Light collection and detection apparatus comprising plural light sensors so spaced that the composite response is independent of source position

Claim 2

Light collection and detection apparatus which exhibits a substantially uniform response characteristic with respect to an intensity-modulated diffuse spot of light which may emanate from any point on a planar source, comprising: a plurality of light detection means, each having a known polar light response characteristic which is nonuniform with respect to at least some of the possible points from which said intensity-modulated diffuse spot of light may emanate on said source, each of said detection means for developing an output signal representative of the intensity of said diffuse spot of light, said plurality of detection means being arranged in a predetermined array to effect an overlapping of said individual light response characteristics by a selected amount in the plane of said source; and means for combining the output signals of said light detection means to develop a resultant output signal whose amplitude is substantially linearly proportional to the intensity of said diffuse spot of light regardless of the location of the point on said source from which said spot of light emanates.

Claim 3

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein said light detection means are arranged in said predetermined array in a plane substantially parallel to that of said source ans separated therefrom by a chosen distance, thereby to effect said selected amount of overlapping of said light response characteristics.

Claim 4

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said light detection means is a photomultiplier and wherein said means for combining the output signals of said photomultipliers is a conductor connected to the output of each photomultiplier.

Claim 5

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein said apparatus additionally includes light-reflecting means, arranged adjacent to at least some of the light-detection means in said array, for forming mirror images of at least some of said light detection means, thereby increasing the apparent number of light detection means in said array whose individual polar light response characteristics overlap in the plane of said source.

Claim 6

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 4 wherein said light-reflecting means is a boxlike structure, having walls substantially perpendicular to the plane of said source and surrounding said array of light detection means, the interior surfaces of said structure being light-reflective to form said mirror images.

Claim 7

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 4 wherein said light-reflecting means comprises at least one wedge-shaped light-reflecting structure located within said array and between at least a pair of said light detection means for forming mirror images of said pair of light detection means, the exterior surfaces of said wedge-shaped structure being light reflective to form said mirror images.

Claim 8

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein said apparatus additionally includes a boxlike light-reflecting structure, having walls substantially perpendicular to the plane of said source and surrounding said array of light detection means, for forming mirror images of at least some of said light detection means, thereby increasing the apparent number of light detection means whose individual polar light response characteristics overlap in the plane of said source, the interior surfaces of said boxlike structure being light-reflective to form said mirror images; and at least one wedge-shaped light reflecting structure located within said array and between at least a pair of said light detection means for forming mirror images of said pair of light detection means, thereby further increasing the apparent number of light detection means whose individual polar light response characteristics overlap in the plane of said source, the exterior surfaces of said wedge-shaped structure being light reflective to form said mirror images.

Claim 9

Light collection and detection apparatus which exhibits a substantially uniform response characteristic with respect to a diffuse spot of light which may emanate from any point on a planar source, comprising: a plurality of photomultipliers, each having a known polar light response characteristic which is nonuniform with respect to at least some of the possible points from which said diffuse spot of light may emanate on said source, each of said photomultipliers for developing an output signal representative of the intensity of said diffuse spot of light, said photomultipliers being arranged in a predetermined array in a plane substantially parallel to that of said source and separated therefrom by a chosen distance to effect an overlapping of said individual light response characteristics by a selected amount in the plane of said source; light-reflecting means, arranged adjacent to at least some of said photomultipliers, for forming mirror images of at least some of said photomultipliers, thereby increasing the apparent number of photomultipliers in said array whose individual polar light response characteristics overlap in the plane of said source; and means for additively combining the output signals of said photomultipliers to develop a resultant output signal whose amplitude is substantially linearly proportional to the intensity of said diffuse spot of light, regardless of the location of the point on said source from which said diffuse spot of light emanates.

Claim 10

Light collection and detection apparatus which exhibits a substantially uniform response characteristic with respect to a diffuse spot of light which may emanate from any point on a planar source, comprising: a plurality of photomultipliers, each having a known polar light response characteristic which is nonuniform with respect to at least some of the possible points from which said diffuse spot of light may emanate on said source, each of said photomultipliers for developing an output signal representative of the intensity of said diffuse spot of light, said photomultipliers being arranged in a predetermined array in a plane substantially parallel to that of said source and separated therefrom by a chosen distance to effect an overlapping of said individual light response characteristics by a selected amount in the plane of said source; light-reflecting means, arranged adjacent to at least some of said photomultipliers, for forming mirror images of at least some of said photomultipliers, thereby increasing the apparent number of photomultipliers in said array whose individual polar light response characteristics overlap in the plane of said source; and means for additively combining the output signals of said photomultipliers to develop a resultant output signal whose amplitude is substantially linearly proportional to the intensity of said diffuse spot of light, regardless of the location of the point on said source from which said diffuse spot of light emanates.

Claim 11

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein said light-reflecting means is a boxlike structure, having walls substantially perpendicular to the plane of said source and surrounding said array of light detection means, the interior surfaces of said structure being light-reflective to form said mirror images.

Claim 12

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein said light-reflecting means comprises at least one wedge-shaped light-reflecting structure located within said array and between at least a pair of said light detection means for forming mirror images of said pair of light detection means, the exterior surfaces of said wedge-shaped structure being light-reflective to form said mirror images.

Claim 13

Light collection and detection apparatus, useful in conjunction with an electro-optical system which scans an image plane with a spot of light such that the spot may occur at any point in said image plane, comprising: planar light-diffusing means located adjacent and substantially parallel to said image plane, for diffusing the spot of light occurring in said image plane to provide a diffuse spot of light which may emanate from any point on a planar source represented by said diffusing means; a plurality of light detection means, each having a known polar light response characteristic which is nonuniform with respect to at least some of the possible points from which said diffuse spot of light may emanate on said diffusing means, each of said detection means for developing an output signal representative of the intensity of said diffuse spot of light, said detection means being arranged in a predetermined array to effect an overlapping of said individual light response characteristics by a selected amount in the plane of said diffusing means; and means for combining the output signals of said light detection means to develop a resultant output signal whose amplitude is substantially linearly proportional to the intensity of said diffuse spot of light regardless of the location of the point on said diffusing means from which said spot of diffuse light emanates.

Claim 14

Light collection and detection apparatus, useful in conjunction with an electro-optical system which scans an image plane with a spot of light such that the spot may occur at any point in said image plane, comprising: planar light-diffusing means located adjacent and substantially parallel to said image plane, for diffusing the spot of light occurring in said image plane to provide a diffuse spot of light which may emanate from any point on a planar source represented by said diffusing means; a plurality of light detection means, each having a known polar light response characteristic which is nonuniform with respect to at least some of the possible points from which said diffuse spot of light may emanate on said diffusing means, each of said detection means for developing an output signal representative of the intensity of said diffuse spot of light, said detection means being arranged in a predetermined array to effect an overlapping of said individual light response characteristics by a selected amount in the plane of said diffusing means; and means for combining the output signals of said light detection means to develop a resultant output signal whose amplitude is substantially linearly proportional to the intensity of said diffuse spot of light regardless of the location of the point on said diffusing means from which said spot of diffuse light emanates.

Claim 15

Light collection and detection apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein said planar light-diffusing means comprises a thin glass plate having a translucent, wHite, opal surface, with said opal surface located adjacent said image plane.

Claim 16

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein said light detection means are arranged in said predetermined array in a plane substantially parallel to that of said source and separated therefrom by a chosen distance, thereby to effect said selected amount of overlapping of said light response characteristics.

Claim 17

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein said apparatus additionally includes light-reflecting means, arranged adjacent to at least some of the light detection means in said array, for forming mirror images of at least some of said light detection means, thereby increasing the apparent number of light-detection means in said array whose individual polar light response characteristics overlap in the plane of said source.

Claim 18

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 14 wherein said light-reflecting means is a boxlike structure, having walls substantially perpendicular to the plane of said source and surrounding said array of light detection means, the interior surfaces of said structure being light reflective to form said mirror images. 16 Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 14 wherein said light-reflecting means comprises at least one wedge-shaped light-reflecting structure located within said array and between at least a pair of said light detection means for forming mirror images of said pair of light detection means, the exterior surfaces of said wedge-shaped structure being light-reflective to form said mirror images.

Claim 19

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein said apparatus additionally includes a boxlike light-reflecting structure, having walls substantially perpendicular to the plane of said source and surrounding said array of light detection means, for forming mirror images at least some of said light detection means, thereby increasing the apparent number of light detection means whose individual polar light response characteristics overlap in the plane of said source, the interior surfaces of said boxlike structure being light-reflective to form said mirror images; and at least one wedge-shaped light-reflecting structure located within said array and between at least a pair of said light detection means for forming mirror images of said pair of light detection means, thereby further increasing the apparent number of light detection means whose individual polar light response characteristics overlap in the plane of said source, the exterior surfaces of said wedge-shaped structure being light-reflective to form said mirror images.

Claim 20

Light collection and detection apparatus, useful in conjunction with an electro-optical system which scans an image plane with a spot of light such that the spot may occur at any point in said plane, comprising: a thin, substantially flat plate of glass having a translucent, white, opal surface located adjacent said image plane, for diffusing the spot of light occuring in said image plane to provide a diffuse spot of light which may emanate from any point on the planar source represented by the opal surface of said glass plate; a plurality of photomultipliers, each having a known polar light response characteristic which is nonuniform with respect to at least some of the possible points from which said diffuse spot of light may emanate on said opal surface, each of said photomultipliers for developing an output signal representative of the intensity of said diffuse spot of light, said photomultipliers being arranged in a predetermined array in a plane substantially parallel to that of said opal surface and separated therefrom by a chosen distance, to effect an overlapping of said individual light response characteristics by a selected amount in the plane of said opal surface; light-reflecting means, arranged adjacent to at least some of said photomultipliers, for forming mirror images of at least some of said photomultipliers, thereby increasing The apparent number of photomultipliers in said array whose individual polar light response characteristics overlap in the plane of said opal surface; and means for additively combining the output signals of said photomultipliers to develop a resultant output signal whose amplitude is substantially linearly proportional to the intensity of said diffuse spot of light, regardless of the location of the point on said opal surface from which said spot of diffuse light emanates.

Claim 21

Light collection and detection apparatus, useful in conjunction with an electro-optical system which scans an image plane with a spot of light such that the spot may occur at any point in said plane, comprising: a thin, substantially flat plate of glass having a translucent, white, opal surface located adjacent said image plane, for diffusing the spot of light occuring in said image plane to provide a diffuse spot of light which may emanate from any point on the planar source represented by the opal surface of said glass plate; a plurality of photomultipliers, each having a known polar light response characteristic which is nonuniform with respect to at least some of the possible points from which said diffuse spot of light may emanate on said opal surface, each of said photomultipliers for developing an output signal representative of the intensity of said diffuse spot of light, said photomultipliers being arranged in a predetermined array in a plane substantially parallel to that of said opal surface and separated therefrom by a chosen distance, to effect an overlapping of said individual light response characteristics by a selected amount in the plane of said opal surface; light-reflecting means, arranged adjacent to at least some of said photomultipliers, for forming mirror images of at least some of said photomultipliers, thereby increasing The apparent number of photomultipliers in said array whose individual polar light response characteristics overlap in the plane of said opal surface; and means for additively combining the output signals of said photomultipliers to develop a resultant output signal whose amplitude is substantially linearly proportional to the intensity of said diffuse spot of light, regardless of the location of the point on said opal surface from which said spot of diffuse light emanates.

Claim 22

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 18 wherein said light-reflecting means is a boxlike structure, having walls substantially perpendicular to the plane of said source and surrounding said array of light detection means, the interior surfaces of said structure being light-reflective to form said mirror images.

Claim 23

Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 18 wherein said light-reflecting means comprises at least one wedge-shaped light-reflecting structure located within said array and between at least a pair of said light detection means for forming mirror images of said pair of light detection means, the exterior surfaces of said wedge-shaped structure being light-reflective to form said mirror images.