Illumination – Light modifier – Adjustable or positionable
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-17
2001-10-16
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light modifier
Adjustable or positionable
C362S324000, C362S281000, C362S351000, C362S551000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302565
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to sources of electromagnetic energy having amplitudes or other characteristics that can cause injury to a human operator, and more particularly, to an arrangement for protecting the human operator and others from inadvertent viewing of, or other exposure to, the electromagnetic energy.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sources of electromagnetic radiation, particularly light beams, are advancing technologically to very high output amplitudes and intensities, sufficient to cause injury to personnel. Moreover, the light beams often are characterized by frequency distributions that extend beyond the visible range, whereby it is not readily apparent to a user that he or she is being exposed to injurious levels of energy.
In several known arrangements, a source of electromagnetic energy, such as an intense light source, is enclosed within a housing, and there is provided a port that permits the light from the source to be propagated outside of the housing. Oftentimes, the port is of a known type, which may include a conventional SMA fitting to which can readily be connected a fiber optic conduit. However, in the course of attaching the conduit to the fitting, the system operator may inadvertently permit injurious levels of the energy to impinge upon him or her, particularly in the eyes. Sometimes, the electromagnetic energy has a visible component that may serve to warn the operator that the light source is energized. However, the light beam propagated through the port may contain significant intensities of ultraviolet or infrared energy which is not visible. In fact, the visible component may be of sufficiently low intensity to deceive the operator into believing that the invisible components, if any, are also of low intensity. Exposure to the high intensity invisible components can result in burn lesions or loss of eyesight.
There is, therefore, a need for an arrangement that protects personnel from this industrial hazard.
It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide a protective arrangement that blocks a light port to preclude inadvertent viewing or other exposure to the electromagnetic radiation being emitted therefrom.
It is another object of this invention to provide a protective arrangement that is simple and economical and can provide ready access to a light port with security from inadvertent exposure to the emitted light.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a protective arrangement that provides a visual indication that a light is being emitted from a light port.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a protective arrangement that functions to effect safety irrespective of the orientation of the equipment on which it is employed.
It is additionally an object of this invention to provide a simple and economical protective arrangement that can be overridden with security from inadvertent exposure to the emitted electromagnetic radiation.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a protective arrangement that precludes inadvertent viewing of a potentially injurious level of electromagnetic radiation being emitted from an energy port, the protection being provided irrespective of the availability of electrical power.
It is also another object of this invention to provide a protective arrangement that provides indication of the presence of emitted electromagnetic radiation without the need to communicate electrically with the energization circuitry to the light source.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other objects are achieved by this invention which provide, in a first apparatus aspect thereof, a protective arrangement for a light source, wherein a user of the light source is protected from exposure to the light. In accordance with the invention, a light port is provided for issuing an output light having an intensity that is sufficient to cause injury to an operator, particularly the eyes of the operator. A displaceable shutter is arranged to have a first position that overlies the light port whereby access to the light port, and the viewing of the output light are limited. While in a second position, the displaceable shutter permits ready access to the light port. There is additionally provided an arrangement for urging the displaceable shutter toward the first position.
In accordance with a specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the arrangement for urging the displaceable shutter toward the first position includes a gravity-responsive biasing element. In such an arrangement, gravity itself urges the displaceable shutter to limit access to the light port. In a further embodiment, the arrangement for urging the displaceable shutter toward the first position includes a resilient biasing element, such as a spring. The use of such a resilient biasing element insures that the protection afforded by the displaceable shutter is available irrespective of the orientation of a light source, or any equipment in which it is installed.
In one highly advantageous embodiment of the invention, there is provided an indicator for indicating that the output light is being issued from the light port. This is particularly advantageous in arrangements where the output light is not within the visible range. In one highly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the indicator is installed directly on the displaceable shutter. One arrangement for effecting such an indicator without the need for complex circuitry employs a filter, that in some embodiments may be coated with a phosphorescent or florescent material that produces a visible indication in response to the impingement thereof by the otherwise invisible output light.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided an interlock coupled to the displaceable shutter for disabling the output light when the displaceable shutter is in the second position. In such an arrangement, the interlock would function to discontinue the issuance of the output light when the displaceable shutter is moved to a position where the light port is readily accessible. In a further embodiment of such an arrangement, the interlock further includes an override arrangement coupled to the light port that would enable the output light when the displaceable shutter is in the second position. Such an override includes, for example, a switching arrangement in the light port that would reenergize the output light when a fiber optic cable is installed in the light port.
In accordance with a further apparatus aspect of the invention, there is provided an arrangement for coupling a light source having a source output light to a detachable light conduit. In accordance with the invention, the arrangement is provided with a housing for enclosing the light source, and a light port arrangement through the housing for propagating at least a portion of the source output light to the exterior of the housing. A displaceable shutter having a first position that overlies the light port is provided, whereby access to the light port and viewing of the propagated portion of the source output light is limited. The displaceable shutter has a second position wherein the light port readily can be accessed. There is additionally provided an arrangement for urging the displaceable shutter toward the first position wherein access to the light port and the viewing of the propagated portion of the source light is limited and preferably prevented altogether.
In one embodiment of this further aspect of the invention, there is additionally provided a coupling arrangement for coupling the light source in fixed relation within the housing and in fixed relation to the light port. This is particularly useful in embodiments where the light source is not directly coupled to the light port, such as by an optical conduit, but instead is directed to illuminate the light port from the interior of the housing.
In a specific embodiment of the invention, the arrangement for urging the displaceable shutter toward the first posit
Analytical Instrument Systems, Inc.
O'Shea Sandra
Rohm & Monsanto, PLC
Ward John Anthony
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