokawa, Tatsuya Nagahama
  • Patent number: 7922378
    Abstract: A medical illumination unit (1) has an LED chip (15) and a rod-shaped body (5) with a proximal end (11) and a distal end (7). A distal hollow section (9) begins before the distal end (7) and reaches the distal end (7), and a supply lead section (12) begins at the proximal end (11) and reaches the distal hollow section (9). The LED chip (15) is in the distal hollow section of the rod-shaped body (5) and is supplied with energy through the supply lead (12). A luminescent converter is between the LED chip (15) and the distal end (7) of the rod-shaped or tubular body or at the distal end of the rod-shaped body (5), the converter properties of which are selected to convert light emitted by the LED chip (15) into light with a desired wavelength distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Bausewein, Michael J. Eichler
  • Patent number: 7862218
    Abstract: A point electromagnetic radiation source apparatus (200) for fluorescence microscopy comprises an array of individually unpackaged light emitting diodes. A lightguide (102) is coupled to the array of individually unpackaged light emitting diodes (202) by abutment, the lightguide having a coupling window (210) that receives electromagnetic radiation emitted by the array of individually unpackaged 10 light emitting diodes (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Interconnect Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Edwards
  • Patent number: 7764424
    Abstract: A wavelength selection unit includes a light source which emits light of at least a predetermined wavelength region, a collector lens which collects the light emitted from the light source and emits a parallel flux which is inclined relative to a light axis of an optical system of itself, a selective reflection optical system which reflects light of a predetermined wavelength region from the parallel flux selectively, and a returning optical system which returns each reflected flux reflected by the selective reflection optical system symmetrically about a reflected light axis of the selective reflection optical system. The collector lens collects a back flux which is returned by the returning optical system and which is re-reflected by the selective reflection optical system, and forms a light source image of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Yabe, Daisuke Yokoi, Terumasa Morita, Norio Maruyama, Yukio Eda
  • Patent number: 7618177
    Abstract: An illuminator and surgical illumination system are disclosed, one embodiment of the surgical illumination system comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; an optical cable, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece operably coupled to the optical cable; an optical fiber assembly operably coupled to the handpiece, wherein the optical fiber assembly is optically coupled to the optical cable to receive and transmit the light beam and wherein the optical fiber assembly comprises a plurality of fiber guides, wherein each fiber guide comprises a cladding having one or more fiber cores for transmitting and scattering the light beam to illuminate the surgical field, and a cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece for housing and directing the optical fiber assembly. The surgical illumination system can further comprise a separator operable to maintain a spacing between the fiber guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl Cazzini
  • Publication number: 20090213617
    Abstract: An illumination device for a microscope, in particular for an operation microscope, has a light source with an improved lifetime. The light source is in the form of a gas discharge lamp having a microwave generator, a microwave waveguide and an electrodeless bulb. The bulb contains a luminescent material and is coupled to the microwave waveguide so that microwaves can stimulate the luminescent material to emit light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SCHWEIZ) AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Patent number: 7461961
    Abstract: A fiber optic darkfield ring light with many angled fiber optic light lines with direct illumination in a very small package. The fiber optic darkfield ring light includes a base with multiple light heads and multiple light covers attached thereto, a main cover, an optional cord grip, and an optional hood. It incorporates multiple fiber optic line arrays positioned at low angle and used in conjunction with a strobe light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Rudolph Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Falai Li
  • Patent number: 7388322
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an illumination device for microscopes which is provided with a halogen lamp with a reflector and a filament extending in direction of the optical axis and a scatter disk and which enables a homogeneous illumination of the visual field without additional optical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Dietrich, Jan Buchheister
  • Publication number: 20080137363
    Abstract: A fibre bundle confocal microscope or endoscope (200), comprising a light source (142) for providing a beam of light (160), a coherent fibre bundle of optical fibres (152), a scanner (202) for receiving the beam and scanning the beam over a proximal end of the bundle (162), so that the beam is launched into a plurality of the fibres sequentially, a plurality of the fibres thereby acting sequentially as an at least one delivery fibre (204), a spatial filter (172), and a photodetector (174) operatively associated with the spatial filter to receive return light from one or more of the fibres. The return light from the delivery fibre is excluded from the photodetector by the spatial filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: OPTISCAN PTY LTD.
    Inventor: Martin Russell Harris
  • Patent number: 7229202
    Abstract: The invention concerns an illumination apparatus for an optical observation device (10), in particular a stereomicroscope or a stereo surgical microscope. A multi-armed light guide with coupler (2) mixes colored light emitted by light-emitting diodes (1a–c) to yield white mixed light (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Patent number: 7220034
    Abstract: A fiber optic darkfield ring light with many angled fiber optic light lines with direct illumination in a very small package. The fiber optic darkfield ring light includes a base with multiple light heads and multiple light covers attached thereto, a main cover, an optional cord grip, and an optional hood. It incorporates multiple fiber optic line arrays positioned at low angle and used in conjunction with a strobe light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Rudolph Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Falai Li
  • Patent number: 6964508
    Abstract: An efficient lighting unit with improvements in ease of moving its head, reliability and the like is provided. The lighting unit includes: heads 6A and 6B defining illuminating apertures 6Aa and 6Ba, respectively, for directing light to an object W to be illuminated, the heads 6A and 6B being supported by a movable support member 1; LED light source devices 5A and 5B mounted at the movable support member 1 for emitting light when supplied with electric power from an electric power source 3 disposed separately from the movable support member 1 through an electric cable 4; and flexible optical fibers 7A and 7B for guiding light from the LED light source devices 5A and 5B to the respective illuminating apertures 6Aa and 6Ba of the heads 6A and 6B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: CCS, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Yoneda, Shigeki Masumura
  • Patent number: 6883952
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for illuminating a viewing field by means of two light sources. The beam paths of the two light sources are guided through a combining flexible light guide, a common flexible light guide, and a separating flexible light guide splitter. One of the two beam paths is directed to the microscope as principal illumination, and the other beam is directed to a handpiece. In addition, at least one of the two light sources can be configured as an interchangeable unit having two individual light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Patent number: 6871983
    Abstract: A clean room ceiling light fixture formed as a sealed housing with a downwardly-directed light emitting aperture. A heat sink fixed within and spaced from the housing defines a cable raceway inside the housing. A plurality of LEDs are mounted on the heat sink. A high refractive index (polycarbonate) reflector coupled to each LED efficiently directs the LED's light through the aperture into the clean room. The LEDs and/or reflectors can be anti-reflectively coated to improve light transmission efficiency. A refractive index matching compound applied between each LED-reflector pair further improves light transmission efficiency. A spectrally selective filter material prevents ultraviolet illumination of clean rooms used for lithographic processes which are compromised by ultraviolet rays. A holographic diffusion lens and/or variable transmissivity filter can be provided to uniformly distribute the LEDs' light through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: TIR Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephane Frederick Jacob, Allan Brent York
  • Patent number: 6832849
    Abstract: On the light radiation device X6A side, a box structure is provided in which a lens is held one by one proximate to or close to the light emission end of each optical fiber. On the light source device side, a common casing houses a first light source lens that generally collimates the radiation light beams radiated from an LED and a second light source lens that condenses the light beams from the first light source lens and introduces the condensed light beams to the light introduction end of the optical fiber bundle. Thus, the current demands of tests on a piece of work can be fully satisfied in view of the light condensing area and the light condensing efficiency while making the best of the characteristics of the illumination system in which the light radiation device and the light source device are separated with an intervention of the optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: CCS, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Yoneda, Jun Konishi, Shigeki Masumura
  • Patent number: 6811290
    Abstract: An array of optical fibers are circularly arranged in a horizontal plane to totally encompass an isotropic radiator. This configuration efficiently captures the radiated light and is amenable to a large family of radiators without the need for critical alignment between the radiator and the fiber optic array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventors: Bernard Petrillo, Bruno Israel
  • Patent number: 6746144
    Abstract: An object is to provide a light collecting device for scanning tunneling microscope emission spectroscopy which has a higher light collective efficiency in vacuum without sacrifice in a high spatial resolution provided by the STM. The light collecting device for scanning tunneling microscope emission spectroscopy comprises a scanning tunneling microscope, and a plurality of optical fibers (2) radially disposed around a scanning tunneling microscope probe (1) with the tip end of the probe (1) as the center so as to collect light emission in operating this microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Arafune, Sukekatsu Ushioda, Kenji Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20040022072
    Abstract: An improved illuminating unit for illuminating a target portion of an object to be illuminated is provided, including: a fiber holding portion having a fiber insert hole holding a light-emitting end portion of an optical fiber; and a lens holding portion located downstream of the fiber holding portion in a light traveling direction, light emitted from a light-emitting end of the optical fiber being directed to the target portion through a lens held by the lens holding portion, wherein: the fiber insert hole comprises an equal-diameter portion having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the optical fiber, and a larger-diameter portion having a larger diameter than the equal-diameter portion and opening at one end face of the fiber holding portion, the fiber insert hole holding the optical fiber extending through the equal-diameter portion; and the lens is abutted against the one end face of the fiber holding portion or a forward end face of a fusion-deformed portion of the optical fiber, the fusion-
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Kenji Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20030169603
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for illuminating a region of an eye is provided and may include at least one optical fiber in fluid connection with a light source for allowing light to be transmitted to a probe for diffusing light into the region of the eye. The probe be formed from a portion of the at least one optical fiber and may be directly inserted into a portion of the eye so that light is diffused into the eye to illuminate the region. The probe may be secured in a substantially fixed position when the probe is inserted within a portion of the eye such as by a frictional engagement between the diffusing means and the eye. A plurality of probes may be inserted within the eye where each probe may include a substantially tapered distal end to facilitate insertion into the eye. The distal end of each probe may be formed in different shapes or may include an optical lens for diffusing light into the eye for illuminating the region of the eye during a surgical procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: K. Peter Luloh, Michael Annen, Paul Tornambe, Frank H.J. Koch
  • Patent number: 6543914
    Abstract: Stand arrangement, in particular for medical examining and surgical microscopes, having a support foot (1), an upper part (2a), which can be rotated with respect to the support foot (2) about a vertical axis (A), and a boom (3), mounted pivotably thereon, for holding the microscope (9). The lamp housing (11) is arranged on a carrier (10) connected to the boom (3) and thereby serves to balance the stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Publication number: 20030007365
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for illuminating a viewing field by means of two light sources. The beam paths of the two light sources are guided through a combining flexible light guide, a common flexible light guide, and a separating flexible light guide splitter. One of the two beam paths is directed to the microscope as principal illumination, and the other beam is directed to a handpiece. In addition, at least one of the two light sources can be configured as an interchangeable unit having two individual light sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Patent number: 6488398
    Abstract: The substage illuminator is in the form of a housing having therein an opening disposed to register with the underside of a workpiece that is being inspected by optical gaging apparatus which is disposed to overlie the workpiece and which has an image inlet aperture registering with the opening in the substage housing. A collimating lens is mounted in the opening of the housing beneath an anti-reflection filter, and a light source which is mounted in or connected to the housing, projects a circular beam of light successively through the collimator lens and filter toward the underside of the inspected workpiece. The light source may be in the form of a plurality of radially spaced, circular arrays of LED's that can be selectively illuminated to control the diameter of the beam emitted thereby, or the source may comprise an L.C.D. aperture generator which may be energized to produce light beams of selectively different diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Optical Gaging Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie M. Bloch, Albert G. Choate
  • Patent number: 6461030
    Abstract: Illumination angle adjuster (42) for condensing illumination light from a light generator (41) toward a workpiece (25) includes a simple-structured optical member of condenser lens (44). With the simple arrangement, illumination angle of the illumination light to the workpiece (25) can be easily changed by moving the condenser lens (44) along an optical axis of an optical system (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Shimokawa, Shunsaku Tachibana
  • Patent number: 6402358
    Abstract: A fiber optic illumination system having a plurality of fiber optic heads, each head producing pilot and strobe illumination from an exit aperture, one or more pilot lamps, each producing a pilot light output, and one or more strobes, each producing an illumination flash pulse, wherein each fiber optic head produces a pilot light having an intensity which has a predefined relationship to an intensity of an illumination flash pulse from that head, and fiber optic head produces an illumination flash pulse which has an equivalent color. Means are provided for varying the relative output of each fiber optic head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Roy Larimer
  • Patent number: 6089740
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lamp apparatus designed for both bleaching teeth and curing dental restorative materials. Both bleaching and curing modes of operation may be used in at least three different power levels designated as boost, ramp, and normal. The lamp apparatus contains a incandescent xenon-halogen bulb and a dichroic reflector which focuses filtered visible light on the end of a flexible light guide which is part a handpiece for directing the transmitted light by the light guide to a tooth being treated. The lamp apparatus employs a slave microprocessor in a control panel mountable at different positions on a housing for the xenon-halogen bulb and a master microprocessor within the housing which is detachably connected to the slave microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Kreativ, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Mark Forehand, Vernon Kim Kutsch, Bryan G. Moore, Dale Alan Rorabaugh
  • Patent number: 5997164
    Abstract: A system enabling conversion of a conventional ringlight for differential illumination such as dark field or Rheinberg illumination is disclosed. The system comprises a ringlight having an annular light emitting portion and a hood that fits over the ringlight. The hood has an aperture and an annular reflective surface, disposed opposite the light emitting portion, that reflects the light from the ringlight through the aperture. An angle of the annular reflective surface is selected relative to a direction of light from the ringlight to form a cone of light exiting the aperture. To ensure good contrast, a light baffle in the form of a sleeve, inserted into the ringlight, may be incorporated to prevent stray light from the ringlight from directly exiting through the aperture. The differential illumination produced by the invention is applicable to machine vision applications, but also microscopy, gemology, and serology, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Dolan-Jenner Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Betts, Joseph J. Muratore, Brian C. Jones
  • Patent number: 5971577
    Abstract: An illumination system includes a light source device including a light source and a reflection mirror for reflecting light from the light source, and an optical system, including a plurality of lenses, for illuminating a surface with light from the light source device. A shadow of the light source is projected from the light source device in a direction inclined with respect to an optical axis of the optical system such that the shadow of the light source is not substantially projected on the surface through the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Mori, Shinichi Shima