#$%^&*AU2007234634B220130718.pdf#####Docket 3138 U~S SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ILLUMINATION ATTENUATION ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Generally speaking, the output brightness of an illuminator is varied by chopping an output light beam such that the beam is alternately interrupted and unhindered. An interrupter can be rapidly moved into and out of the transmission path of a light beam. The brightness of the light beam received at a site will be attenuated based on the amount of time per cycle the light beam remains obstructed versus unhindered.100 104 106 10 11 12 108 11'4 122 118 12 FIGURE 1B 116 100 104 106 102 11 120 114 108 118 112 122 FIGURE 1A 116 1/4