Uni-directional viewing system

Claim 2

An optical system for viewing a subject by a viewer, the viewer being optically concealed from the subject, said system comprising: a. an eye port through which the viewer looks; b. a viewing port for observing the subject; c. source means for generating light, said source means including masking means having randomly distributed shading; d. light absorbing means; e. means for partially reflecting and partially transmitting said light generated by said source means, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means interposed between said source means and said light absorbing means; f. said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means disposed in a plane that is oblique with respect to a path along which said light is directed from said source means, said plane of said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means being such that light is directed towards said viewing port, the viewer looking into said eye port views the subject, the subject looking into said viewing port observes said light, said light absorbing means operative to prevent said light from being reflected towards the viewer, said masking means operative to camouflage the viewer and his surrounding area.

Claim 3

The optical system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source means includes: a. a light source for generating a beam of light, said beam of light directed towards said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means; condenser means interposed between said light source and said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, said condenser means operative to direct a field of light towards said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means.

Claim 4

The optical system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source means includes: a. a light source for generating a beam of light, said beam of light directed towards said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means; b. a translucent sheet interposed between said light source and said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, said translucent sheet operative to diffuse said beam of light directed towards said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means.

Claim 5

The optical system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means is mirror means defining a beam splitter.

Claim 6

The optical system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light absorbing means non-reflector is a stratum of black felt.

Claim 7

The optical system as claimed in claim 1 including: a. a stratum of polarized material mounted adjacent said observing port; and b. a polarized light source in an area in which the viewer is located, said polarized light source generating light that is polarized at right angles with respect to the polarization of said stratum of polarized material.

Claim 8

An optical system for viewing a subject by a viewer, the viewer being optically concealed from the subject, said system comprising: a. source means for generating light; b. light absorbing means; and means for partially reflecting and partially transmitting said light generated by said source means, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means interposed between said source means and said light absorbing means, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means being transparent mirror means; d. said source means including a light source for generating a beam of light, said beam of light directed towards said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, a translucent sheet interposed between said light source and said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, said translucent sheet operative to diffuse said beam of light directed towards said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, and masking means interposed between said translucent sheet and said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, said masking means having randomly distributed shading; e. said transmitted light directed towards said light absorbing means, said reflected light directed towards the subject, the viewer observing the subject through said partially reflecting and partially transmittng means, the subject viewing only said light reflected by said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, said light absorbing means operative to prevent said transmitted light from being reflected towards the viewer.

Claim 9

An optical system for viewing a subject by a viewer, the viewer being optically concealed from the subject, said system comprising: a. source means for generating light; b. light absorbing means; and means for partially reflecting and partially transmitting said light generated by said source means, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means interposed between said source means and said light absorbing means, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means being transparent mirror means; d. said source means including a light source for generating a beam of light, said beam of light directed towards said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, a translucent sheet interposed between said light source and said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, said translucent sheet operative to diffuse said beam of light directed towards said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, and masking means interposed between said translucent sheet and said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, said masking means having randomly distributed shading; e. said transmitted light directed towards said light absorbing means, said reflected light directed towards the subject, the viewer observing the subject through said partially reflecting and partially transmittng means, the subject viewing only said light reflected by said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, said light absorbing means operative to prevent said transmitted light from being reflected towards the viewer.

Claim 10

An optical system for viewing a subject by a viewer, the viewer being optically concealed from the subject, said system comprising: a. a housing; b. source means mounted to said housing at one end thereof, said light source generating a beam of light that is directed along a path towards an opposite end of said housing; c. a viewing port for the subject mounted to said housing proximate said opposite end thereof; d. an observing port for the viewer mounted to said housing proximate said one end thereof, said observing port and said viewing port disposed in planes that are in space parallel relationship wtih a longitudinal axis of said housing; and observing port and said viewing port mounted on opposite sides of said housing; e. light absorbing means mounted to said housing on said side opposite said observing port at said one end, said light absorbing means disposed in a plane that is in spaced parallel relationship with the plane of said viewing port; f. means for partially reflecting and partially transmitting said light generated by said source, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means mounted to said housing proximate to said one end and disposed in a plane that is oblique to said light path, said partially reflected light directed towards said light absorbing means, said partially transmitted light directed along said light path; and g. means for reflecting said partially transmitted light towards said viewing port, said reflecting means mounted to said housing proximate to said opposite end and disposed in a plane that is oblique to said light path; h. the viewer looking through said observing port views the subject at said viewing port through said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means and said reflecting means, the subject looking through said viewing port observes only said light transmimtted by said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, said light absorbing means operative to prevent said partially reflected light from being transmitted towards said observing port, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means being transparent mirror means; i. said source means including a light source for generating a beam of light, said beam of light directed towards said transparent mirror means, a translucent sheet interposed between said light source and said transparent mirror means, said translucent sheet operative to diffuse said beam of light, a field of light directed towards said transparent mirror means, and masking means interposed between said translucent sheet and said transparent mirror means, said masking means having randomly distributed shading.

Claim 11

An optical system for viewing a subject by a viewer, the viewer being optically concealed from the subject, said system comprising: a. a housing; b. source means mounted to said housing at one end thereof, said light source generating a beam of light that is directed along a path towards an opposite end of said housing; c. a viewing port for the subject mounted to said housing proximate said opposite end thereof; d. an observing port for the viewer mounted to said housing proximate said one end thereof, said observing port and said viewing port disposed in planes that are in space parallel relationship wtih a longitudinal axis of said housing; and observing port and said viewing port mounted on opposite sides of said housing; e. light absorbing means mounted to said housing on said side opposite said observing port at said one end, said light absorbing means disposed in a plane that is in spaced parallel relationship with the plane of said viewing port; f. means for partially reflecting and partially transmitting said light generated by said source, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means mounted to said housing proximate to said one end and disposed in a plane that is oblique to said light path, said partially reflected light directed towards said light absorbing means, said partially transmitted light directed along said light path; and g. means for reflecting said partially transmitted light towards said viewing port, said reflecting means mounted to said housing proximate to said opposite end and disposed in a plane that is oblique to said light path; h. the viewer looking through said observing port views the subject at said viewing port through said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means and said reflecting means, the subject looking through said viewing port observes only said light transmimtted by said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, said light absorbing means operative to prevent said partially reflected light from being transmitted towards said observing port, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means being transparent mirror means; i. said source means including a light source for generating a beam of light, said beam of light directed towards said transparent mirror means, a translucent sheet interposed between said light source and said transparent mirror means, said translucent sheet operative to diffuse said beam of light, a field of light directed towards said transparent mirror means, and masking means interposed between said translucent sheet and said transparent mirror means, said masking means having randomly distributed shading.

Claim 12

An optical system for viewing a subject by a viewer, the viewer being optically concealed from the subject, said system comprising: a. an eye port through which the viewer looks; b. a viewing port for observing the subject; c. source means for generating light, said source means including masking means through which said light is directed, said masking means having randomly distributed shading, the average spatial frequency of said randomly distributed shading lies within two octaves of the average spatial frequency of a scene defined by the viewer and his surrounding area when viewed through said viewing port; d. light absorbing means; e. means for partially reflecting and partially transmitting said light generated by said source means, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means interposed between said source means and said light absorbing means; f. said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means disposed in a plane that is oblique with respect to a path along which said light is directed from said source means, said plane of said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means being such that light is directed towards said viewing port, the viewer looking into said eye port views the subject, the subject looking into said viewing port observes said light, said light absorbing means operative to prevent said light from being reflected towards the viewer.

Claim 13

An optical system for viewing a subject by a viewer, the viewer being optically concealed from the subject, said system comprising: a. an eye port through which the viewer looks; b. a viewing port for observing the subject; c. source means for generating light, said source means including masking means through which said light is directed, said masking means having randomly distributed shading, the average spatial frequency of said randomly distributed shading lies within two octaves of the average spatial frequency of a scene defined by the viewer and his surrounding area when viewed through said viewing port; d. light absorbing means; e. means for partially reflecting and partially transmitting said light generated by said source means, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means interposed between said source means and said light absorbing means; f. said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means disposed in a plane that is oblique with respect to a path along which said light is directed from said source means, said plane of said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means being such that light is directed towards said viewing port, the viewer looking into said eye port views the subject, the subject looking into said viewing port observes said light, said light absorbing means operative to prevent said light from being reflected towards the viewer.

Claim 14

An optical system for viewing a subject by a viewer, the viewer optically concealed from the subject, said system comprising; a. a housing mountable in a door, said housing including a viewing port for the subject and an observing port for the viewer, said viewing port and said observing ports located at opposite sides of said housing; b. source means mounted to said housing at one end thereof, said source means generating light, said source means including masking means having randomly distributed shading; c. light absorbing means mounted to said housing at an opposite end thereof; and d. means for partially reflecting and partially transmitting said light generated by said source means, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means mounted to said housing between said source means and said light absorbing means; e. said transmitted light directed towards said light absorbing means, said reflected light directed towards said viewing port, the viewer looking through said observing port views the subject at said viewing port through said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, the subject looking through said viewing port observes only said light reflected by said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, said light absorbing means operative to prevent said transmitted light from being reflected towards said observing port.

Claim 15

An optical system for viewing a subject by a viewer, the viewer optically concealed from the subject, said system comprising; a. a housing mountable in a door, said housing including a viewing port for the subject and an observing port for the viewer, said viewing port and said observing ports located at opposite sides of said housing; b. source means mounted to said housing at one end thereof, said source means generating light, said source means including masking means having randomly distributed shading; c. light absorbing means mounted to said housing at an opposite end thereof; and d. means for partially reflecting and partially transmitting said light generated by said source means, said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means mounted to said housing between said source means and said light absorbing means; e. said transmitted light directed towards said light absorbing means, said reflected light directed towards said viewing port, the viewer looking through said observing port views the subject at said viewing port through said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, the subject looking through said viewing port observes only said light reflected by said partially reflecting and partially transmitting means, said light absorbing means operative to prevent said transmitted light from being reflected towards said observing port.

Claim 16

The optical system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the average spatial frequency of said randomly distributed shading lies within two octaves of the average spatial frequency of a scene defined by the viewer and his surrounding area when viewed through said observing port.