Infrared source
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for generating periodic pulses of infrared radiation, said system comprising:
- an emitter means which is resistive to the flow of electrical current therethrough and can accordingly be heated to an elevated temperature and caused to emit infrared radiation by applying an electrical voltage thereacross; and
means for applying electrical pulses of first one, and then the opposite, polarity to said emitter means to heat said emitter means as aforesaid to effect the emission of said pulses of infrared radiation therefrom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Infrared radiation emitter units for gas analyzers and other applications. The emitter has a substrate with a film of electrically resistive, emissive material on one of its surfaces. The emitter is so mounted on an emitter unit base that it can freely expand as the emitter heats up. A lead frame commutator, employed to electrically connect the emitter to an external power source, also facilitates the assembly of the unit. A component with a plated, parabolic surface collimates and focuses into an appropriate beam the energy generated by the emitter.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for generating periodic pulses of infrared radiation, said system comprising:
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an emitter means which is resistive to the flow of electrical current therethrough and can accordingly be heated to an elevated temperature and caused to emit infrared radiation by applying an electrical voltage thereacross; and means for applying electrical pulses of first one, and then the opposite, polarity to said emitter means to heat said emitter means as aforesaid to effect the emission of said pulses of infrared radiation therefrom.
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- 2. An infrared radiation source which includes an emitter means and a support for said emitter means, said emitter means including a substrate and an emissive, electrically resistive material on said substrate and said source also including means for fixing one end only of said substrate to said support, whereby said emitter means is free to expand and contract without resistance as said emissive material is respectively heated to an operating temperature and cools to a lower temperature.
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5. An infrared radiation source which comprises:
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emitter means having a substrate;
a layer of an electrically resistive, emissive material on said substrate; and
first and second electrical terminals on said substrate and in electrical contact with said layer of emissive material at the opposite ends thereof;a base; a lead frame with two electrically isolated segments supported along with said emitter means from said base; and means providing electrical connections between the first emitter means terminal and one of said lead frame segments and between the second of said terminals and the other of the lead frame segments. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. That method of manufacturing an infrared radiation source which includes the steps of:
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providing an infrared radiation emitter which includes a substrate and a layer of an emissive, electrically resistive material on said substrate; providing a centrally apertured, electrically conductive lead frame; fixing said infrared radiation emitter to said lead frame with the emitter spanning the central aperture in the lead frame; electrically connecting opposite ends of the emissive material layer of the infrared radiation source to said lead frame on opposite sides of the aperture therein; installing the assembly of infrared radiation emitter and lead frame in a base; and
theninterrupting the continuity of said lead frame at locations on opposite sides of the lead frame and between the infrared radiation emitter-to-lead frame connections to thereby divide the lead frame into two electrically isolated segments and create a circuit in which an electrical current applied to one of said segments flows therefrom through the layer of emissive, electrically resistive material to the other of the lead frame segments. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. That method of manufacturing an infrared radiation source which includes the steps of:
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providing a base and an infrared radiation emitter which includes a substrate and a layer of an emissive, electrically resistive material on said substrate; providing a lead frame which has two independent, arcuate segments; installing said segments in said base at one end thereof with the segments concentrically arranged about the axial centerline of the base and with gaps between the ends of the segments; installing the infrared radiation emitter in the base on the lead frame; and making electrical connections between the ends of the emissive material layer of the infrared radiation emitter and the lead frame segments, thereby creating a circuit in which an electrical current applied to one of said segments flows therefrom through the layer of emissive, electrically resistive material to the other of the lead frame segments. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A device which can be converted into an infrared radiation source, said device comprising:
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emitter means having a substrate;
a layer of an electrically resistive, emissive material on said substrate; and
first and second electrical terminals on said substrate and in electrical contact with said layer of emissive material at the opposite ends thereof;a base; a lead frame with two electrically isolatable segments supported along with said emitter means from said base; and means providing electrical connections between the first emitter means terminal and one of said lead frame segments and between the second of said terminals and the other of the lead frame segments. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. An infrared source which comprises:
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an emitter unit comprising an electrically driven emitter means, a support for said emitter means, and a base; said emitter means support comprising a lead frame with a rim or terminals for connecting said emitter means across and electrical power source; and said base and said lead frame having cooperating means which keep said emitter unit from being assembled to said base in other than a single orientation relative to said base. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification