Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Photocell controlled circuit
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-10
2001-12-04
Lee, John R. (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Photocell controlled circuit
C359S399000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06326604
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to optical devices, and more particularly to image amplification systems for astronomy applications.
2. Relevant Background
Telescopes are conventionally used for amplifying images of astronomical objects having very low inherent brightness. In conventional telescopes, there is generally no light amplification provided beyond standard optical physics. As a consequence, images of objects having inherently low brightness are typically difficult to observe by the human eye with the aid of the telescope. Further, images of these objects require long exposure times if they are to be photographed or captured on a charge coupled device (CCD) video camera or other imaging device.
It is with the shortcomings of the prior art the present invention was developed. What is needed is an optical device capable of providing real time amplification of images having inherently low brightness characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the above, therefore, and according to a broad aspect of the invention, disclosed herein is an optical intensification system for viewing an input source through an input optical device such as a telescope or camera lens or other input optical device. The system includes a housing having an input thread coupling adapted to be coupled to the input optical device, an image intensifier positioned within the housing for amplifying the input source, and a lens coupled to an output thread coupling of the housing for providing a virtual image of the input source viewable by the human eye.
In one example, the image intensifier has an input photo-cathode layer, an output phosphor screen, and a micro-channel plate therein for improving the resolution of the image. The image intensifier can provide luminous gain on the order of 20,000 to at least 35,000. The lens coupled to an output thread coupling of the housing can be, for example, a multi-element lens such as an achromat pair.
In an alternate arrangement, the lens can be coupled to the output thread coupling of the housing using an adapter having one end adapted to be coupled to the housing, and another end adapted to be coupled to an image capturing device, such as a CCD video camera, CCD camera, film camera, digital camera, or other image capturing device. In this embodiment, the lens is selectively positionable along a portion of the length of the adapter, thereby varying the conjugate ratio so that a virtual image of selectably variable magnification is formed on the focal plane of the image capturing device.
In this manner, the present invention permits viewing the input source, optically intensified through the intensifier, as a virtual image through the lens using the human eye, or as a real image through the lens viewable through an image capturing device, depending on whether the lens is attached directly to the image intensifier or is attached to the image intensifier through the adapter.
The optical intensification system also has a battery compartment coupled to the housing for storing and electrically coupling a battery to a power supply input of the image intensifier. The battery compartment has a rotatable cap which is electrically connected in series with the battery and the power supply input of the image intensifier, so that the cap operates as an on/off switch when rotated.
A more complete appreciation of the present invention and its scope can be obtained from understanding the accompanying drawings, which are briefly summarized below, the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5268612 (1993-12-01), Aebi et al.
patent: 5790313 (1998-08-01), Kanai
patent: 5898519 (1999-04-01), Palmer
patent: 6113533 (2000-09-01), Howes et al.
patent: WO85/04758-A1 (1985-10-01), None
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Lee John R.
Pyo Kevin
LandOfFree
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