Dermoscopy epiluminescence device employing cross and parallel polarization
DCFirst Claim
1. A dermoscopy epiluminescence device comprising:
- a) a generally circular optical lens defining an outer circumference to produce a magnified image of an object to be observed by a viewer;
b) an illumination source comprising a plurality of luminous diodes spaced about the circumference of said optical lens to direct light upon the object;
c) at least one polarizer comprising a planar annular ring filter defining a generally circular center opening and an outer ring, said center opening of said annular ring is positioned in corresponding alignment with the circular optical lens to provide an open view of the object through the lens, said outer ring having at least one opening sized and positioned to correspond to at least one of the diodes of the illumination source such that light emitted from said at least one diode of the illumination source is passed through said at least one opening toward the object and light emitted from remaining diodes of the illumination source is polarized by the polarizer;
d) a viewing polarizer positioned between a viewer and the object to polarize light reflected from the object wherein said viewing polarizer is cross-polarized relative to polarized light emitted from said remaining diodes.
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Abstract
The present invention is a hand held dermoscopy epiluminescense device with a magnification lens and an associated ring of luminous diodes powered by an on board battery. Every other diode in the ring operates as first and second light sources. The even diodes are filtered by a first polarization ring and the odd diodes are filtered by a second polarization ring. Each polarization ring has an open center for the lens and openings sized and positioned to correspond to the even or odd diodes to only filter one set. A viewing polarizer is provided and is cross-polarized relative to the first polarization ring and is parallel-polarized with the second polarization ring. A three way switch which provides on demand cross-polarized, parallel-polarized and a combination thereof for epiluminescence. A second embodiment provides even diodes of a first color and odd diodes of a second color. A third embodiment employs the alternating colored diodes of the second embodiment as well as the cross and parallel polarization of the light from the diodes as found in the first embodiment.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A dermoscopy epiluminescence device comprising:
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a) a generally circular optical lens defining an outer circumference to produce a magnified image of an object to be observed by a viewer; b) an illumination source comprising a plurality of luminous diodes spaced about the circumference of said optical lens to direct light upon the object; c) at least one polarizer comprising a planar annular ring filter defining a generally circular center opening and an outer ring, said center opening of said annular ring is positioned in corresponding alignment with the circular optical lens to provide an open view of the object through the lens, said outer ring having at least one opening sized and positioned to correspond to at least one of the diodes of the illumination source such that light emitted from said at least one diode of the illumination source is passed through said at least one opening toward the object and light emitted from remaining diodes of the illumination source is polarized by the polarizer; d) a viewing polarizer positioned between a viewer and the object to polarize light reflected from the object wherein said viewing polarizer is cross-polarized relative to polarized light emitted from said remaining diodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A selective polarization device for producing a polarized view of an object to be observed by a viewer, the device comprising:
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a) an optical lens defining an outer circumference; b) a plurality of first and second luminous diodes being alternately spaced about said outer circumference to form a ring of diodes; c) at least one polarizer comprising an annular ring filter defining a generally circular center opening, an outer ring and a plurality of openings, said center opening corresponding with the optical lens to provide an open view of the object through the lens, said outer ring substantially corresponding to said outer circumference, said plurality of openings being sized and positioned corresponding to said second diodes with light emitted therefrom being transmittable through the openings toward the object and light emitted from said first diodes being polarized by the first polarizer filter; and d) a viewing polarizer being positioned between said viewer and being cross-polarized relative to said polarizer.
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Specification