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`62/325,917
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`PORTABLE LIGHT WITH LASER
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`0096-
`P06343US00 tet s -5Q.
`(SL-727)
`2019::15:59:39
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`04-21-2016
`04-21-2016
`04-21-2016
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`TR.PROV
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`Provisional Cover Sheet (SB16)
`Specification
`Claims
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`PROSECUTION
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`11/18/2019
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`0000356
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`Parhelion, Inc.
`EXHIBIT
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`Doc Code: TR.PROV
`Document Description: Provisional Cover Sheet (SB16)
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`PTO/SB/16 (11-08)
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`Provisional Application for Patent Cover Sheet
`This is a requestforfiling a PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENTunder37 CFR 1.53(c)
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`Title of Invention
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`PORTABLE LIGHT WITH LASER
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`PortasewcnTwrniaseR
`Poss-possasusoo(si727)
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`096-P06343US00 (SL-727)
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`0000357
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`Doc Code: TR.PROV
`Document Description: Provisional Cover Sheet (SB16)
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`PTO/SB/16 (11-08)
`Approved for use through 05/31/2015. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
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`0000358
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`0000359
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`PORTABLE LIGHT WITH LASER
`
`[| 001]
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`laser.
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`The present invention relates to a portable light in with a white light source and a
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`| 002]
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`Portable lights are used in many environments to provide illumination and to enable
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`personnel to operate in those environments. In certain environments,visibility may be reduced by
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`smoke,particles, fog, steam or other matter suspendedorfloating in the air, e.g., in environments
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`often encountered by firefighters, police, security and other first responder personnel, as well as in
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`military and rescue environments. Often these kinds of environments may be hazardous and/or
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`dangerousto personnel, and so the reducedvisibility created by such environments can increase
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`the level of hazard and/or danger.
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`[ 003]
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`Typically, a brightlight is necessary to penetrate such environments, however, such
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`environments tend to reflect light back towards the portable light and thereby can tend to “blind”
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`the personnel using the portable light. Peripheral light is particularly offensive whenreflected
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`back. One way to reducethis reflection-induced blinding is to employ a highly collimated beam of
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`light thereby to reduce any peripherally projected light.
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`[ 004]
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`Conventionally, lights employ a highly collimating parabolic reflector and an
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`opaque cover, e.g., as by a black opaque area on an incandescentlight source, to block peripheral
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`light. Thus the light intensity at the center of the light beam is increased relative to the intensity at
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`the periphery thereof. However, when the light is employed in other environments, the absence of
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`peripheral light may be a disadvantage.
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`[ 005]
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`With the advent of modern high light output solid state light sources, e.g., light
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`emitting diode (LED) light sources, a parabolic reflectoris less efficient because the LED does not
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`emit light relatively evenly over a complete spherical volume as does an incandescent source.
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`Typically, modern LEDs include an integral curved plastic lens so as to produce light relatively
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`evenly over a hemispherical volume. Typically, many modern LED lights employ an optical
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`arrangement in which internal reflection of light within an optical elementis utilized to shape a
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`forward projecting collimated light beam. Also typically, a level of peripheral light is provided by
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`0000360
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`-2-
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`light that is directly emitted from the LED and/orbylight diffusing elements to redirect light
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`toward the periphery of the light beam. A permanent opaqueplate has been employed to block
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`the direct forward projected light from the LED.
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`[ 006]
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`However, even with lessening of the negative effect of peripherallight,
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`Applicant believes there is a need for a portable light that allows individuals to better discern the
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`physical features of environments in which smoke,particles, fog, steam or other matter may be
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`suspendedorfloating in theair.
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`[ 007]
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`Accordingly, a portable light may comprise: a light body having a white light
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`source and a laser light source supported thereby, each source selectively energizable for
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`producinglight; and a switch for selectively energizing the white light and/or laser light source.
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`The laser light source may be configured to provide a planeoflaser light, so as to create a line of
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`laser light on objects illuminated by the laser light plane. In this regard, the laser light source may
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`include a cylindrical lens to create the light plane. A TIR optical element mayalso be disposed in
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`front of the white light source for receiving the light produced thereby, and form the white light
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`into a collimated beam oflight, the TIR optical element having a recess in a forward face thereof.
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`A selectable beam modification element may be placeable into and removable from the recess in
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`the forward face of the TIR optical element.
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`[ 008]
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`In summarizing the arrangements described and/or claimed herein, a selection of
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`concepts and/or elements and/or steps that are described in the detailed description herein may be
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`made or simplified. Any summary is not intended to identify key features, elements and/orsteps,
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`or essential features, elements and/or steps, relating to the claimed subject matter, and so are not
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`intended to be limiting and should not be construed to be limiting of or defining of the scope and
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`breadth of the claimed subject matter.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
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`[ 009]
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`The detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s) will be more easily and
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`better understood when read in conjunction with the FIGURESof the Drawing which include:
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`0000361
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`[ 010]
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`FIGURES1A and 1B whicharefront and rear perspective views of an example
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`embodimentof a portable light with laser light source, FIGURES 1C and 1D whichare front and
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`rear views thereof, and FIGURES1E and 1F which are top and bottom viewsthereof, respectively;
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`
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`[ 011] FIGURE2is an exploded perspective view of the example portable light of
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`FIGURE 1;
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`
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`[| 012] FIGURE3is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1C;
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`
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`[| 013] FIGURE4is a perspective view of the example beam forming arrangement with
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`laser light source of FIGURE 3;
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`
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`[| 014] FIGURES5A, 5B and 5C whicharefirst and second end viewsandaside cross-
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`sectional view of the example optical beam forming arrangement with laser light source of
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`FIGURE 4; and
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`[| 015]
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`FIGURES6Aand 6B whichare side cross-sectional and end views, respectively of
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`a laser light source of FIGURE 4.
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`[ 016]
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`In the Drawing, where an elementor feature is shown in more than one drawing
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`figure, the same alphanumeric designation may be used to designate such elementor feature in
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`each figure, and where a closely related or modified element is shownin a figure, the same
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`alphanumerical designation primed or designated “a” or “b” or the like may be used to designate
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`the modified element or feature. Similarly, similar elements or features may be designated by like
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`alphanumeric designations in different figures of the Drawing and with similar nomenclature in the
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`specification. According to commonpractice, the various features of the drawing are not to scale,
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`and the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity, and
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`any value stated in any Figure is given by way of example only.
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
`
`[ 017]
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`FIGURE 1 includes FIGURES1A and 1B which are front and rear perspective
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`views of an example embodimentofa portable light 100, FIGURES 1C and 1D whichare front
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`and rear viewsthereof, and FIGURES1E and 1F which are top and bottom viewsthereof,
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`respectively; FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the example portable light 100 of
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`FIGURE 1; and FIGURE3is a cross-sectional view of the example portable light 100 including an
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`-4-
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`example embodiment of an optical beam forming arrangement 200-300 with laser light source 400
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`therefor. Portable light 100 includes a body or housing 120 that is configured to have a base 130
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`upon whichlight 100 can rest, e.g., on a horizontal surface, and to have a light source 140that
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`whenenergized projects light in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the long axis (e.g.,
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`vertical axis) of body 120.
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`[ 018]
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`Light 100 preferably, but optionally, includes a clip 150 on light body 120 by which
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`it can be attached (e.g., clipped) to an article of clothing or to equipmentor to another object, e.g.,
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`a belt or strap or rope or bar, as well as a hanger or loop 155 by whichit can be attached (e.g.,
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`hung) from an article of clothing or equipment or another object. Hanger 155 is attached to light
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`body or housing 120 by a bracket, e.g., the bracket 152 that supports clip 150, and more
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`specifically, hanger 155 is pivotable on the pivot or hinge pin 154 on which clip 150 pivots on that
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`bracket 152 relative to housing 120.
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`[ 019]
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`A switch actuator 160 is provided for selectively energizing and de-energizing
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`white light source 140 and laser light source 400, where the light sources 140, 400 may be
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`energized separately, so that only one source 140, 400 is on at a given time. Preferably switch
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`actuator 160 is at the upper end on body 120 whereit can easily be actuated by a finger when light
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`100 is held in hand or can be pressed whenlight 100 is resting on a horizontal surface or is
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`attached by clip 150 or hung by loop 155. Also preferably, light sources 140, 400 are proximate
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`the upper end oflight body 120.
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`[| 020]
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`Light body or housing 120 is preferably a hollow tube 120, e.g., a moldedplastic
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`tube, having a receptacle 1b for receiving elements, e.g., elements 142-148, 176, 200, 300 of white
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`light source 140 extending substantially perpendicularly from the upper end of body 120, and
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`having an opening 126 at the upper end thereof for receiving elements, e.g., elements 162-166, of
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`switch actuator 160. A switch boot 162 of switch actuator 160 is attached over an opening 126 in
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`the upper end of housing 120 by a switch ring 164 whichis attached to housing 120, e.g., by
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`adhesive or by welding or by another suitable method to sealingly attach boot 162 thereto. A
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`switch spacer 166 is disposed behind switch boot 162 for transmitting a pressing of boot 162 to
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`actuate an electrical switch 172 which is adjacent thereto when LED module assembly 170 is
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`-5-
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`inserted into housing tube 120 through the opening at the base 130 thereof andis fully seated
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`against the upper end thereof.
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`| 021]
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`LED module assembly 170 includes, e.g., a heat sink structure 178 to an upper end
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`of which is mounted electrical switch 172 and to a lower end of which are mounted a pair of spring
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`contacts 174 for making electrical connections to a battery assembly 180. Heat sink structure 178
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`is substantially rectangular with two substantially parallel opposing sides thereof having
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`extensions projecting upwardly and downwardly,e.g., to increase the heat sinking area and mass
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`thereof. A preferably integral wall fills the rectangular center of heat sink 178 and thermally
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`connectsto all sides thereof and presents a mounting surface substantially in the plane of heat sink
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`178. Mounted to that mounting surface of heat sink structure 178is a light emitting diode (LED)
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`176, which is also an element of white light source 140. LED 176 is mountedin a position to
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`direct light substantially outward and away from that surface of heat sink 178 and around a
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`perpendicularto the long axis of housing 120, e.g., into the base of optical element 200,as
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`described below.
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`[ 022]
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`Battery assembly 180 includes an innercarrier structure 182 whichcarries, e.g., a
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`plurality of battery cells (not shown) and provides interconnections therebetween and an outer
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`carrier cover 186. Carrier 182 includes a pair of contacts 184 at its upper end, e.g., accessible
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`through openingsin the upper end of carrier cover 186, for making electrical connection to the
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`spring contacts 174 extending from LED module 170. Battery assembly 180 may contain either
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`single use battery cells or rechargeable battery cells. Where battery assembly 180 contains
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`rechargeable battery cells, carrier cover 186 may be permanently attached to inner carrier 182.
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`In
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`that embodiment, battery assembly 180 preferably also provides a pair of contacts at its lower end
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`for making electrical connection to optional connections 134 through battery door 132.
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`[ 023]
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`Battery door 132 is hinged by pin 125 engaging a clevis 124 at the base of housing
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`120 and preferably includes a pair of contacts 134 there through for connecting battery carrier 180
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`internal to light 100 to an external source of charging power, e.g., a charger base, when light 100 is
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`placed therein for charging rechargeable batteries that may be utilized in light 100. Battery door
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`132 includes a pivotable clasp 138 for securing battery cover 132 in a closed position in housing
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`-6-
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`7120, and may also include an O-ring, gasket or other seal for sealing the battery door end of
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`housing 120.
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`| 024]
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`White light source 140 may be provided by an LED 176 of LED module assembly
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`170 in conjunction with elements 142-148, 200, 300. Optical element 200 is a shaped optically
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`clear plastic element 210 that has a polished generally parabolic external side surface 240, a
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`generally wider flat polished forward surface 220, and a shaped narrower rearward surface 230
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`that is disposed adjacent to LED 176 of LED module assembly 170. LED 176 may be surrounded
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`by a raised ring sized and shapedto receive the rearward end 230 of optical element 200. Polished
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`side surface 240 may be a generally parabolic surface or other suitably shaped surface to collimate
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`the light produced by LED 176into a desired beam,e.g., a collimated forward projecting white
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`light beam.
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`[ 025]
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`Optical element 200 is covered by a lens 144 and both are retained in the threaded
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`receptacle 122 of housing 120 by a lens ring 142. Preferably Lens ring 142 hasthreads, e.g.,
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`internal threads, that engage complementary threads, e.g., external threads, of receptacle 122 for
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`securing lens ring 142, lens 144 and optical element 200 in housing 120. Preferably, but
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`optionally, an O-ring 146 may be provided between lens ring 142 and lens 144 to provide a seal
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`thereat and housing 120 may have a second O-ring 148 around outer periphery of receptacle 122
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`for sealing betweenlens ring 144 and housing 120.
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`[ 026]
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`Preferably, but optionally, a pivotable clip assembly 150 includes a pivotable clip
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`150c andis attached at a bracket 152 thereof to housing 120 by one or more fasteners 159, e.g.,
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`two screws 159. Clip assembly 150 includesthe clip 150c which is pivotably mounted to bracket
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`or base 152 by a pivot pin 154, and has hangeror loop 155 that is pivotable by the ends thereof
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`pivotably engaging hinge pin or pivot pin 154 on which clip 155 pivots. Housing 120 may be
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`provided with a pressurerelief valve 128, typically a resilient valve 128, disposed in an opening in
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`housing
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`
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`[ 027] FIGURE4is a perspective view of the example beam forming arrangement of
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`FIGURE 3; and FIGURE 5 includes FIGURES SA, 5B and 5C whichare first and second end
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`views and a side cross-sectional view of the example optical beam forming arrangement of
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`FIGURE 4. Optical element 200 is a shaped optically clear plastic element whose optically clear
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`-7-
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`body 210 has a curved polished side surface 240, a generally widerflat polished forward surface
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`220, and a narrower rearward shaped surface that is disposed adjacent to LED 176 of LED module
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`assembly 170 as described. Light, typically white light, produced by LED 176 enters optical
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`element 200 through the rearward end 230 thereof, is essentially totally internally reflected therein
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`to form a highly collimated beam oflight, and exits optical element 200 at the flat forward exit
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`surface 220 thereof. Thusthe totally internally reflective (TIR) optical element 200 servesto
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`redirect the rays of light emitted by LED 176, which are emitted therefrom substantially radially
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`into a substantially hemispherical volume,into substantially parallel rays of light defining a highly
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`collimated beam oflight that exits forward surface 220 of optical element substantially parallel to
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`the central axis, e.g., the axis of optical symmetry, thereof.
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`[ 028]
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`Morespecifically, light emitted by LED 176 impinges on andis refracted by the
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`side wall of the rearward cylindrical recess 260 and into the body 210 of optical element 200
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`whereinit is totally internally reflected (TIR) by surface 240 to exit via the flat forward face 220
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`thereof as a highly collimated beam. While mostofthe light entering via the side wall 240 is
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`believed to comedirectly from LED 176, LED 176 is not a true point source and so some rays may
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`be reflected by surface 270 towardsside wall 240. Because optical element 200 is highly efficient
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`in collecting and in internally reflecting and collimating the light emitted by LED 176, very little
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`light is emitted toward the periphery of optical element 200.
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`| 029]
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`A substantially cylindrical recess 260 at the rearward end of optical element 200
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`has a curved convex bottom 270for refracting light from LED 176 into optical body 210 in a
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`direction towards the bottom 252 of cylindrical recess 250 in the flat forward surface 220 thereof,
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`from whichit exits optical element 200. Preferably, the light exiting optical element 200 is
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`diffused through the textured bottom surface 252 of recess 250 to provide peripheral light. The
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`cylindrical recess 250 providedin the flat forward face 220 of optical element 200 in an available
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`embodimentthereof hasa flat textured bottom surface 252 so as to diffuse light from LED 176 that
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`impinges upon surface 252 thereby to provide the peripherallight.
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`[ 030]
`
`Because peripheral light is sometimes desirable and sometimesis not desirable,
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`Applicant provides a selectable beam modification element 300 that enables a user to easily
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`reconfigure portable light 100 to provide the desired level of peripheral light. A removable beam
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`0000366
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`modification element 300, e.g., a removable plug element 300, may be disposed in the cylindrical
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`recess 250 in the forward surface of optical element 200, whereat is can block or otherwise modify
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`one or more characteristics of the light exiting through surface 252, e.g., which can provide
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`peripheral light. Preferably removable beam modification element 300, e.g., removable plug
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`element 300, has an opaque body or base 310 so as to maximizethe peripheral lightthat it blocks.
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`[ 031]
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`It has been foundthat if the peripheral light is amberin color, it can be less
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`objectionable and less fatiguing to a user than is white peripheral light, at least in some
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`environments. Accordingly, a removable beam modification element 300, e.g., removable plug
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`element 300, that has a body 310 of transparent or translucent amber colored material, e.g., plastic,
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`may be provided,either in place of and/or in addition to an opaque plug 300, to modify the color
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`or the intensity or both of the peripheral light, e.g., to be amberin color.
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`[ 032]
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`One example embodiment of removable beam modification element 300,e.g.,
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`removable plug element 300, preferably comprises an opaque cylindrical body 310 having a
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`diameterthat is slightly smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical recess 250 in the forward face
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`of optical element 200 and being of lesser thickness than the depth thereof.
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`[ 033]
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`Intuitively, one might expect that placing an opaque beam modification element
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`300 directly in front of LED light source 176 would substantially diminish the light intensity at the
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`center of the light beam emitted by light 100 and would havelittle effect upon the intensity of
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`peripheral light, which beam modification element 300 does not appear to be in position to affect.
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`Surprisingly, however, Applicant has foundthat the light intensity of the light near the center of
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`the emitted light beam is not substantially diminished by beam modification element 300 while the
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`intensity of the peripheral light is substantially diminished or otherwise modified.
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`| 034]
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`In addition, because white light is sometimes not desirable, Applicant also provides
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`laser light source 400 that may be configured to provide a plane oflaser light to illuminate objects
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`in a reducedvisibility environment, such as a smoke-filled room. Thelaser light source 400 may
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`include a cylindrical lens 412 for receiving light from a laser emission element 402, such as a red
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`laser diode, and for transmitting the received light as the plane oflaser light. The laser light source
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`400 may include a registration feature 414 on an external surface thereof disposedin registration
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`with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical lens 412.
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`In particular, the registration feature 414 may
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`have an axis oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical lens 412.
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`| 035]
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`The laser light source 400 may be mountedto the flat forward exit surface 220
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`interior to the optical element 200. One might also expect that placing the laser light source 400 in
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`the path of LED light source 176 would substantially diminish the light intensity of the white light
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`beam emitted by light 100. Surprisingly, however, Applicant has found that the light intensity of
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`the light of the emitted white light beam is not substantially diminished by beam laser light source
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`400. FIGURE 6 includes FIGURE 6A whichis a side cross-sectional views of the example laser
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`light source 400 and FIGURE 6B whichis an end view ofthelaser light source 400 showing the
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`light plane.
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`[ 036]
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`Optical element 200 may include on optical body 210 thereof one or more
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`orientation defining features 212, e.g., one or more projections 212, that may engage one or more
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`corresponding orientation features, e.g., one or more recesses, in the housing 120, 122 into which
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`optical element 200 is placed. Where the orientation of optical element 200 into housing 120, 122
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`is desired to be a particular orientation, then orientation features 212 may be arranged in a non-
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`symmetrical pattern.
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`[ 037]
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`Selectable beam modification element 300 is preferably of a size and shape
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`correspondingto that of the recess 250, preferably a cylindrical recess, e.g., recess 250, in the
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`forward face of optical element 200 so thatit can easily be placed into that recess and can easily be
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`removed from that recess, thereby to reconfigure portable light 100 to produce a lesser and a
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`greater level of peripheral light. Typically, and preferably, the base of selectable beam
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`modification element 300 may beacylindrical disk having a diameterthat is slightly less than that
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`of the cylindrical recess of optical element 200, and having a thickness (or length) that may be the
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`same as, less than or greater than the depth of the cylindrical recess.
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`[ 038]
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`Preferably, but optionally, removable beam modification element 300 may have a
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`raised gripping member 320,e.g., a raised ridge 320 or a sphere 320 on a short post, so that
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`removable beam modification element 300 mayeasily be gripped and removed from the
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`cylindrical recess 250 in optical element 200.
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`[ 039]
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`Selectable beam modification element 300 may be removably retained in the recess
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`250 of optical element 200 in any one or moreofa variety of different arrangements. For
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`example, selectable beam modification element 300 may be removably retained in the recess of
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`optical element 200 by friction, or may have a resilient periphery that contacts the inner surface of
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`the recess 250 in optical element 200, or may be ofa resilient material and of a diameter to contact
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`the inner surface of the recess 250 in optical element 200, or may have an O-ring in a peripheral
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`groove that contacts the inner surface of the recess 250 in beam modification element 300, or may
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`be retained by pressure where the difference between the diameters of selectable beam
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`modification element 300 and the recess 250 are small. In the illustrated embodiment,