Optical alignment means utilizing inverse projection of a test pattern/target
First Claim
1. A diagnostic imaging system including:
- a source of penetrative radiation;
an image intensifier tube having an input screen and an output screen, the input screen disposed to receive radiation from the source, the source and input screen defining a gap therebetween for receiving an object under examination, the output screen producing a visible light image on a face thereof corresponding to radiation received by the input screen;
a viewing means for viewing the visible light image and converting the light image into a video signal for displaying on an image monitor; and
a light sampling means positioned relative to the output screen for sampling a portion of the output screen light, said light sampling means comprised of,a first light directing means;
a light receiving means;
a light source; and
an alignment means for positioning the first light directing means and the light receiving means in alignment with the output screen along a first light path and for positioning the first light directing means and the light source in alignment with the output screen along a second light path, said first and second light paths at least partially coincident.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging system comprised of a source of penetrative radiation 14, an image intensifier tube 18 and a video camera 38 is provided. The intensifier tube is comprised of a input screen 22 and an output screen 24. The intensifier tube converts radiation 20 impinging on the input screen into a visible light image 36 on the output screen 24. The video camera is operatively positioned to view the output screen of the intensifier. A light sampler 50 is operatively disposed in the visible light path between the image intensifier output screen 24 and the video camera input 38. The light sampler is comprised of a mirror 52, a focusing lens 54, a beam splitter 56, an aperture 58, a light source 78, a photo receptor 60 and an optical aligner 64. The optical aligner fixes the first mirror 52, the focusing lens 54, the half-mirror 56, the aperture 58, the light source 62 and the photo receptor 60 in optical alignment such that light originating on the output screen and received by the mirror 52 is directed to focusing lens 54 and to beam splitter 56. A portion of the light striking beam splitter 56 is reflected thereby and passes through aperture 58 and strikes photo receptor 60. Light originating from the light source 62 is directed to half-mirror 56 and passes therethrough to lens 54, to mirror 52 and to the output screen 22.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A diagnostic imaging system including:
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a source of penetrative radiation; an image intensifier tube having an input screen and an output screen, the input screen disposed to receive radiation from the source, the source and input screen defining a gap therebetween for receiving an object under examination, the output screen producing a visible light image on a face thereof corresponding to radiation received by the input screen; a viewing means for viewing the visible light image and converting the light image into a video signal for displaying on an image monitor; and a light sampling means positioned relative to the output screen for sampling a portion of the output screen light, said light sampling means comprised of, a first light directing means; a light receiving means; a light source; and an alignment means for positioning the first light directing means and the light receiving means in alignment with the output screen along a first light path and for positioning the first light directing means and the light source in alignment with the output screen along a second light path, said first and second light paths at least partially coincident. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A means for sampling light propagating from an output screen of an image intensifier tube, said means comprising:
- a light receiving means;
a first light directing means disposed for reflecting light propagating from the output screen along a path to said light receiving means; and a light source disposed for directing light at least partially along the path to the first light directing means, the first light directing means diverting said light source light to the output screen. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a light receiving means;
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20. A method of aligning a light sampling means to view a light image propagating from an image intensifier output screen of a diagnostic imaging system, the method comprising the steps of:
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engaging a light source, directing light from the light source to the output screen; observing the light falling on the output screen; and adjusting the location of the directed light on the output screen until the directed light is positioned at a desired location thereon with respect to the light sampling means. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification