AERIAL-IMAGE DISPLAY SYSTEMS WITH A PLASTIC MIRROR
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A countertop apparatus for generating an aerial image of an object, comprising:
- a housing with a substantially counter height, having a top surface including a window therein;
support means, within said housing for an object to be displayed as an aerial image outside of said window;
means for illuminating said object;
a partially silvered planar beamsplitter positioned on an optical path of light rays from said illuminated object;
a plastic spherical mirror positioned within said housing directed at said window and located at a 45-degree angle with respect to said partially silvered beamsplitter, whereby light rays from said object are partially reflected by said partially silvered beamsplitter toward said plastic spherical mirror directly through said partially silvered beamsplitter and through said window to generate the aerial image of said object outside of said housing; and
means for preventing an observer viewing said aerial image from seeing reflected images from outside of said housing in said window, wherein objects contained within said housing are displayed as an aerial image in the region of the top of the housing window.
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Abstract
An apparatus for producing aerial images is disclosed employing a combination of plastic spherical mirrors, beamsplitter polarizing filters, and light sources. An object to be displayed is illuminated, and its image is partially reflected by the beamsplitter to a focusing mirror and reflected to an aerial position. A polarizer prevents ambient lights or images from degrading or interfering with the aerial images. A clock radio, a personal television display counter, as well as animated mannequin versions are disclosed.
24 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A countertop apparatus for generating an aerial image of an object, comprising:
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a housing with a substantially counter height, having a top surface including a window therein; support means, within said housing for an object to be displayed as an aerial image outside of said window; means for illuminating said object; a partially silvered planar beamsplitter positioned on an optical path of light rays from said illuminated object; a plastic spherical mirror positioned within said housing directed at said window and located at a 45-degree angle with respect to said partially silvered beamsplitter, whereby light rays from said object are partially reflected by said partially silvered beamsplitter toward said plastic spherical mirror directly through said partially silvered beamsplitter and through said window to generate the aerial image of said object outside of said housing; and means for preventing an observer viewing said aerial image from seeing reflected images from outside of said housing in said window, wherein objects contained within said housing are displayed as an aerial image in the region of the top of the housing window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for generating an aerial image of an object, comprising:
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a housing including a window therein; support means within said housing for an object to be displayed as an aerial image outside of said window; means for illuminating said object; a partially silvered planar mirror positioned on an optical path of light rays from said illuminated object, said partially silvered mirror also being positioned at a 45-degree angle with respect to said window; a first plastic spherical mirror positioned within said housing directed at said window and located at a 45-degree angle with respect to said partially silvered mirror, whereby light rays from said object are partially reflected by said partially silvered mirror toward said plastic spherical mirror directly through said partially silvered mirror and through said window to generate an aerial image of said object outside of said housing; means located between said partially silvered mirror and said window for preventing an observer viewing said aerial image from seeing reflected images from outside of said housing in said window; and a second plastic spherical mirror adjacent to an inner surface of said top wall and directed at a 45-degree angle toward said partially silvered planar mirror whereby an enhanced brightness aerial image is generated from reflection of both of plastic spherical mirrors. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for producing an aerial image of an object, comprising:
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a housing including a window therein; support means within said housing for an object to be displayed as an aerial image outside of said window; means for illuminating said object; a partially silvered planar mirror positioned on an optical path of light rays from said illuminated object, said partially silvered mirror being positioned at a 45-degree angle with respect to said window; a plastic spherical mirror positioned within said housing directed at said window and located at a 45-degree angle with respect to said partially silvered mirror, whereby light rays from said object are partially reflected by said partially silvered mirror toward said plastic spherical mirror directly through said partially silvered mirror and through said window to generate an aerial image of said object outside of said housing; means located between said partially silvered mirror and said window for preventing an observer viewing said aerial image from seeing reflected images from outside of said housing in said window, wherein said reflecting means comprises a partial spherical concave mirror having a rear surface for support and a front reflective surface, and said reflecting means also comprises a mirror support secured in said housing, said mirror support comprising a planar member having a circular aperture therein having a diameter less than said concave mirror; and resilient adhesive means adhering to the support surface of said concave mirror to said mirror support as a bead in contact between said concave mirror and an edge of said circular aperture. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification