Focusing method and apparatus for light emitting device

Abstract

A light emitting apparatus including an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined spectrum including visible light and infrared light, and a plurality of focusing chambers, each focusing chamber including an aperture, wherein light from the emitter passes successively through at least a first of the chambers and an aperture of the first chamber, and through a second of the chambers and an aperture of the second chamber before exiting the apparatus.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A light emitting apparatus comprising: 
 an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined spectrum including visible light and infrared light; and    a plurality of focusing chambers, each focusing chamber including an aperture, wherein light from the emitter passes successively through at least a first of the chambers and an aperture of the first chamber, and through a second of the chambers and an aperture of the second chamber before exiting the apparatus.    
     
     
         2 . A light emitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the emitter is configured to emit infrared light.  
     
     
         3 . A light emitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a pistol having a trigger connected to the light emitter.  
     
     
         4 . A light emitting apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the second focusing chamber comprises a barrel of the pistol.  
     
     
         5 . A light emitting apparatus according to  claim 3 , further including a speaker connected to the trigger.  
     
     
         6 . A light emitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a length of a first of the chambers to a length of a second of the chambers comprises about 1:4.  
     
     
         7 . A light emitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apertures of the chambers are circular.  
     
     
         8 . A target shooting set including a light emitting apparatus according to  claim 3 , and further comprising a target stand including a light receiving module.  
     
     
         9 . A target shooting set according to  claim 8 , wherein the target stand further comprises an extendable member operatively connected to the light receiving module such that the extendable member is released upon a beam of light from the toy pistol being received by the light receiving module.  
     
     
         10 . A target shooting set according to  claim 8 , further comprising a target for placement over the extendable member of the target stand.  
     
     
         11 . A target shooting set according to  claim 10 , wherein the target comprises a replica of one of a bottle and a can.  
     
     
         12 . A target shooting set according to  claim 10 , wherein the target comprises at least two separable pieces.  
     
     
         13 . A target shooting set according to  claim 8 , wherein the target stand further comprises at least one of a speaker and a light connected to the light receiving module.  
     
     
         14 . A target shooting set according to  claim 9 , wherein the target stand further comprises a spring normally biasing the extendable member out of the target stand and the target stand further includes a latching mechanism for maintaining the extendable member against the spring and within the target stand, and wherein the latching mechanism is operatively connected to the light receiving module so that, upon a beam of light from the toy pistol being received by the light receiving module, the latching mechanism releases the extendable member.  
     
     
         15 . A target shooting set according to  claim 14 , wherein the latching mechanism of the target stand comprises: 
 a motor having a rotatable shaft and operatively connected to the light receiving module so that, upon a beam of light from the toy pistol being received by the light receiving module, the shaft of the motor is rotated; and    a latch member normally maintaining the extendable member against the spring and within the target stand and connected to the shaft of the motor so that, upon the shaft being rotated, the latch member releases the extendable member.    
     
     
         16 . A target shooting set according to  claim 15 , wherein the target stand comprises at least two of the extendable members, one of the light receiving modules is associated with each extendable member, the latching mechanism operatively connects the two light receiving modules to the respective extendable members, and the light receiving modules cause the shaft of the motor to rotate in opposite directions.  
     
     
         17 . A method of focusing a beam of light comprising: 
 aligning an emitter, configured to emit electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined spectrum, with a plurality of focusing chambers;    providing each focusing chamber with an aperture; and    directing light from the emitter successively through the apertures of the focusing chambers.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein one of the focusing chambers is positioned in another of the focusing chambers.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the emitter is configured to emit visible light.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the emitter is configured to emit infrared light.  
     
     
         21 . A target stand comprising: 
 at least two extendable members;    springs normally biasing each of the extendable members out of the target stand;    a latching mechanism for maintaining the extendable members against the springs and within the target stand; and    at least one light receiving module associated with each extendable member and adapted to provide an electronic signal to the latching mechanism upon receiving a beam of electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined spectrum so that, upon a beam of electromagnetic radiation being received by the light receiving module, the latching mechanism releases the extendable member associated with the light receiving module.    
     
     
         22 . A target stand according to  claim 21 , wherein the latching mechanism of the target stand comprises: 
 a reversible motor having a rotatable shaft and operatively connected to the light receiving modules so that, upon a beam of electromagnetic radiation being received by one of the light receiving modules, the shaft of the motor is rotated in one of two direction; and    latch members normally maintaining the extendable members against the springs and within the target stand and connected to the shaft of the motor so that, upon the shaft being rotated, one of the latch members releases one of the extendable members.