An annular optical device ( 100 ) includes an annular meso-optic ( 1 ) including an annulus ( 11 ) centered about an axis of revolution (A) and a secondary optical structure ( 2 ) substantially coaxial within the annulus ( 11 ). The secondary optical structure ( 2 ) and the annular meso-optic ( 1 ) are separated by a media ( 12 ) including a media refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the secondary optical structure. The secondary optical structure ( 2 ) holds a specimen to be radiated by impinging electromagnetic radiation. Scattered radiation from the secondary optical structure ( 2 ) and within the annulus ( 11 ) of the annular meso-optic ( 1 ) is allowed into the annular meso-optic ( 1 ) if an angle of incidence of the scattered radiation exceeds a predetermined incidence threshold. The annular meso-optic ( 1 ) re-directs the scattered radiation to comprise re-directed radiation that is substantially parallel to the axis of revolution (A).

Claims

18 · 2 independent · depth 2

18 granted claims

›1.independentAn annular optical device (100), comprising:nan annular meso-optic (1) including an annulus (11) centered about an axis of revolution (A); anda second…+8

›2.↳ 1The annular optical device (100) of claim 1, wherein the scattered radiation received in the annular meso-optic (1) is substantially radially divergen…d2

›3.↳ 1The annular optical device (100) of claim 1, wherein the scattered radiation is received by the annular meso-optic (1) and re-directed substantially a…d2

›4.↳ 1The annular optical device (100) of claim 1, wherein if the angle of incidence is less than the predetermined incidence threshold, then the scattered …d2

›5.↳ 1The annular optical device (100) of claim 1, with the secondary optical structure (2) including a radiation-transmittable closed end (2c) that is conf…d2

›6.↳ 1The annular optical device (100) of claim 1, with the secondary optical structure (2) including at least one radiation-transmittable region about the …d2

›7.↳ 1The annular optical device (100) of claim 1, further comprising a radiation-blocking structure (4) positioned over or incorporated into at least a por…d2

›8.↳ 1The annular optical device (100) of claim 1, further comprising a radiation-blocking structure (4) positioned over or incorporated into at least a por…d2

›9.↳ 1The annular optical device (100) of claim 1, further comprising a radiation-blocking structure (4) positioned over or incorporated into at least a por…d2

›10.independentA method of forming an annular optical device, the method comprising:nproviding an annular meso-optic including an annulus centered about an axis of r…+8

›11.↳ 10The method of claim 10, wherein the scattered radiation received in the annular meso-optic is substantially radially divergent from a line of focus of…d2

›12.↳ 10The method of claim 10, wherein the scattered radiation is received by the annular meso-optic and re-directed substantially along the axis of revoluti…d2

›13.↳ 10The method of claim 10, wherein if the angle of incidence is less than the predetermined incidence threshold, then the scattered radiation is internal…d2

›14.↳ 10The method of claim 10, with the secondary optical structure including a radiation-transmittable closed end that is configured to admit the impinging …d2

›15.↳ 10The method of claim 10, with the secondary optical structure including at least one radiation-transmittable region about the line of focus of the annu…d2

›16.↳ 10The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a radiation-absorbing structure positioned over or incorporated into at least a portion of the se…d2

›17.↳ 10The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a radiation-absorbing structure positioned over or incorporated into at least a portion of the se…d2

›18.↳ 10The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a radiation-absorbing structure positioned over or incorporated into at least a portion of the se…d2

Classifications

4 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section G — Physics

G01N21/00

USPC · US Patent Classification

356/338356/337356/343

Claim changes

Soon

Coming soonHow the claims changed between publication and grant

See which claims were amended, added or cancelled during examination, with every added and removed word marked.

AmendedAddedCancelledUnchanged

The published claims of this patent are not paired with the granted ones in what we hold.

File wrapper

Pendency

2.0 y

743 days filing → grant

Office actions

none on record

Responses

1 RCE

Examiner

Gregory J Toatley

art unit 2877 · TC 2800

Law firm

Law firm · Log in to unlock

Citations: 12 back · 0 forward

See the full prosecution history — every USPTO and applicant action on this file, in order.

Term & fees

See the term timeline — pendency span, in-force span, the maintenance fees paid and both computed expiry dates.

Priority chain

2 priority documents

Priority

6 Aug 2010

earliest claimed

›Priority documents — 2

Type	Document	Date
provisional	US 61371381	6 Aug 2010
related publication	US 20130135613 A1	30 May 2013

Validity challenges

See the validity challenges on record — reexaminations, IPRs and PGRs, with their institution decisions and outcomes.

Citations

See every patent this one cites and every patent that cites it back — publication, assignee, and how each one was found.