US5245369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Scene projector
Assignee: Aura Systems Inc
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Filing: 1991-10-18
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Granted: 1993-09-14
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Expires: 2011-10-18
Abstract
Abstract Optical energy from a broadband source is focused on an aperture in an opaque member. The energy exiting the aperture is received off axis by a parabolic mirror which collimates the energy. The collimated energy is reflected from each planar mirror of an actuated mirror array. The reflected energy from the mirror array is re-reflected to the aperture by the parabolic mirror. The orientation of each planar mirror determines the flux which passes through the aperture or is reflected by a reflective face of the opaque member. The energy reflected from this face which is derived from each mirror corresponds to the flux intensity for a corresponding pixel. This energy may then be focused on a screen to display the scene.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory Um
- 👤 Yeon H. Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3141; H04N9/315; H04N9/3152; G; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/0816; H04N5/00; H04N5/74; H04N5/7416; H04N5/7458
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus to modulate the intensity of a pixel comprising: a source of optical energy; an optically opaque member having a first face, a second face, and an aperture therethrough, said second face being optically reflective; a focusing lens to focus optical energy from said source at said aperture, said energy exiting said aperture along a first propagation path; a parabolic mirror disposed off-axis in said first propagation path to reflect said energy along a second propagation path; a planar mirror disposed in said second propagation path of reflect said energy in a return direction along said second path to said parabolic mirror, said planar mirror being associated with the pixel, the energy reflected from said planar mirror being re-reflected by said parabolic mirror toward said aperture, the orientation of said planar mirror determining the flux of the re-reflected energy passing through said aperture and reflected by said second face along a third propagation path wherein the amount of flux reflected by said second face along the third propagation path controls the intensity of said pixel; and a screen in said third propagation path upon which energy reflected from said second face is focused to display said pixel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus to modulate the intensity of a pixel comprising: a source of optical energy; an optically opaque member having a first face, a second face, and an aperture therethrough, said second face being optically reflective; a focusing lens to focus optical energy from said source at said aperture, said energy exiting said aperture along a first propagation path; a parabolic mirror disposed off-axis in said first propagation path to reflect said energy along a second propagation path; a planar mirror disposed in said second propagation path of reflect said energy in a return direction along said second path to said parabolic mirror, said planar mirror being associated with the pixel, the energy reflected from said planar mirror being re-reflected by said parabolic mirror toward said aperture, the orientation of said planar mirror determining the flux of the re-reflected energy passing through said aperture and reflected by said second face along a third propagation path wherein the amount of flux reflected by said second face along the third propagation path controls the intensity of said pixel; and a screen in said third propagation path upon which energy reflected from said second face is focused to display said pixel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a collimating lens disposed between said second face and said screen to focus energy propagating along said third path of said screen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said aperture is a pinhole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
222 words
A scene projector to display an image as an array of pixels comprising: a source of optical energy; an optically opaque member having a first face, a second face, and an aperture therethrough, said second face being optically reflective; focusing lens to focus optical energy from said source at said aperture, said energy exiting said aperture along a first propagation path; a parabolic mirror disposed off-axis in said first propagation path to reflect said energy along a second propagation path; an actuated mirror array having a plurality of planar mirrors, each of said planar mirrors corresponding to a respective one of said pixels, and each of said mirrors being disposed in said second propagation path to reflect said energy in a return direction along said second path to said parabolic mirror, the energy reflected from each of said planar mirrors being re-reflected by said parabolic mirror toward said aperture, the orientation of each of said planar mirrors determining the flux of the re-reflected energy passing through said aperture and reflected by said second face along a third propagation path wherein the amount of flux reflected by said second face controls the intensity of the respective one of said pixels; and a screen disposed in said third propagation path upon which energy reflected from said second face is focused to display said pixels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
222 words
A scene projector to display an image as an array of pixels comprising: a source of optical energy; an optically opaque member having a first face, a second face, and an aperture therethrough, said second face being optically reflective; focusing lens to focus optical energy from said source at said aperture, said energy exiting said aperture along a first propagation path; a parabolic mirror disposed off-axis in said first propagation path to reflect said energy along a second propagation path; an actuated mirror array having a plurality of planar mirrors, each of said planar mirrors corresponding to a respective one of said pixels, and each of said mirrors being disposed in said second propagation path to reflect said energy in a return direction along said second path to said parabolic mirror, the energy reflected from each of said planar mirrors being re-reflected by said parabolic mirror toward said aperture, the orientation of each of said planar mirrors determining the flux of the re-reflected energy passing through said aperture and reflected by said second face along a third propagation path wherein the amount of flux reflected by said second face controls the intensity of the respective one of said pixels; and a screen disposed in said third propagation path upon which energy reflected from said second face is focused to display said pixels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a collimating lens disposed between said second face and said screen to focus energy propagating along said third path on said screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said aperture is a pinhole.
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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) | 1996-09-13 | 1997-03-15 | 1997-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-09-13 | 2001-03-15 | 2001-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-09-13 | 2005-03-15 | 2005-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |