Patent US4241980A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4241980A
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Beam emission control means
Assignee: BRITTANY CAPITAL Corp
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Filing: 1978-05-24
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Granted: 1980-12-30
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Expires: 1998-05-24
Abstract
Abstract An improved beam emission control means is disclosed for use in a projection system. The beam emission control means is constructed of highly reflective or transmissive materials in the form of an abutting matrix of a plurality of a single specially shaped element, the element having both convex and concave image-forming portions. The individual element typically has dimensions smaller than the receptor can resolve at the determined viewing distance and the convex and concave portions thereof are shaped to provide overlapping images at that viewing distance, each element therefore being perceived as a point source of that portion of the projected image displayed thereon. Because of the highly efficient surface and the arrangement of the matrix, the device is highly directional and thus provides substantially improved image quality, gain and intensity. The device is particularly suitable for use in the projection of visual images, and may be utilized in conjunction with a directional control apparatus to tailor the viewing area to particular environmental conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Agis I. Mihalakis, deceased
- 👤 legal representative by Barbara L. Friend
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:20
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/54; G03B21/56; G03B21/60; G03B21/602
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of similar units disposed in substantially contiguous relation, each unit including an emitting surface which is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of similar units disposed in substantially contiguous relation, each unit including an emitting surface which is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of similar units disposed in substantially contiguous relation, each unit including an emitting surface which is concave in a plane defined by first and second axes and convex in planes perpendicular thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of similar units disposed in substantially contiguous relation, each unit including an emitting surface which is concave in a plane defined by first and second axes and convex in planes perpendicular thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of similar units having emitting surfaces disposed in substantially contiguous relation, each unit including a primary portion whose surface is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto, and secondary portions blending with said primary portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of similar units having emitting surfaces disposed in substantially contiguous relation, each unit including a primary portion whose surface is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto, and secondary portions blending with said primary portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of similar units having emitting surfaces disposed in substantially contiguous relation, each unit having a primary portion whose surface is concave in a plane defined by first and second axes and convex in planes perpendicular thereto, and secondary portions blending with said primary portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of similar units having emitting surfaces disposed in substantially contiguous relation, each unit having a primary portion whose surface is concave in a plane defined by first and second axes and convex in planes perpendicular thereto, and secondary portions blending with said primary portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of similar units having emitting surfaces disposed in substantially contiguous relation in rows and columns, each unit including a central portion whose surface is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto, and a pair of marginal portions blending with opposite sides of said central portion, the surfaces of said marginal portions being concave in all three mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of similar units having emitting surfaces disposed in substantially contiguous relation in rows and columns, each unit including a central portion whose surface is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto, and a pair of marginal portions blending with opposite sides of said central portion, the surfaces of said marginal portions being concave in all three mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon comprising a plurality of similar units having emitting surfaces disposed in substantially contiguous relation in rows and columns, each unit having a central portion whose surface is concave in a plane defined by first and second axes and convex in planes perpendicular thereto, and a pair of marginal portions blending with opposite sides of said central portions, the surfaces of said marginal portions being convex in all three mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon comprising a plurality of similar units having emitting surfaces disposed in substantially contiguous relation in rows and columns, each unit having a central portion whose surface is concave in a plane defined by first and second axes and convex in planes perpendicular thereto, and a pair of marginal portions blending with opposite sides of said central portions, the surfaces of said marginal portions being convex in all three mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
A screen apparatus having an improved gain characteristic comprising a plurality of similar beam emission control units disposed substantially contiguously in rows and columns, each unit including a central portion whose emitting surface is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto, and a pair of marginal portions blending with opposite sides of said central portion, the emitting surfaces of said marginal portions being concave in all three mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
A screen apparatus having an improved gain characteristic comprising a plurality of similar beam emission control units disposed substantially contiguously in rows and columns, each unit including a central portion whose emitting surface is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto, and a pair of marginal portions blending with opposite sides of said central portion, the emitting surfaces of said marginal portions being concave in all three mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
A screen apparatus having an improved gain characteristic comprising a plurality of similar beam emission control units disposed substantially contiguously in rows and columns, each unit including a central portion whose emitting surface is concave in a plane defined by first and second axes and convex in planes perpendicular thereto, and a pair of marginal portions blending with opposite sides of said central portion, the emitting surfaces of said marginal portions being convex in all three mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
A screen apparatus having an improved gain characteristic comprising a plurality of similar beam emission control units disposed substantially contiguously in rows and columns, each unit including a central portion whose emitting surface is concave in a plane defined by first and second axes and convex in planes perpendicular thereto, and a pair of marginal portions blending with opposite sides of said central portion, the emitting surfaces of said marginal portions being convex in all three mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of units disposed in substantially contiguous relation, some of said units including an emitting surface which is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto, and others of said units including an emitting surface which is concave in a plane defined by first and second axes and convex in planes perpendicular thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus having an improved gain characteristic for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of units disposed in substantially contiguous relation, some of said units including an emitting surface which is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto, and others of said units including an emitting surface which is concave in a plane defined by first and second axes and convex in planes perpendicular thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
134 words
A screen apparatus having an improved gain characteristic comprising a plurality of beam emission control units disposed substantially contiguously in rows and columns, some of said units including a central portion whose surface is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto, and a pair of marginal portions blending with opposite sides of said central portion, the surfaces of said marginal portions being concave in all three mutually perpendicular planes, and others of said units including a central portion whose surface is concave in a plane defined by first and second axes and convex in planes perpendicular thereto, and a pair of marginal portions blending with opposite sides of said central portion, the surfaces of said marginal portions being convex in all three mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
134 words
A screen apparatus having an improved gain characteristic comprising a plurality of beam emission control units disposed substantially contiguously in rows and columns, some of said units including a central portion whose surface is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto, and a pair of marginal portions blending with opposite sides of said central portion, the surfaces of said marginal portions being concave in all three mutually perpendicular planes, and others of said units including a central portion whose surface is concave in a plane defined by first and second axes and convex in planes perpendicular thereto, and a pair of marginal portions blending with opposite sides of said central portion, the surfaces of said marginal portions being convex in all three mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of substantially contiguous units having emitting surfaces which are capable of forming both real and virtual images of a single energy source.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus for effecting control of beams emitted therefrom as a function of beams incident thereupon, comprising a plurality of substantially contiguous units having emitting surfaces which are capable of forming both real and virtual images of a single energy source.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11, wherein said emitting surfaces are reflecting surfaces.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11, wherein said units are optically reflecting units.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein said units comprise material which is transparent to the beams incident thereupon, whereby incident beams at one side are transmitted therethrough and emitted from the opposite side.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 or 4, wherein said units comprise material which is transparent to the beams incident thereupon, whereby incident beams at one side are transmitted therethrough and emitted from the opposite side.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, wherein said units comprise material which is transparent to the beams incident thereupon, whereby incident beams at one side are transmitted therethrough and emitted from the opposite side.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said units comprise material which is transparent to the beam incident thereupon, whereby incident beams at one side are transmitted therethrough and emitted from the opposite side.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said units are lens units varying in thickness in a plane defined by first and second axes to define lens elements of one sense, and varying in thickness in planes perpendicular thereto to define lens elements of the opposite sense.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the primary portions of said units are lens units varying in thickness in a plane defined by first and second axes to define lens elements of one sense, and varying in thickness in planes perpendicular thereto to define lens elements of the opposite sense.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the central portions of said units are lens units varying in thickness in a plane defined by first and second axes to define lens elements of one sense, and varying in thickness in planes perpendicular thereto to define lens elements of the opposite sense.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11, wherein said units are sound reflecting units.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11, further including a support surface upon which said units are disposed, and means for adjustably orienting said support surface in either the horizontal or vertical direction or both.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11, further including a support surface upon which said units are disposed, and means for selectively imparting a curvature to said support surface in either the horizontal or vertical direction or both.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22, further including means for selectively imparting a curvature to said support surface in either the horizontal or vertical direction or both.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
50 words
A projection system comprising a source of incident energy, means for directing said incident energy in a substantially controlled manner to a desired field of reception, and means for enhancing the gain characteristic of said system by suppressing extraneous sources of incident energy from within the desired field of reception.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
50 words
A projection system comprising a source of incident energy, means for directing said incident energy in a substantially controlled manner to a desired field of reception, and means for enhancing the gain characteristic of said system by suppressing extraneous sources of incident energy from within the desired field of reception.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 25, wherein said means for enhancing the gain characteristic of said system comprise a coating of energy absorbent material applied to potential sources of extraneous incident energy located within the desired area of reception.
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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) | 1983-12-30 | 1984-06-30 | 1984-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-30 | 1988-06-30 | 1988-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-30 | 1992-06-30 | 1992-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |