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US 5,629,806 AGranted
Retro-reflector based private viewing system
OwnerJames L. Fergasoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A display system and method for displaying an image including focusing optics to focus light from an image source, retro-reflector and beamsplitter, the image source and beamsplitter directing light toward the retro-reflector being directed via the beamsplitter for viewing and folding an optical path in the conjugate optics.
Claims34
A viewing system, comprising
- a focusing means, and
- conjugate optics, including a retro-reflector and a beamsplitter, and
- folding means for folding the optical path from said focusing means in said conjugate optics, and
- said focusing means being operable to direct an image from a source for focusing in said conjugate optics, and said conjugate optics including an output for direct viewing of the image.
1 more element
A viewing system, comprising
- projector means for projecting along an optical path image from an image source,
- beamsplitter means for reflecting at least some of the light incident thereon and for transmitting at least some light incident thereon,
- retro-reflector means for receiving at least some light from the beamsplitter means and for reflecting such light in a conjugate path back toward said beamsplitter means,
- a reflector for folding at least part of the optical path between said beamsplitter means and retro-reflector means, and
- said beamsplitter means and retro-reflector means being positioned relative to each other and cooperative to cause at least some of the light reflected via said retro-reflector mean to be provided by said beamsplitter means for direct viewing of an image at a viewing location.
2 more elements
A viewing system, comprising
- a retro-reflector,
- means for directing incident light having characteristics of an image toward said retro-reflector,
- means for permitting viewing of reflected light reflected by said retro-reflector,
- said means for permitting viewing comprising light splitter means for reflecting at least some of said incident light and for transmitting at least some of said reflected light, and
- means for folding at least part of the optical path between said retro-reflector and said light splitter means, and
- said retro-reflector, means for directing, means for permitting, and means for folding being cooperatively positioned and operative to present a directly viewable image at a viewing location remotely located therefrom.
3 more elements
A method of displaying an image with relative privacy, comprising
- projecting an image toward a retro-reflector to provide incident light on the retro-reflector to form an image relative to the retro-reflector,
- reflecting light by the retro-reflector along a conjugate optical path, relative to the incident light on the retro-reflector, toward a viewing location for viewing,
- said projecting including at least one of reflecting or transmitting light by a beamsplitter to provide incident light to the retro-reflector, and said reflecting light toward a viewing location including the other of transmitting or reflecting, by the beamsplitter, light which has been reflected by the retro-reflector, and
- further comprising folding the optical path traveled by light projected toward the beamsplitter.
1 more element
A method of displaying an image for relatively private viewing, comprising
- projecting light from a source toward a retro-reflector via a beamsplitter,
- folding the optical path between the image source and the beamsplitter to increase the optical path of light travelling from the source to the retro-reflector, and
- reflecting the light which is incident light on the retro-reflector as reflected light from the retro-reflector via the beamsplitter to a viewing location for direct viewing.
A foldable viewing system, comprising
- a retro-reflector,
- projector means for directing incident light having characteristics of an image toward said retro-reflector,
- beamsplitter means for permitting viewing of reflected light reflected by said retro-reflector,
- said beamsplitter means being positioned relative to said projector means and said retro-reflector for reflecting at least some of one of said incident light and reflected light and for transmitting the other of said incident and reflected light, and
- reflector means for folding at least part of the optical path between said retro-reflector and said beamsplitter means, and
- foldable support means for supporting said retro-reflector, beamsplitter means and reflector means relative to each other to provide an image for viewing at a viewing area in response to incident light being received from said projector means.
3 more elements
A viewing system, comprising
- a retro-reflector,
- means for directing incident light having characteristics of an image toward said retro-reflector,
- means for permitting viewing of reflected light reflected by said retro-reflector,
- said means for permitting viewing comprising light splitter means for reflecting at least some of said reflected light and for transmitting at least some of said incident light, and
- means for folding at least part of the optical path between said retro-reflector and said light splitter means, and
- said retro-reflector, means for directing, means for permitting, and means for folding being cooperatively positioned and operative to present a directly viewable image at a viewing location remotely located therefrom.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.