Telescope baffle system
First Claim
1. A telescope baffle system for use with any optical instrument which processes light with both on-axis radiation and off-axis radiation, wherein said optical instrument has a chamber which conducts said light along an optical axis from an input side to optical elements on an output side, and wherein said telescope baffle system comprises a plurality of retro-reflector array elements which are mounted inside said chamber, said plurality of retro-reflector array elements having retro-reflective surfaces which face said input side of said chamber to eliminate off-axis radiation, said retro-reflector array elements each having an absorptive coating on their output side to absorb off-axis radiation so that it is not reflected back towards said optical instrument.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A telescope baffle system is disclosed for use with optical instruments. The baffle structure consists of highly reflective low scatter annular arrays of retro-reflecting cube corners which have the capability of returning rays back upon themselves such that most off-axis radiation striking one of the baffle annular arrays is reflected back to its source rather than being absorbed or scattered by the baffle.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A telescope baffle system for use with any optical instrument which processes light with both on-axis radiation and off-axis radiation, wherein said optical instrument has a chamber which conducts said light along an optical axis from an input side to optical elements on an output side, and wherein said telescope baffle system comprises a plurality of retro-reflector array elements which are mounted inside said chamber, said plurality of retro-reflector array elements having retro-reflective surfaces which face said input side of said chamber to eliminate off-axis radiation, said retro-reflector array elements each having an absorptive coating on their output side to absorb off-axis radiation so that it is not reflected back towards said optical instrument.
- 10. A telescope baffle system for use with any optical instrument which processes light with both on-axis radiation and off-axis radiation, wherein said optical instrument has a chamber which conducts said light along an optical axis from an input side to optical elements on an output side, and wherein said telescope baffle system comprises a plurality of retro-reflector array annuli which are fixed inside said chamber, said plurality of retro-reflector array annuli having retro-reflective surfaces which face said input side of said chamber to eliminate off-axis radiation.
Specification