US 11,668,647 B2
Illumination unit with multiple light sources for generating a uniform illumination spot
Jeffrey R. Jasperse, Newton, MA (US)
Assigned to Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Tarrytown, NY (US)
Filed by Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Tarrytown, NY (US)
Filed on Jan. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/647,984.
Application 17/647,984 is a continuation of application No. 17/051,837, granted, now 11,262,294, previously published as PCT/US2019/030549, filed on May 3, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/666,913, filed on May 4, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0136960 A1, May 5, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 21/25 (2006.01); G01N 21/31 (2006.01); G01N 33/49 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/255 (2013.01) [G01N 21/31 (2013.01); G01N 33/491 (2013.01); G01N 2201/061 (2013.01); G01N 2201/062 (2013.01); G01N 2201/0636 (2013.01); G01N 2201/127 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An illumination unit, comprising:
a first light source positioned on a first axis, the first light source operable to generate a first light signal travelling on the first axis;
a second light source operable to generate a second light signal travelling on a second axis that intersects and is angularly offset with respect to the first axis; and
a reflector positioned at the intersection of the first axis and the second axis, the reflector including an aperture through which the first axis extends and a reflective surface angled with respect to the first axis and second axis, and
wherein the aperture is positioned to center the first light signal travelling therethrough on a target region located on the first axis opposite the first light source relative to the reflector, and wherein the reflective surface is configured to reflect the second light signal toward the target region.