# US 11,029,592 B2 · Rear projection simulator with freeform fold mirror > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,592 B2 - Document ID: US11029592B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/689,866 - Filed: 2019-11-20 - Published: 2020-05-21 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-20 - Assignees: Flightsafety International Inc. - Applicants: FlightSafety International - Inventors: Adam Kristopher Spiegelman; Justin King Knaplund - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029592B2 ## CPC - G02B 5/10: with curved faces - G03B 21/602: Lenticular screens (G03B21/625 takes precedence) - G02B 3/0031: {Replication or moulding, e.g. hot embossing, UV-casting, injection moulding} - G02B 3/0056: {arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses (G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085)} - G02B 3/08: with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens {(diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876)} - G02B 5/0278: {used in transmission} - G02B 27/18: for optical projection, e.g. combination of mirror and condenser and objective {(photographic, cine and overhead projectors G03B21/00; photographic projection printing G03B27/32; photolithographic projectors G03F7/20; projection television H04N5/74; colour projection television H04N9/31)} - G03B 21/145: {Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof} - G03B 21/28: Reflectors in projection beam {(in illumination beam G03B21/2066)} - G03B 21/606: for relief projection - G03B 21/625: Lenticular translucent screens - G09B 9/32: by projected image ({G09B9/307,} G09B9/36 take precedence) - G02B 27/0101: {characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence)} - G03B 21/13: Projectors for producing special effects at the edges of picture, e.g. blurring - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) ## Abstract The present invention provides a rear projection simulator system with a free-form fold mirror. The system includes a high definition projector and a curved screen. The free-form fold mirror is interposed between the projector and the screen. The free-form fold mirror includes one or more non-planar (e.g., curved) portions to eliminate or reduce loss of resolution of the projected image near the edges or boundaries of the image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A simulator projection system comprising: a projector; a display screen for receiving images from the projector; and a free-form fold mirror interposed between the projector and the display screen, the free-form mirror including a first curved portion, a second curved portion spaced from the first curved portion, and a first flat portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The simulator projection system of claim 1 further comprising a second flat portion in the free-form fold mirror, wherein the first curved portion is between the first flat portion and the second flat portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The simulator projection system of claim 1 wherein the first flat portion is between the first curved portion and the second curved portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The simulator projection system of claim 1 wherein the first curved portion has a concave cross-sectional shape with respect to the display screen. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The simulator projection system of claim 1 wherein the first curved portion has a concave cross-sectional shape with respect to the display screen and the second curved portion has a convex cross-sectional shape with respect to the display screen. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The simulator projection system of claim 1 wherein the projector is configured to project a high definition image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The simulator projection system of claim 1 wherein the display screen is curved. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The simulator projection system of claim 1 wherein the first curved portion is positioned to affect an edge of an image from the projector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The simulator projection system of claim 1 further comprising a flat fold mirror interposed between the projector and the display screen. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The simulator projection system of claim 9 wherein the free-form fold mirror and the flat fold mirror are slidably connected to a frame to allow for selection of one of the free-form fold mirror and the flat fold mirror. ### Claim 11 A display system comprising: a projector for projecting images; a screen for receiving images from the projector; a free-form fold mirror interposed between the projector and the screen, the free-form fold mirror having a centrally positioned first flat portion, a first curved portion adjacent a top edge of the first flat portion and a second curved portion adjacent a bottom edge of the first flat portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The display system of claim 11 wherein the first curved portion has a concave cross-sectional shape with respect to a rear surface of the screen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The display system of claim 12 wherein the second curved portion has a convex cross-sectional shape with respect to the rear surface of the screen. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The display system of claim 11 further comprising a second flat portion in the free-form fold mirror, wherein the first curved portion is between the first flat portion and the second flat portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The display system of claim 14 further comprising a third flat portion in the free-form fold mirror, wherein the second curved portion is between the first flat portion and the third flat portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The display system of claim 11 further comprising a support frame connected to the projector, the screen and the free-form fold mirror. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The display system of claim 11 wherein the projector projects high definition images. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The display system of claim 11 wherein the screen is curved. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The display system of claim 11 wherein the screen is a flight simulator display screen. ### Claim 20 A method for projecting an image on a simulator screen, comprising: projecting an image from a projector along a projection path extending from an image projection source of the projector to a mirror intersection with a free-form fold mirror; and reflecting the projected image from the free-form fold mirror along a path extending from the free-form fold mirror to a screen intersection, where the free-form fold mirror is interposed between the projector and the simulator screen and the free-form fold mirror includes a first curved portion, a second curved portion spaced from the first curved portion, and a first flat portion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method for projecting an image as recited in claim 20, wherein the free-form mirror further includes a second flat portion, wherein the first curved portion is between the first flat portion and the second flat portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method for projecting an image as recited in claim 20, wherein the first flat portion is between the first curved portion and the second curved portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method for projecting an image as recited in claim 22, wherein the first curved portion has a concave cross-sectional shape with respect to the simulator screen. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method for projecting an image as recited in claim 22, wherein the first curved portion has a concave cross-sectional shape with respect to the simulator screen and the second curved portion has a convex cross-sectional shape with respect to the simulator screen. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The method for projecting an image as recited in claim 20, wherein the projector is configured to project a high definition image. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The method for projecting and image as recited in claim 20, wherein the simulator screen is curved. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The method for projecting an image as recited in claim 20, wherein the first curved portion is positioned to affect an edge of the image from the projector. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The method for projecting an image as recited in claim 20, further comprising: projecting the image from the projector along a second projection path extending from the image projection source of the projector to a second mirror intersection with a flat fold mirror; and reflecting the projected image from the flat fold mirror along a second path extending from the flat fold mirror to a second screen intersection, where the flat fold mirror is interposed between the projector and the simulator screen. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method for projecting an image as recited in claim 28, wherein the free-form fold mirror and the flat fold mirror are slidably connected to a frame to allow for selection of one of the free-form fold mirror and the flat fold mirror for reflecting the image to the simulator screen. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method for projecting an image as recited in claim 29, further comprising: slidably selecting one of the free-form fold mirror and the flat fold mirror.