Patent US3673932A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3673932A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image combining optical system
Assignee: ANACOMP Inc 11550 NORTH MERIDAN STREET CARMEL INDIANA 46032 A CORP OF INDIANA
•
Filing: 1970-08-03
•
Granted: 1972-07-04
•
Expires: 1990-08-03
Abstract
Abstract An optical system for combining two or more images from directionally and diffusely illuminated objects is disclosed. A non-directional, diffusely illuminated light-and-shadow object, such as a cathode ray tube face is positioned, approximately parallel, to an image plane, which typically may be a display screen or a photosensitive surface. A lens system is interposed along the axis between object and image plane to focus an image of the original diffusely illuminated object onto the image plane. A very small reflector is placed at an angle to the axis between the diffusely illuminated object and the lens system. A directional source is positioned so that the light projected through a conventional transparency is reflected from the small mirror along the axis and through the lens system forming an image of the transparency on the image plane in superimposed registration with the image from the diffusely illuminated object. The mirror is sufficiently small so as to block only a very small portion of the light from the diffusely illuminated object. If desired, a plurality of small reflectors may be used with a plurality of directional sources.
Inventors
- 👤 Edmund H Rottmiller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:33
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/003; G03B15/08; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/522; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/12; G06K15/1276
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An image combining optical system comprising: a. a first diffusely illuminated object having a first lightand-shadow pattern thereon; b. a lens system positioned to pass light from said first object along an optical axis and to form an image of said pattern on an image plane; c. at least one substantially totally reflecting surface substantially on said axis at an angle thereto, said surface blocking only a portion of the light passing from said first object to said image plane; and d. at least one additional object, an optical projection system arranged to illuminate said additional object and to direct light against said reflecting surface, and through said lens system to said image plane whereby an image of said second object is superimposed on said image plane in registration with the image of said first object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An image combining optical system comprising: a. a first diffusely illuminated object having a first lightand-shadow pattern thereon; b. a lens system positioned to pass light from said first object along an optical axis and to form an image of said pattern on an image plane; c. at least one substantially totally reflecting surface substantially on said axis at an angle thereto, said surface blocking only a portion of the light passing from said first object to said image plane; and d. at least one additional object, an optical projection system arranged to illuminate said additional object and to direct light against said reflecting surface, and through said lens system to said image plane whereby an image of said second object is superimposed on said image plane in registration with the image of said first object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The optical system according to claim 1 wherein said first object comprises a cathode ray tube face, said at least one additional object and said optical projection system comprise a transparency projection system and said image plane includes a photosensitive surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical system according to claim 2 wherein said reflecting surface has a size just sufficient to reflect the significant portion of the zero order diffraction pattern of the transparency used in said transparency projection system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
182 words
An image combining optical system comprising: a. a first diffusely illuminated object having a first light-and-shadow pattern thereon; b. a lens system positioned to pass light from said first object along an optical axis and to form an image of said pattern on an image plane; c. first and second reflecting surfaces each positioned with one edge substantially on said axis, each at a different angle to said axis, said surfaces blocking only a portion of the light passing from said first object to said image plane; and d. a first optical projection system arranged to illuminate a second object and a second optical projection system arranged to illuminate a third object, said first and second projection systems positioned to direct light against said first and second reflecting surfaces, respectively; said second and third objects and said reflecting surfaces arranged so that said projected light passes from said reflecting surfaces through said lens system to said image plane, whereby images of said second and third objects are focused on said image plane in superimposed register with the image of said first object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
182 words
An image combining optical system comprising: a. a first diffusely illuminated object having a first light-and-shadow pattern thereon; b. a lens system positioned to pass light from said first object along an optical axis and to form an image of said pattern on an image plane; c. first and second reflecting surfaces each positioned with one edge substantially on said axis, each at a different angle to said axis, said surfaces blocking only a portion of the light passing from said first object to said image plane; and d. a first optical projection system arranged to illuminate a second object and a second optical projection system arranged to illuminate a third object, said first and second projection systems positioned to direct light against said first and second reflecting surfaces, respectively; said second and third objects and said reflecting surfaces arranged so that said projected light passes from said reflecting surfaces through said lens system to said image plane, whereby images of said second and third objects are focused on said image plane in superimposed register with the image of said first object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The optical system according to claim 4 wherein said first object comprises a cathode ray tube screen; said second and third objects and said projection systems comprises transparency projection systems and said image plane includes a photosensitive surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The optical system according to claim 5 wherein each of said first and second reflecting surfaces each has an area just sufficient to reflect the significant portion of the zero order diffraction pattern of the transparencies used in said transparency projection systems.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
163 words
An image combining optical system comprising: a. a cathode ray tube system for producing a light-and-shadow pattern on the face thereof forming a diffusely illuminated object; b. a lens system positioned to pass light from said diffusely illuminated object along an optical axis and to form an image of said pattern on an image plane; c. at least one substantially totally reflecting surface located substantially on said axis at an angle thereto, said surface blocking only a portion of the light passing from said diffusely illuminated object to said image plane; and d. at least one transparency projection system for illuminating a partially-transparent light-and-shadow pattern, said illumination projected against said reflecting surface, said projection system and said reflecting surface arranged so that said projected light passes from said reflecting surface through said lens system to said image plane, whereby an image of said partially transparent pattern is formed on said image plane in superimposed register with the image of said diffusely illuminated pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
163 words
An image combining optical system comprising: a. a cathode ray tube system for producing a light-and-shadow pattern on the face thereof forming a diffusely illuminated object; b. a lens system positioned to pass light from said diffusely illuminated object along an optical axis and to form an image of said pattern on an image plane; c. at least one substantially totally reflecting surface located substantially on said axis at an angle thereto, said surface blocking only a portion of the light passing from said diffusely illuminated object to said image plane; and d. at least one transparency projection system for illuminating a partially-transparent light-and-shadow pattern, said illumination projected against said reflecting surface, said projection system and said reflecting surface arranged so that said projected light passes from said reflecting surface through said lens system to said image plane, whereby an image of said partially transparent pattern is formed on said image plane in superimposed register with the image of said diffusely illuminated pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical system according to claim 7 wherein said reflecting surface has a size just sufficient to reFlect the significant portion of the zero order diffraction pattern of the transparency used in said transparency projection station.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |