Patent US3679299A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3679299A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for optical projection of deformation images
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1968-12-20
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1988-12-20
Abstract
Abstract The optical projection of information stored in a relief image such as a pattern of surface deformation of a light reflecting medium is accomplished by a projector which images on a screen the foci of either of the two sets of mirrors produced by the curved surfaces of the deformations. The hollows or concave mirrors provided by the bottoms of the deformations have their foci in front of the recording and when imaged on a screen by the projection optics provide a bright line image on a light background. The convex mirrors at the edges of the deformations have their foci (virtual) located to the rear of the recording and when imaged on the screen by the projection optics provide a dark outline of the deformations on a light background. In the embodiment illustrated, the projector is a reader and is provided with a back projection screen at the same end of the reader as the recording to be projected and the projection path includes suitable mirrors for reversing the direction of the projected light.
Inventors
- 👤 James F Burgess
- 👤 Robert F Kopczewski
- 👤 John M Holeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/80; H04N5/82; G; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of projecting information stored in a recording medium as a pattern of surface deformations including reflective surfaces with substantially similar deformations therein forming concave and convex mirrors, said concave mirrors having foci in planes in front of said medium and said convex mirrors having foci in planes behind said medium, said method comprising illuminating the reflective surface of said medium with substantially parallel light and imaging the planes of said foci of either said concave or said convex mirrors on an image area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of projecting information stored in a recording medium as a pattern of surface deformations including reflective surfaces with substantially similar deformations therein forming concave and convex mirrors, said concave mirrors having foci in planes in front of said medium and said convex mirrors having foci in planes behind said medium, said method comprising illuminating the reflective surface of said medium with substantially parallel light and imaging the planes of said foci of either said concave or said convex mirrors on an image area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
148 words
A projection system for projecting an image of information stored on a recording medium as a pattern of surface deformations, said recording medium having a reflective surface with substantially similar surface deformations which form concave and convex mirrors said concave mirrors having foci in planes in front of said medium and said convex mirrors having foci in planes behind said medium said system comprising means for supporting the recording medium, means directing substantially collimated light to the reflecting surface, a projection lens positioned along the path of light reflected from the surface of the recording medium at a distance therefrom such that the focal plane of the projection lens coincides with the planes of said foci of either said concave or convex mirrors provided by the deformations, a screen, said projection lens imaging the planes of said foci of either said concave or convex mirrors on said screen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
148 words
A projection system for projecting an image of information stored on a recording medium as a pattern of surface deformations, said recording medium having a reflective surface with substantially similar surface deformations which form concave and convex mirrors said concave mirrors having foci in planes in front of said medium and said convex mirrors having foci in planes behind said medium said system comprising means for supporting the recording medium, means directing substantially collimated light to the reflecting surface, a projection lens positioned along the path of light reflected from the surface of the recording medium at a distance therefrom such that the focal plane of the projection lens coincides with the planes of said foci of either said concave or convex mirrors provided by the deformations, a screen, said projection lens imaging the planes of said foci of either said concave or convex mirrors on said screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
187 words
A projection system for projecting an image of information stored on a recording medium in the form of surface deformations, said recording medium having a reflecting surface with substantially simiLar deformations forming concave mirrors with foci in planes in front of said medium and convex mirrors with foci in planes behind said medium, said system comprising a cabinet, means for supporting the recording medium at one end of said cabinet, means directing substantially collimated light to the reflecting surface of the medium, a projection lens in the path of light reflected from said medium transmitting reflected light toward the opposite end of said cabinet, said projection lens being positioned along the path of reflected light a distance from said recording medium, such that the focal plane of the projection lens coincides with the planes of said foci of one of said either said concave or said convex mirrors provided by the deformations of said medium, means for redirecting the light towards said one end of said cabinet and a back projection screen on said one end of said cabinet for displaying the information recorded on said medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
187 words
A projection system for projecting an image of information stored on a recording medium in the form of surface deformations, said recording medium having a reflecting surface with substantially simiLar deformations forming concave mirrors with foci in planes in front of said medium and convex mirrors with foci in planes behind said medium, said system comprising a cabinet, means for supporting the recording medium at one end of said cabinet, means directing substantially collimated light to the reflecting surface of the medium, a projection lens in the path of light reflected from said medium transmitting reflected light toward the opposite end of said cabinet, said projection lens being positioned along the path of reflected light a distance from said recording medium, such that the focal plane of the projection lens coincides with the planes of said foci of one of said either said concave or said convex mirrors provided by the deformations of said medium, means for redirecting the light towards said one end of said cabinet and a back projection screen on said one end of said cabinet for displaying the information recorded on said medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said means directing substantially collimated light onto said medium includes a light source off the projection axis of the system and a mirror tilted with respect to the projection axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 3 wherein both said recording medium and said redirecting means are adjustable with respect to said projection lens.
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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) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |