Trifocal mirror-reflector

Claim 2

A compound reflector having a cross section, which cross section comprises: a first reflector section formed along an arc of a first ellipse, said first ellipse having a proximal and a distal focal point; a second reflector section formed along an arc of a second ellipse, said second ellipse having a proximal and a distal focal point; said first and said second ellipses sharing a common focal point; the focal length of said first reflector section, as defined between said proximal and said distal focal point of said first reflector section, and the focal length of said second reflector section, as defined between the proximal and distal focal points of said second reflector section, being unequal.

Claim 3

A compound reflector as in claim 1 wherein said common focal point is the proximal focal points of said first and said second ellipses.

Claim 4

A compound reflector as in claim 1 where said common focal point is the distal focal points of said first and said second ellipses.

Claim 5

A compound reflector as in claim 1 including a light source located at said common focal point.

Claim 6

A compound reflector as in claim 1 wherein said reflector is elongated along an axis passing through said common focal point and running perpendicular to said non-common focal points of said ellipses such that the cross section of said compound reflector meets the limitations of claim 1 along substantially all planes running perpendicular to said axis.

Claim 7

A compound reflector as in claim 5 wherein the cross section of said reflector along substantially all planes of said axis further comprises a third reflector section, said third reflector section depending from one of said first or second reflector sections and being non-elliptical, whereby said compound reflector emits asymmetric light.

Claim 8

A compound reflector as in claim 6 wherein said third reflector section is parabolic.

Claim 9

A compound reflector section as in claim 6 wherein said third reflector section is hyperbolic.

Claim 10

A compound reflector as in claim 6 including an elongated light source located along said axis.

Claim 11

A compound reflector as in claim 9 including a second elongated light source parallel to and spaced from said first light source.

Claim 12

A compound reflector as in claim 10 wherein said third reflector section is parabolic and wherein said second light source is located on a focal point of said third reflector section.

Claim 13

A compound reflector as in claim 5 including a conduit adapted to contain a gas or liquid material running along said axis.

Claim 14

A compound reflector as in claim 5, wherein said reflector is adapted to serve as a solar heater; means provided, at least along said axis, for being heated by the radiation reflected from said reflector sections.

Claim 15

A lamp comprising: a lamp housing; a cover for said lamp housing; a compound reflector situated within said housing, said compound refector having a cross section which comprises a first reflector section formed along an arc of a first ellipse, said first ellipse having a proximal and a distal focal point, a second reflector section formed along an arc of a second ellipse, said second ellipse having a proximal and a distal focal point, said first and second ellipses sharing a common focal point, said compound reflector being symmetrical about an axis passing through said common focal point and both passing through and perpendicular to a line extending between the remaining two focal points of said first and second ellipses, said common focal point being the proximal focal points of said first and second ellipses; and a punctiform light source located at said common focal point.

Claim 16

A lamp comprising: a lamp housing; a cover for said lamp housing; a compound reflector situated within said housing, said compound refector having a cross section which comprises a first reflector section formed along an arc of a first ellipse, said first ellipse having a proximal and a distal focal point, a second reflector section formed along an arc of a second ellipse, said second ellipse having a proximal and a distal focal point, said first and second ellipses sharing a common focal point, said compound reflector being symmetrical about an axis passing through said common focal point and both passing through and perpendicular to a line extending between the remaining two focal points of said first and second ellipses, said common focal point being the proximal focal points of said first and second ellipses; and a punctiform light source located at said common focal point.

Claim 17

A lamp as in claim 14 wherein said cover is substantially opaque except for an at least translucent annular section surrounding the non-common focal points of said compound reflector.

Claim 18

A lamp as in claim 14 and further comprising a light shield located on said housing at the side thereof away from said reflector sections and positioned to block direct viewing of said light source from below said housing, but so shaped as to not block viewing of the remaining two said focal points from below and outside said housing.

Claim 19

A lamp comprising: a lamp housing; a cover for said lamp housing; a compound reflector situated within said housing, said compound reflector having a cross section which comprises a first reflector section formed along an arc of a first ellipse, said first ellipse having a proximal and a distal focal point, a second reflector section formed along an arc of a second ellipse, said second ellipse having a proximal and a distal focal point, said first and second ellipses sharing a common focal point, said compound reflector being symmetrical about an axis passing through said common focal point and both passing through and perpendicular to a line extending between the remaining two focal points of said first and second ellipses, said common focal point being the distal focal point of said first and second reflector sections; and a circular light source located along an arc defining the non-common focal points of said compound reflector.

Claim 20

A lamp comprising: a lamp housing; a cover for said lamp housing; a compound reflector situated within said housing, said compound reflector having a cross section which comprises a first reflector section formed along an arc of a first ellipse, said first ellipse having a proximal and a distal focal point, a second reflector section formed along an arc of a second ellipse, said second ellipse having a proximal and a distal focal point, said first and second ellipses sharing a common focal point, said compound reflector being symmetrical about an axis passing through said common focal point and both passing through and perpendicular to a line extending between the remaining two focal points of said first and second ellipses, said common focal point being the distal focal point of said first and second reflector sections; and a circular light source located along an arc defining the non-common focal points of said compound reflector.

Claim 21

A lamp as in claim 17 wherein said cover is substantially opaque except for an at least translucent section surrounding said common focal point.