US5189452A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Real image projection system
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1991-12-09
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Granted: 1993-02-23
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Expires: 2011-12-09
Abstract
Abstract An image projection system uses a projection screen formed over at least a portion of a spherical surface, with either a retroreflective or a directional-specific reflecting material, along with a beamsplitter and at least one lens-projector combination for each real image input to the screen. More than one different input image may be simultaneously used, either with each of the different images provided to a different area of the screen for providing juxtaposed real images to a single observer, or with each of the different real images being provided to a different observer. A non-spherical screen may be used if a retroreflective screen material is used in a system for providing simultaneous real images to spatially-separated plural observers.
Inventors
- 👤 James M. Hodson
- 👤 Dennis M. Joseph
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:58
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G02B27/14; G02B27/144; G02B27/143; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/126; G02B5/128; G09; G09B; G09B9/00; G09B9/02; G09B9/08; G09B9/30; G09B9/32; G09B9/326
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An image projection system for providing a display of visual information to an observer, comprising: a projection screen formed of a selected material; a plurality of source means, each projecting different display information; a like plurality of spatially-separated beamsplitter means, each situated along an optical axis of the screen and between the screen and an observer position, for redirecting at least a portion of the illumination for an associated one of the source means substantially onto the optical axis and for passing at least a portion of the redirected illumination reflected from said screen to said observer position; and a plurality of lens mean, each interposed between an associated pair of said source means and said beamsplitter means, to project a like plurality of juxtaposed images into a common viewing volume occupiable by said observer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
An image projection system for providing a display of visual information to an observer, comprising: a projection screen formed of a selected material; a plurality of source means, each projecting different display information; a like plurality of spatially-separated beamsplitter means, each situated along an optical axis of the screen and between the screen and an observer position, for redirecting at least a portion of the illumination for an associated one of the source means substantially onto the optical axis and for passing at least a portion of the redirected illumination reflected from said screen to said observer position; and a plurality of lens mean, each interposed between an associated pair of said source means and said beamsplitter means, to project a like plurality of juxtaposed images into a common viewing volume occupiable by said observer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the lens means sets an effective exit-pupil size for the source equal to the desired viewing volume size for the observer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the screen material is a retro-reflective material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 3, wherein the screen has a substantially spherical surface portion facing the observer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the screen material is a directionally-reflecting material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 5, wherein the screen has a substantially spherical surface portion facing the observer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
180 words
An image projection system for providing a different display of visual information to each of a plurality of observers, comprising: a projection screen formed of a selected material; a plurality of source means, each projecting different display information; a like plurality of spatially-separated beamsplitter means, each situated along an optical axis of the screen and between the screen and a position of a different one of said observers, for redirecting at least a portion of the illumination for an associated one of the source means substantially onto the optical axis and for passing at least a portion of the redirected illumination reflected from said screen to the position of the associated observer; and a plurality of lens mean, each interposed between an associated pair of said source means and said beamsplitter means, to project from a common portion of the screen each of a like plurality of different images into each different viewing volume occupiable by a different and spatially-separated one of a plurality of observers, without significant interference with the visible information directed to any of the remaining observers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
180 words
An image projection system for providing a different display of visual information to each of a plurality of observers, comprising: a projection screen formed of a selected material; a plurality of source means, each projecting different display information; a like plurality of spatially-separated beamsplitter means, each situated along an optical axis of the screen and between the screen and a position of a different one of said observers, for redirecting at least a portion of the illumination for an associated one of the source means substantially onto the optical axis and for passing at least a portion of the redirected illumination reflected from said screen to the position of the associated observer; and a plurality of lens mean, each interposed between an associated pair of said source means and said beamsplitter means, to project from a common portion of the screen each of a like plurality of different images into each different viewing volume occupiable by a different and spatially-separated one of a plurality of observers, without significant interference with the visible information directed to any of the remaining observers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the common projection screen is formed of a directionally-reflecting material over at least a portion of a substantially spherical surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the screen material is reflective with a non-zero screen gain only over a preselected range of screen angles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 7, wherein each lens means sets an effective exit-pupil size for the associated source, equal to the desired viewing volume size for the associated observer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 7, wherein the screen material is a retro-reflective material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 10, wherein the screen has a substantially spherical surface portion facing the observer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the screen material is a directionally-reflecting material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 13, wherein the screen has a substantially spherical surface portion facing the observer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 7, wherein the common projection screen is formed of a directionally-reflecting material over at least a portion of a substantially spherical surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the screen material is reflective with a non-zero screen gain only over a preselected range of screen angles.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-02-23 | 1996-08-24 | 1997-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-02-23 | 2000-08-24 | 2001-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-02-23 | 2004-08-24 | 2005-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |