Constant-deviation reflector

• US 5,072,313 A
• Filed: 08/09/1989
• Issued: 12/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Driver Safety Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Driver Safety Systems Limited
• Inventors: Bodenheimer, Joseph S., Schweitzer, Naftali
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, James
• Application Number:
  US07/391,338
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 350/286, 350/287, 350/500, 350/539, 350/173, 350/371, 350/102, 350/320, 351/212, 351/211, 354/10
• US Class Current: 359/529
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/04 using prisms only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/04 Prisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A constant-deviation device is disclosed which comprises a first reflective element in the form of one or more roof prisms and one or more second reflective elements providing one or more reflections. The first and the second reflective elements are mutually adjustable by rotation about one or more axes thereby to set an angle between the incident and the exiting beam. In one or more planes the angle is substantially unaffected by changes in the direction of incidence of the incident beam.

Claims

1. A constant-deviation reflector device comprising a first discrete reflective element in the form of at least one roof prism and at least one second discrete reflective element providing at least one reflection, said first and said second reflective elements being mutually adjustable by rotation about at least a first axis to set an angle between an incident and an exiting beam, wherein in at least one plane said angle is substantially unaffected by changes in the direction of the incident beam.

2. A constant-deviation reflector device according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one plane is identical with, or parallel to, the plane of symmetry of said roof prism which contains the line of intersection between the two roof surfaces thereof, and wherein said first axis is perpendicular to said plane.

3. A constant-deviation reflector device according to claim 1 and wherein said roof prism is an Amici prism.

4. A constant-deviation reflector device according to claim 1 and wherein said second reflective element is a right-angle prism.

5. A constant-deviation reflector device according to claim 1 and wherein said first and said second reflective elements are further mutually adjustable about a second axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said first axis, and about a third axis extending in a direction perpendicular to both said first and said second axis.

6. A constant-deviation reflector device according to claim 1 and wherein the exiting beam is shiftable to a path parallel to that of the incident beam by translation of the reflective element from which said beam exits, relative to the other reflective element.

7. A constant-deviation reflector device according to claim 1 and wherein said angle having been set, said two reflective elements are cemented together, using a transparent cement.

8. A constant-deviation reflector device according to claim 7 and wherein said transparent cement in UV-curable.

9. A method of constructing a constant-deviation reflective device comprising the steps of:

providing a first discrete reflective element in the form of at least one roof prism and at least one second discrete reflective element providing at least one reflection,

adjusting the spatial relationship of said first and said second reflective elements by rotation of at least one of the first and second reflective elements about at least a first axis; and

fixing the spatial relationship of said first and said second reflective elements.

10. A method according to claim 9 and wherein said first axis is perpendicular to a plane, which is identical with, or parallel to, the plane of symmetry of said roof prism which contains the line of intersection between the two roof surfaces thereof.

11. A method according to claim 9 and wherein said roof prism is an Amici prism.

12. A method according to claim 9 and wherein said second reflective element is a right-angle prism.

13. A method according to claim 9 and wherein said adjusting step also comprises the step of adjusting the spatial relationship of said first and said second reflective elements about a second axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said first axis, and about a third axis extending in a direction perpendicular to both said first and said second axis.

14. A method according to claim 9 and wherein said adjusting step also includes translation of said first reflective element relative to said second reflective element.