Infrared collimator

• US 4,588,253 A
• Filed: 05/23/1984
• Issued: 05/13/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brunson Instrument Company
• Original Assignee: Brunson Instrument Company
• Inventors: Brunson, Amber N.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARNOLD, BRUCE
• Application Number:
  US06/613,304
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 350/1.1, 350/505, 350/620, 250/504 R, 250/496.1, 250/495.1, 250/504 H, 356/401
• US Class Current: 359/351
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/061 on-axis systems with at least one of the mirrors having a central aperture
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/30 Collimators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/32 Fiducial marks and measuring scales within the optical system

Abstract

An infrared collimator uses a barrel and an infrared energy emitting source mounted at one end of the barrel. A reticle mask over the emission source produces a reticle beam pattern which is concentrated and collimated by a mirror assembly including a convex reflector mounted at a front end of the barrel and a concave concentrator with a central through bore and mounted in the barrel between the emission source and the convex reflector. The collimator produces infrared energy in a coherent, collimated beam pattern for instrument calibration and testing purposes.

Claims

1. An infrared collimator comprising:

(a) a barrel housing having front and rear end portions;

(b) an infrared energy emitting source mounted in the rear end portion of said barrel;

(c) a mask over said source, said mask having apertures therethrough to produce a reticle beam pattern;

(d) a mirror assembly including;

(i) a concave concentrator having a central through bore and mounted coaxially in said barrel; and

(ii) a convex reflector mounted coaxially in said barrel and sized approximately equal to said through bore;

(e) whereby infrared energy in said reticle beam pattern is reflected respectively by said concave concentrator and said convex reflector and directed outwardly in a coherent, collimated beam through said barrel;

(f) said source being an automatic temperature controlling unit having a resistance heated surface plate maintained at an adjustable differential with respect to a second reference temperature.

2. The infrared collimator set forth in claim 1 including:

(a) a remote temperature display unit providing a readout of the temperature differential between said surface plate and said second reference temperature.