Radiant energy – Invisible radiation responsive nonelectric signalling – Luminescent device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-12
2001-07-10
Hannaher, Constantine (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Invisible radiation responsive nonelectric signalling
Luminescent device
C250S330000, C250S486100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259103
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by and for the government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to beam detection, particularly detection of light beams.
2. Description of Related Art
In aligning beam emitters, e.g., IR lasers, one often uses phosphor cards that need to be charged with ambient or UV/light sources. However, when a laser beam strikes the card, the image of the laser beam soon bleaches out the phosphor. Accordingly, one needs to recharge the card or move it so that the beam strikes a spot that has not been bleached.
Also in the prior art is a “Quantex” model which has a glass disc having a coating of phosphor thereon which is rotated in the path of an IR laser beam. On the other side of the disc is mounted a UV or LED (blue light emitter) which recharges the phosphor that has been bleached by the IR beam, such that a continuously illuminated spot appears on the rotating disc showing the location of the laser beam. However, the path of the beam is blocked by such disc to the detriment of target or mirror alignment.
Accordingly, there is need and market for a “pass-through” beam detector that overcomes the above prior art shortcomings.
There's now been discovered a renewable beam detector which can provide an illuminated beam spot on a surface so as to provide the location and other characteristics of the beam and also to permit passage of the beam through the detector.
In the prior art is noted U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,565 to Jehle (1973) but it relates to an electro-optic target acquisition system.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly the present invention provides a light beam detector comprising,
a) a rotatable body having a surface with at least one opening therein,
b) at least one phosphor coating being mounted on the surface,
c) means for directing a light beam on a path and
d) means for rotating said body across the path and the beam so that the beam forms a visible spot on the rotating phosphor coating of the body while intermittently passing through the opening to continue on it's path so as to depict the location of the beam.
By “light beam”, as used herein, is meant, a beam in the visible or non visible spectrum including an IR beam.
By “phosphor coating” as used herein, is meant a coating up to 0.005 to 0.010 in. thick or more and preferably within such range.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5055695 (1991-10-01), Lange
patent: 6034371 (2000-03-01), Kormos et al.
patent: 4-285825 (1992-10-01), None
patent: 5-248248 (1993-09-01), None
Lumitekl Photonic Products. Product overview and specifications [online]. Lumitek International, Inc., 2000. [retrieved on 2000-06-26]. Retrieved from the Internet: <URL: www.us.net/quantex/Sensor2.html>.
Hannaher Constantine
Stover Thomas C.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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