Infrared zoom illuminator

• US 4,948,210 A
• Filed: 06/20/1988
• Issued: 08/14/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Applied Laser Systems, Raymond Simms, Thomas Emele
• Original Assignee: Murasa International
• Inventors: Simms, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/208,457
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 350/1.4, 350/413, 350/423, 350/429, 350/235, 350/236, 350/237, 350/1.2, 350/255, 362/277, 362/326, 362/307, 362/308, 362/309, 250/330, 250/504 H
• US Class Current: 359/356
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/20 for imaging minute objects, e.g. light-pointer

Abstract

An infrared zoom illuminator is contained in a cylindrical housing which may be hand-held. Power is provided to an infrared laser light source from batteries contained in the housing, and a micro lens made of gradient index material is placed between a light exit opening in the housing and the laser light source. Provision is made for selectively interconnecting and disconnecting the light source from the power supply and for changing the distance between the laser light source and the lens. This changes the focus of light exiting from the device from a predetermined maximum divergence, for illuminating a zone, down to the collimated narrow beam of light produced by the laser light source.

Claims

1. A portable infrared zoom illuminator including in combination:

a housing having a light exit opening therein;

an infrared laser light source mounted in said housing;

a power supply located in said housing;

switch means selectively interconnecting and disconnecting said light source and said power supply;

focusing lens means comprising a cylindrical micro lens of gradient index material mounted in said housing between said light source and the light exit opening in said housing; and

means coupled with said lens means for moving said lens moved toward and away from said light source to change the focus of light exiting from said light exit opening in said housing from a predetermined maximum divergence to the narrow collimated width of the beam of light produced by said infrared laser light source.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said power supply is a battery power supply.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said housing is a substantially cylindrical housing with the light exit opening in one end thereof and the other end thereof being closed when said zoom illuminator is in use.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said laser light source is a solid state infrared laser light source.

5. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said housing comprises at least first and second telescoping parts, with said parts being axially movable with respect to one another;

said lens means is located in said second part of said housing for axial movement therewith toward and away from said laser light source.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said housing comprises at least first and second parts;

said power supply is a battery power supply including at least one battery, with the first part of said housing receiving said battery, said first part of said housing having first and second ends, with means for closing the first end thereof having a spring for engaging said battery located therein and the second end thereof being open with an inwardly turned shoulder thereon for supporting electrical contacts therein; and

said second part of said housing fits over the second end of said first part of said housing and includes said laser light source and said focusing lens means therein, with means for effecting an electrical interconnection between said laser light source and said battery located in said first part of said housing.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said electrical connecting means comprises an axially movable block biased toward engagement with said shoulder by said spring pressing on said battery to connect with said laser light source with said power supply when said second part of said housing is moved axially away from the first end of said first part of said housing a predetermined distance, and including means in said second part of said housing for biasing said block out of engagement with said shoulder when said second part of said housing is in a second position relatively closer to the first end of said first part of said housing to disconnect said light source from said power supply.

8. The combination according to claim 7 further including means for restricting movement of said laser light source relative to said lens means as said lens moves with said second part of said housing relative to said first part of said housing to vary the distance between said laser light source and said lens means to accomplish said change of focus of light exiting from the light exit opening in said second part of said housing.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said first part of said housing and said spring means are made of conductive material, said second part of said housing is secured for limited axial movement relative to said first part of said housing, said second part of said housing being made of insulating material, and said focusing lens means is mounted in said second part of said housing between said light exiting opening and said laser light source.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein said lens has a first end located adjacent said light source and a second end located adjacent said light exit opening, and focusing of said lens means is accomplished by changing the distance between the first end of said lens and said laser light source.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein said laser light source is a solid state infrared laser light source.

12. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said power supply is a battery power supply.

13. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said housing is a substantially cylindrical housing with the light exit opening in one end thereof and the other end thereof being closed when said zoom illuminator is in use, said housing comprising at least two telescoping parts, with said parts being axially movable with respect to one another;

said lens means being located in said second part for axial movement therewith toward and away from said laser light source.

14. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said laser light source is a solid state laser light source.