Patent US4006971A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4006971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reflective imaging apparatus
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
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Filing: 1975-01-28
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Granted: 1977-02-08
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Expires: 1995-01-28
Abstract
Abstract The subject invention provides a reflex camera having a novel means of image reflection for use in viewing an image, transmitted through an entrance pupil to said image reflection means, at an exit pupil remote from both said means and said entrance pupil. Basically, the camera of the subject invention includes an essentially flat plate having a reflective surface. The reflective surface is so formed as to provide a plurality of ellipsoidal segments extending thereover. The ellipsoidal segments are provided with common foci, whereby any light passing through said entrance pupil and impinging on any of said ellipsoidal segments will be reflected from such segment to said exit pupil. Such reflection will be independent of the direction of the light from said entrance pupil and it should be noted that the subject invention will be free of aberrations such as astigmatism and coma.
Inventors
- 👤 William T. Plummer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:42
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/08; G02B5/10; G02B3/00; G02B3/02; G02B3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
Generally planar reflecting means comprising: a first surface; a plurality of echelon rulings situated on said first surface each having a variable cross-sectional pitch about the periphery thereof; a second surface; and means, situated on at least one of said first and second surfaces, for randomly dispersing light incident thereon within a predetermined solid angle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
Generally planar reflecting means comprising: a first surface; a plurality of echelon rulings situated on said first surface each having a variable cross-sectional pitch about the periphery thereof; a second surface; and means, situated on at least one of said first and second surfaces, for randomly dispersing light incident thereon within a predetermined solid angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said echelon rulings are coaxial and each includes a surface characterized by a polynomial equation with the polynomial equation characterizing the surface of any of said echelon rulings different from that characterizing another of said echelon rulings by a predetermined function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A lens, comprising: a first surface; a plurality of echelon arranged refracting surfaces each having a cross-sectional slope relative to said first surface that varies over a path along that refracting surface and equidistant from said first surface, said refracting surfaces being disposed along said first surface coaxial with one another and sufficiently small in size and great in number so as to approximate a generally planar surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A lens, comprising: a first surface; a plurality of echelon arranged refracting surfaces each having a cross-sectional slope relative to said first surface that varies over a path along that refracting surface and equidistant from said first surface, said refracting surfaces being disposed along said first surface coaxial with one another and sufficiently small in size and great in number so as to approximate a generally planar surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention according to claim 3, wherein each of said refracting surfaces is characterized by a polynomial equation differing from that characterizing any of the other refracting surfaces by a predetermined function.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 4, wherein the cross-sectional slope of each of said refracting surfaces approximates that of an ellipsoidal segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 5, wherein each of said refracting surfaces is generally circular in the plane of said first surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
An optical element, comprising: a first surface; a plurality of continuous surfaces in echelon arrangement disposed about said first surface, each of said continuous surfaces having a variable slope about its periphery; and means disposed on each of said continuous surfaces for randomly perturbing an incident wavefront, said means characterized by smoothly contoured granular shapes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
An optical element, comprising: a first surface; a plurality of continuous surfaces in echelon arrangement disposed about said first surface, each of said continuous surfaces having a variable slope about its periphery; and means disposed on each of said continuous surfaces for randomly perturbing an incident wavefront, said means characterized by smoothly contoured granular shapes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
Generally planar reflecting means, comprising: a first face; a second face disposed in back-to-back relation with said first face; and a plurality of echelon arranged surfaces disposed along said first face, each having a cross-sectional pitch relative to said first face that varies over a path along the surface and equidistant from said first face.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
Generally planar reflecting means, comprising: a first face; a second face disposed in back-to-back relation with said first face; and a plurality of echelon arranged surfaces disposed along said first face, each having a cross-sectional pitch relative to said first face that varies over a path along the surface and equidistant from said first face.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The reflecting means as described in claim 8, wherein each of said echelon arranged surfaces is characterized by a polynomial equation which differs from that characterizing another of said echelon arranged surfaces by a predetermined function.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The reflecting means as defined in claim 9, wherein the cross-sectional pitch of each of said echelon arranged surfaces approximates that of an ellipsoidal segment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The reflecting means according to claim 10, wherein said echelon arranged surfaces are coaxial.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The reflecting means as defined in claim 11, wherein said echelon arranged surfaces are sufficiently small in size and great in number so as to approximate an essentially planar surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The reflecting means as described in claim 12, wherein said echelon arranged surfaces are each reflective to light.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
An optical element, comprising: a first face; and a plurality of continuous surfaces in echelon arrangement situated on said first face, each of said continuous surfaces having a cross-sectional shape relative to said first face that varies over a path along the surface and equidistant from said first face.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
An optical element, comprising: a first face; and a plurality of continuous surfaces in echelon arrangement situated on said first face, each of said continuous surfaces having a cross-sectional shape relative to said first face that varies over a path along the surface and equidistant from said first face.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical element as described in claim 14, wherein said continuous surfaces are sufficiently small in size and great in number so as to approximate a generally planar surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical element as defined in claim 15, wherein each of said continuous surfaces is characterized by a different polynomial equation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical element according to claim 16, wherein each of said continuous surfaces approximates an ellipsoidal segment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical element as described in claim 17, wherein said continuous surfaces are coaxial.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical element according to claim 18, wherein said continuous surfaces are reflective to light.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3004470A
Cited
US3523721A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-02-08 | 1980-08-09 | 1981-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-08 | 1984-08-09 | 1985-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-08 | 1988-08-09 | 1989-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |