| Lens for forming laser lines with uniform brightness -> Monitor Keywords |
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Lens for forming laser lines with uniform brightnessLens for forming laser lines with uniform brightness description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070041099, Lens for forming laser lines with uniform brightness. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to laser devices, and in particular, to a lens, and a design method for a lens, that is capable of forming a laser beam having uniform energy distribution so that the laser beam can be distributed into laser lines of uniform brightness along a plane. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] The structure of a conventional laser lens typically includes a light converting device at the emitting side of the laser beam of a laser beam emitter (or emitting module). The common light converting devices include convex lens, cylindrical lens, and multi-angle prisms, among others, which are utilized together with rotary elements or elements of other contours to extend a laser beam of point form into a laser line, a laser ring, or a laser light of different kinds. Such laser lights are primarily used for horizontal measurement, for distance measurement, or for indication, in the field of architectural engineering. [0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a known laser point and line projecting device that is illustrated in Republic of China (Taiwan) Patent No. 491349. The laser point and line projecting device 10 provides two methods for converting laser beam into a laser line. A first method is to upright a light source vertically by arranging a point light-source projector 11 under a rotary motor 12, on top of which a pentagonal prism 13 is arranged. When the rotary motor 12 rotates, the pentagonal prism 13 converts the laser beam projected from the point light-source projector 11 into a laser ring 15. A second method is to arrange the light emitting side of another point light-source projector 14 at a rectangular hollow trough 141 to convert the laser beam into a laser line 16. However, the formation of the laser ring 15 must depend upon the rotation of the motor 12 driven by the power supply, so the size of the machine must be very large. Furthermore, the range of the laser line 16 is restrained by the rectangular hollow trough 141. After the laser line 16 is diffused, its brightness is concentrated in a central section, with the rest of the laser line 16 being fuzzy due to the elongation caused by the long distance from the center of the laser line 16, such that the brightness of the laser line 16 will not be uniform (i.e., the laser line 16 is brighter at the center), thereby negatively impacting the measurement. [0006] FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a "Laser Line Generating Device" from WO 02/093108 A1. The laser line generating device 20 has a lens 22 that has a straight plane 222 and a convex plane 221. The lens 22 is arranged in front of the laser point light-source projector 21. When the laser beam 23 enters the lens 22, part of the laser light is refracted by the convex plane 221 to change its advancing direction to become a laser light 231 that is inclined downwardly. The laser light passing through the straight plane 222 is emitted in parallel to become a parallel laser light 232. The main purpose of WO 02/093108 A1 is to generate a fan-shaped laser light, the strength of which is similar to a "comet" shape, such that the emitted laser demarcating light will not be blocked by objects to affect measurement. In practice, since the curvature of the convex plane 221 can differ, the refracting angle of the laser light 231 can also differ. In this regard, if the curvature of the convex plane 221 is not correct, then the uniformity of the formed laser line will be adversely affected. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a lens that is capable of forming a light beam having uniform energy distribution. [0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for creating a lens that is capable of forming a light beam having uniform energy distribution. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a lens that is capable of forming a light beam that is distributed into laser lines of uniform brightness, such that line visualization at greater distances can be facilitated. [0009] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a lens that has an emitting plane with a continuous incline such that, when the laser beam passes through the emitting plane at different angles, the laser beam may be refracted onto several equal partition lengths, such that the laser beam is distributed into laser lines on a plane with uniform brightness. [0010] In order to achieve the objectives of the present invention, there is provided a lens that converts a laser beam into laser lines of uniform brightness. The lens has an emission plane through which the laser beam passes, the emission plane having a continuous incline. [0011] The present invention also provides a method for designing a lens that converts a laser beam into laser lines of uniform brightness on a planar surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional laser point and line projecting device. [0013] FIG. 2 illustrates the laser light projection for a conventional laser line generating device. [0014] FIG. 3 illustrates the laser light projection for a lens according to the present invention. [0015] FIG. 4 is a side plan view for a lens according to the present invention. [0016] FIG. 5 is a design value table for the lens according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0017] The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. [0018] FIGS. 3-4 illustrate a lens 30 according to the present invention. The lens 30 is capable of forming a light beam having uniform energy distribution. The lens 30 is arranged at the emitting end 41 of an optical device 40, which generates a laser beam R. The laser beam R is parallel to a plane 50 that is maintained at an altitude H from the parallel laser beam R. [0019] A length L is set on the plane 50 and is taken to be the length of the laser lines formed on the plane 50 by projecting the laser beam R. The length L is divided into a plurality of equal partitions to obtain a plurality of equal partition points P.sub.1, P.sub.2, P.sub.3 . . . P.sub.N+1, The distances L.sub.1, L.sub.2, L.sub.3 . . . L.sub.N+1 are distances measured from the starting point L.sub.0 of the length L to the equal partition points P.sub.1, P.sub.2, P.sub.3 . . . P.sub.N+1 respectively, with the partition point P.sub.1 located at the end of the length L, so the distance L, between the partition point P.sub.1 and the starting point L.sub.0 is same as the length L. [0020] Here, input the altitude H, and the plural distances L.sub.1, L.sub.2, L.sub.3 . . . L.sub.N+1 measured between each of the partition points P.sub.1, P.sub.2, P.sub.3 . . . P.sub.N+1 and the starting point L.sub.0 of laser beam, into the tangent formula of trigonometric function as follows. .theta..sub.N=tan.sup.-1(H/L.sub.N) Continue reading about Lens for forming laser lines with uniform brightness... Full patent description for Lens for forming laser lines with uniform brightness Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Lens for forming laser lines with uniform brightness patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Lens for forming laser lines with uniform brightness or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Led light source lens having upper, central and lower parts Next Patent Application: Thin-profile projection system Industry Class: Optical: systems and elements ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Lens for forming laser lines with uniform brightness patent info. 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