US3744882A — Composite lens for an optical communication syste…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 209 words

For use in an optical communication system providing directly viewed images of an object, a composite lens comprising: a first lens section; and a second lens section concentric with said first section and completely surrounding said first section; said second lens section including a Fresnel type lens having a discontinuously sloping surface forming a plurality of circular grooves of increasing diameter for projecting an illuminated image for viewing in space without the use of a screen, said Fresnel type lens having a predetermined focal length and thickness; said first lens section including a lens of focal length and thickness comparable to that of said Fresnel type lens but of continuously sloping smooth surface to reduce image distortion in the vicinity of the optical axis of said Fresnel type lens, the remaining surfaces of said first and second lens sections being flat and coplanar; the diameter of said first lens section being substantially greater than twice the distance between adjacent grooves of said second lens section; said composite lens being positioned between the object to be viewed and an observer to create an image in space which image is located between the viewer and the lens and viewable without the need for display of the image upon a viewing surface.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 209 words

For use in an optical communication system providing directly viewed images of an object, a composite lens comprising: a first lens section; and a second lens section concentric with said first section and completely surrounding said first section; said second lens section including a Fresnel type lens having a discontinuously sloping surface forming a plurality of circular grooves of increasing diameter for projecting an illuminated image for viewing in space without the use of a screen, said Fresnel type lens having a predetermined focal length and thickness; said first lens section including a lens of focal length and thickness comparable to that of said Fresnel type lens but of continuously sloping smooth surface to reduce image distortion in the vicinity of the optical axis of said Fresnel type lens, the remaining surfaces of said first and second lens sections being flat and coplanar; the diameter of said first lens section being substantially greater than twice the distance between adjacent grooves of said second lens section; said composite lens being positioned between the object to be viewed and an observer to create an image in space which image is located between the viewer and the lens and viewable without the need for display of the image upon a viewing surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

The composite lens of claim 1 in which said Fresnel type lens comprises a built-up annular arrangement of stepped rings or concentric circular areas which are oriented toward the observer for viewing an image in space.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The composite lens of claim 1 in which said discontinuously sloping Fresnel type lens is of substantially greater surface area than said continuously sloping lens with which it is coaxial and which it surrounds.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

The composite lens of claim 3 in which said discontinuously sloping Fresnel type lens and said continuously sloping lens are formed from a single body of transparent material.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

The composite lens of claim 3, in which said discontinuously sloping Fresnel type lens includes a cut-out portion in the vicinity of its optical axis and in which said continuously sloping lens is matingly secured as an insert to said Fresnel type lens at said cut-out portion.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The composite lens of claim 3 in which said continuously sloping lens is of plano-convex construction.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The composite lens of claim 3 in which said continuously sloping lens is of plano-concave construction.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The composite lens of claim 3 in which said continuously sloping lens is of spherical construction.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

The composite lens of claim 3 in which said continuously sloping lens is of aspheric construction.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 89 words

An optical system for creating visually observable images suspended in space comprising a Fresnel lens of the type described in claim 1; an object to be projected positioned a spaced distance from said lens whereby the image of the object created by said lens is viewable at a location on the opposite sidE of said lens; the distance of said object from said lens being such as to create an image positioned a second spaced distance from said lens and at a position between said lens and an observer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system of claim 10 wherein said object is a photographic transparency; a light source positioned to emit light rays which pass through said transparency and impinge upon said lens whereby said lens refracts the light rays passing through said lens to create an image of the object.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 11 further comprising a translucent panel positioned between said light source and said transparency for diffusing the light rays passing therethrough toward said transparency.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 89 words

An optical system for creating visually observable images suspended in space comprising a Fresnel lens of the type described in claim 1; an object to be projected positioned a spaced distance from said lens whereby the image of the object created by said lens is viewable at a location on the opposite side of said lens; the distance of said object from said lens being such as to create an image positioned a second spaced distance from said lens and at a position between said lens and said object.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 171 words

An optical system for creating a plurality of images selectively viewable at predetermined locations relative to said system comprising a plurality of lenses arranged in coplanar side by side fashion, each of said lenses being of the type set forth in claim 1; a plurality of photographic transparencies arranged in coplanar side-by-side fashion and being arranged in spaced parallel fashion relative to said plurality of lenses whereby each lens is associated with a predetermined one of said transparencies; a light source arranged to direct light rays toward said transparencies; an aperture lens of the type described in claim 1 being positioned a spaced distance from said plurality of lenses and cooperating with said plurality of lenses to create an image of each transparency, which images are suspended in space and substantially fill the aperture, each of said images being viewable by an observer from the side of said aperture lens opposite said transparencies whereby said images are viewable at different angular positions relative to the optical axis of said aperture lens.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 117 words

for rotatably mounting said shell about its longitudinal axis; a light source positioned within said shell for emitting light rays passing through said shell; means for rotating said shell about its longitudinal axis; a lens of the type set forth in claim 1 being positioned exterior of said shell and adapted to create an image of said information which image is suspended in space and positioned a spaced distance from the plane of said lens, said image transversing the aperture of said lens as said shell is rotated; whereby the distance of said image from the plane of said lens changes as the distance of the information on said shell from the plane of said lens changes.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

An optical system for creating a rotatably moving image comprising a cylindrical shell having information to be displayed arranged around its periphery;

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

An optical system for creating a rotatably moving image comprising a cylindrical shell having information to be displayed arranged around its periphery;

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 167 words

An optical system for creating images suspended in space and selectively viewable at differing positions comprising: a first housing portion comprising a first hollow enclosure; a second housing portion comprising a second hollow enclosure telescopingly received by one end of said first enclosure; a lens of the type set forth in claim 1 being positioned in the opposite end of said first enclosure; a pair of light sources positioned near the said opposite end of said first enclosure; a transparency positioned between an associated one of said light sources and the first end of said first enclosure; means surrounding each light source and its associated transparency for guiding light rays toward opposite diagonal corners of said second enclosure; first and second reflective memberS being positioned adjacent the aforesaid diagonal corners of said second enclosure for reflecting light rays directed from their associated transparencies toward said lens whereby said lens creates images in space viewable without need for a viewing surface and located at different regions in space.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-07-09	1977-01-08	1977-07-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-07-09	1981-01-08	1981-07-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-07-09	1985-01-08	1985-07-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Composite lens for an optical communication system providing directly viewed real images

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