Invisible light beam projector and night vision system
First Claim
1. An invisible light beam projector, comprising:
- a tubular body having a forward end and a rearward end;
an invisible light beam emitting diode having an emitting lens;
mounting means inside of said tubular body mounting the diode at a location within the body, between the two ends of the body, with the lens of the diode directed towards the forward end of the body;
control circuit means for the diode adapted to be repetitiously charged and discharged, and on each discharge causing the diode to light and transmit a narrow beam of invisible light through the emitting lens towards the forward end of the tubular body said control circuit means functioning to turn the diode on and off at a rate resulting in the diode being on between about 10-20% of the time and off during the remainder of the time, and when on being powered by a current that is substantially larger than the diode could stand if on continuously; and
projection lens means within the tubular body, forwardly of the diode, of a type which is always in focus in a range between a predetermined minimum distance from the light projector and infinity, said projection lens means being positioned and adapted to receive the narrow beam of invisible light from the diode lens and enlarge and collimate this light into a collimated beam of invisible light in sharp focus, to produce a lighting spot having a sharp and definite edge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A relatively large diameter, sharply focused beam of invisible light is produced by a projector (10) for the purpose of lighting up a person, object, etc. to be viewed at night. The projector (10) is used in conjunction with a night vision telescope (12) which includes a light intensifier (88). The projector (10) includes a pulsating infrared LED, or a laser diode, adapted to produce a high intensity narrow beam of invisible light. This beam of invisible light is enlarged by a projection lens assembly (26) adapted to sharply focus the light into a collimated light beam of about the diameter of the projector housing (20). The light source (30) is pulsed on and off, and is on only about 10-20% of the time. When on it is illuminated by a high level current which would quickly burn out the light (30) if operated continuously. The intermittent operation of the light (30) at high current produces a nonflickering high intensity light beam. The projection lens (26) enlarges this beam and clearly focuses it, to produce a relatively large illuminating beam having a substantially large range of use.
81 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An invisible light beam projector, comprising:
- a tubular body having a forward end and a rearward end;
an invisible light beam emitting diode having an emitting lens; mounting means inside of said tubular body mounting the diode at a location within the body, between the two ends of the body, with the lens of the diode directed towards the forward end of the body; control circuit means for the diode adapted to be repetitiously charged and discharged, and on each discharge causing the diode to light and transmit a narrow beam of invisible light through the emitting lens towards the forward end of the tubular body said control circuit means functioning to turn the diode on and off at a rate resulting in the diode being on between about 10-20% of the time and off during the remainder of the time, and when on being powered by a current that is substantially larger than the diode could stand if on continuously; and projection lens means within the tubular body, forwardly of the diode, of a type which is always in focus in a range between a predetermined minimum distance from the light projector and infinity, said projection lens means being positioned and adapted to receive the narrow beam of invisible light from the diode lens and enlarge and collimate this light into a collimated beam of invisible light in sharp focus, to produce a lighting spot having a sharp and definite edge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- a tubular body having a forward end and a rearward end;
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17. A night vision system, comprising:
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an invisible light beam projector comprising; a tubular body having a forward end and a rearward end; an invisible light beam emitting diode having an emitting lens; mounting means inside of said tubular body mounting the diode at a location within the body, between the two ends of the body, with the lens of the diode directed towards the forward end of the body; control circuit means for the diode adapted to be repetitiously charged and discharged, and on each discharge causing the diode to light and transmit a narrow beam of invisible light through the emitting lens towards the forward end of the tubular body said control circuit means functioning to turn the diode on and off at a rate resulting in the diode being on between about 10-20% of the time and off during the remainder of the time, and when on being powered by a current that is substantially larger than the diode could stand if on continuously; and projection lens means within the tubular body, forwardly of the diode, of a type which is always in focus in a range between a predetermined minimum distance from the light projector and infinity, said projection lens means being positioned to receive the narrow beam of invisible light from the diode lens and collimate and focus this light into a collimated, sharp focused beam of invisible light, to produce a lighting spot having a sharp and definite edge; and a night vision telescope positioned adjacent to said invisible light projector and comprising an objective lens, and an image intensifier means positioned to receive an optical image from the objective lens, said telescope having a line of sight that is substantially parallel to the beam of invisible light. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An invisible light beam projector, comprising:
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a tubular body having a forward end, a rearward end and a center axis; a single invisible light beam emitting diode having an emitting lens; mounting means inside of said tubular body mounting the diode at a location within the body, between the two ends of the body, with the lens of the diode on said center axis, directed towards the forward end of the body; control circuit means for the diode adapted to be repetitiously charged and discharged, and on each discharge causing the diode to light and transmit a narrow beam of invisible light through the emitting lens towards the forward end of the tubular body said control circuit means functioning to turn the diode on less than it is off, and when on being powered by a current that is substantially larger than the diode could stand if on continuously; and projection lens means within the tubular body, forwardly of the diode, of a type which is always in focus in a range between a predetermined minimum distance from the light projector and infinity, said projection lens means being positioned and adapted to receive the narrow beam of invisible light from the diode lens and enlarge and collimate this light into a collimated beam of invisible light in sharp focus, to produce a lighting spot having a sharp and definite edge.
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34. A night vision system, comprising:
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an invisible light beam projector comprising; a tubular body having a forward end, a rearward end and a center axis; a single invisible light beam emitting diode having an emitting lens; mounting means inside of said tubular body mounting the diode at a location within the body, between the two ends of the body, with the lens of the diode on said center axis directed towards the forward end of the body; control circuit means for the diode adapted to be repetitiously charged and discharged, and on each discharge causing the diode to light and transmit a narrow beam of invisible light through the emitting lens towards the forward end of the tubular body said control circuit means functioning to turn the diode on less than it is off, and when on being powered by a current that is substantially larger than the diode could stand if on continuously; and projection lens means within the tubular body, forwardly of the diode, of a type which is always in focus in a range between a predetermined minimum distance from the light projector and infinity, said projection lens means being positioned to receive the narrow beam of invisible light from the diode lens and collimate and focus this light into a collimated, sharp focused beam of invisible light, to produce a lighting spot having a sharp and definite edge; and a night vision telescope positioned adjacent to said invisible light projector and comprising an objective lens, and an image intensifier means positioned to receive an optical image from the objective lens, said telescope having a line of sight that is substantially parallel to the beam of invisible light.
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Specification