Synchronized pulse-enhanced dual light source
First Claim
1. Apparatus for enhancing an intermittent low intensity light source that is powered by a drive signal comprising:
- a. a high intensity light source optically coupled with said low intensity light source so that at least some light from both sources is projected in a desired direction, said high intensity light having an instantaneous intensity that significantly exceeds the peak intensity of the low intensity light source; and
b. pulse means connected to said high intensity light source and responsive to said drive signal for pulsing said high intensity light source to produce a light pulse before the low intensity light source achieves any substantial percentage of its peak intensity, said light pulse occurring in such close time proximity to the peak intensity of the low intensity light source that persistence of vision in the human eye causes the two light sources to blend together visually.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intermittent low intensity light source that is switched on by a drive signal is enhanced by a high intensity light source. The high intensity light source is coupled with the low intensity light source so that at least some light from both sources is projected in a desired direction. The high intensity light source has a brightness or intensity that significantly exceeds that of the low intensity light source. A pulse power source is connected to the high intensity light source and made responsive to the drive signal for pulsing the high intensity light source to emit a brief light pulse before the low intensity light source achieves any substantial precentage of its peak intensity, the light pulse occurring in such close time proximity to the peak intensity of the low intensity light source that persistence of vision in the human eye causes the two light sources blend together visually.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for enhancing an intermittent low intensity light source that is powered by a drive signal comprising:
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a. a high intensity light source optically coupled with said low intensity light source so that at least some light from both sources is projected in a desired direction, said high intensity light having an instantaneous intensity that significantly exceeds the peak intensity of the low intensity light source; and b. pulse means connected to said high intensity light source and responsive to said drive signal for pulsing said high intensity light source to produce a light pulse before the low intensity light source achieves any substantial percentage of its peak intensity, said light pulse occurring in such close time proximity to the peak intensity of the low intensity light source that persistence of vision in the human eye causes the two light sources to blend together visually. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A pulse-enhanced intermittent dual light source that is switched on by a drive signal comprising:
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a. a first, low intensity light source operably coupled to said drive signal; b. a second, high intensity light source optically coupled with said low intensity light source to project light in substantially the same direction as at least some light projected from said low intensity light source; and c. pulse means connected to said high intensity light source and responsive to said drive signal for pulsing said high intensity light source to produce a light pulse before the low intensity light source achieves any substantial percentage of its peak intensity, said light pulse occurring in such close time proximity to the peak intensity of the low intensity light source that persistence of vision in the human eye causes the two light sources to blend together visually. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An enhanced dual light source comprising:
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a first, low intensity light source; a second, high intensity light source optically coupled with said low intensity light source so that at least some light from both sources is projected in a desired direction; and drive means operably coupled to said first and second light sources for stimulating the emission of a pulse of light from said second light source during a period when the first light source is also being stimulated to emit light but before said first light source reaches any substantial percentage of its peak intensity, said light pulse occurring in such close time proximity to the peak intensity of the low intensity light source that persistence of vision in the human eye causes the two light sources to blend together visually. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of producing a pulse-enhanced light signal comprising:
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a. stimulating light from a first, low intensity light source; b. stimulating a pulse of light from a second, high intensity light source, where such pulse-stimulation causes a light pulse with a duration in the microsecond range, said light pulse being emitted before the first, low intensity light source achieves any substantial percentage of its peak value and occurring in such close proximity to the peak intensity of the low intensity light source that persistence of vision in the human eye causes the two light sources to blend together visually; and c. optically coupling said light from said first and second, low and high intensity light sources such that at least some light from both sources is projected in a desired direction.
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13. A pulse-enhanced intermittent dual light source that is switched on by a drive signal comprising:
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a. a first, low intensity light source operably coupled to said drive signal; b. a second, high intensity light source optically coupled with said low intensity light source to project light in substantially the same direction as at least some light projected from said low intensity light source; and c. pulse means connected to said high intensity light source and responsive to said drive signal for pulsing said high intensity light source to initiate and complete a light pulse before the low intensity light source achieves any substantial percentage of its peak intensity, said light pulse occurring in such close time proximity to the peak intensity of the low intensity light source that persistence of vision in the human eye causes the two light sources to blend together visually. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification