Optical guidance system and apparatus
First Claim
1. An optical guidance system for directing a vehicle operator, comprising:
- a housing, a positive lens, said positive lens mounted in said housing, said positive lens having a focal point spaced from said lens, said focal point located within said housing, a multiple color film, said multiple color film located in the vicinity of said focal point, said multiple color film having at least two different colors thereon;
a backlight located at a position with respect to said focal point to substantially project said colors of said multiple color film substantially outward of said housing in a lane after passing through said positive lens;
a second color film positioned between said multiple color film and said operator to provide a background color wherein said second color film allows said projected multiple color of said multiple color film to pass therethrough unimpeded; and
wherein said projected colors of said multiple colored film are encompassed by said background color.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A unitary optical guidance system and apparatus directs operators of vehicles such as airplanes, watercraft, trucks, and automobiles along a path or to a predetermined location (e.g., parking an aircraft at a terminal gate or landing an aircraft on a runway) with a high degree of accuracy. The apparatus projects one or a plurality of different colored rays of light in separate and substantially parallel colored light lanes. Light from the apparatus generally is directed at an incident angle with respect to the operator of an approaching vehicle such that upon proximity of the vehicle to a predetermined location, one of the colored lanes of light will be seen by the operator. Where multiples lanes of light are projected, the initial lane color may be traversed until a final lane color is encountered indicating that a desired or predetermined location has been reached. A directional indicia media having one type of indicia to indicate a lateral approach position of a vehicle and a second type of indicia to indicate the distance of the vehicle from a predetermined location may be utilized with one or more lanes of light.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An optical guidance system for directing a vehicle operator, comprising:
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a housing, a positive lens, said positive lens mounted in said housing, said positive lens having a focal point spaced from said lens, said focal point located within said housing, a multiple color film, said multiple color film located in the vicinity of said focal point, said multiple color film having at least two different colors thereon; a backlight located at a position with respect to said focal point to substantially project said colors of said multiple color film substantially outward of said housing in a lane after passing through said positive lens; a second color film positioned between said multiple color film and said operator to provide a background color wherein said second color film allows said projected multiple color of said multiple color film to pass therethrough unimpeded; and wherein said projected colors of said multiple colored film are encompassed by said background color. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A unitary optical guidance apparatus for directing a vehicle operator, comprising:
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a lens, said lens having a focal point located outside of said lens, a multiple colored substantially transparent media, said multiple colored media located in the vicinity of said focal point, a light source, said media located intermediate said focal point and said light source wherein said colors of said colored media are projected onto said lens and outwardly of said optical guidance apparatus in an arcuate projection; said multiple colors are projected outward in substantially parallel rays; a neutral colored media surrounding said multiple colors, and said neutral color being projected outwardly in an expanding corridor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An optical guidance apparatus for directing a vehicle operator, comprising:
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a housing, a positive lens, said lens mounted in said housing, said lens having a focal point spaced from said lens, said focal point located within said housing, a color media, said color media located in the vicinity of said focal point, a backlight located at a position with respect to said focal point to substantially project said color of said color media substantially outwardly of said housing toward said operator in a parallel colored light lane after passing through said positive lens;
a second color media positioned between said color media and said operator to provide a background color wherein said second color media allows said projected color of said first media to pass therethrough unimpeded; andwherein said projected color of said first media is encompassed by said background color. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification