Virtual image projection device

• US 5,944,403 A
• Filed: 11/14/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vantage Lighting Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vantage Lighting Incorporated
• Inventors: Krause, Detlef
• Primary Examiner(s): DOWLING, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US08/970,553
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 353/10, 353/28, 353/30, 353/74, 353/77, 353/78, 353/98
• US Class Current: 353/74
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/56 by projecting aerial or floating images
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the virtual production of an image, with a housing, an image projection device, which produces an image to be displayed. The housing has an observation opening in a wall of the housing with a fresnel lens arranged therein. Imaging optics arranged in the housing for depicting the object onto the fresnel lens. In order to ensure a large range of applications for this device, provision is made that the imaging optics have a concave mirror arranged in the path o light rays between the image projection device and the fresnel lens. The concave mirror lies opposite the fresnel lens and a ray divider is provided therebetween. To increase the illusion effect, a partially translucent mirro (spy mirror) is additionally arranged on the observation side of the fresnel lens.

Claims

1. A device for the production of a virtual image, comprising:

a housing having a wall with an observation opening formed therein;

an image source located in said housing;

a Fresnel lens arranged in said observation opening;

imaging optic arranged in the housing for projecting light rays conveying said virtual image in a path from said image source onto said Fresnel lens, said imaging optics having a part-spherical mirror positioned in said path of said light rays between said image source and said Fresnel lens;

wherein said part-spherical mirror is a concave mirror that lies opposite said Fresnel lens;

said optics includes a ray divider positioned between said concave mirror and said Fresnel lens for reflecting said light rays from said image source onto said concave mirror and for transmitting said light rays from said concave mirror to said Fresnel lens;

wherein said ray divider, having a first and second face, includes an anti-reflective coating on said first face directed towards said Fresnel lens and includes a reflective coating on said second face directed towards said concave mirror.

2. The device according to claim 1 further including a projection device located within said housing for generating an image at said image source.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said projection device is one of the group consisting of:

a slide projector;

a film projector; and

a laser projector.

4. The device according to claim 2 wherein said projection device is one of the group consisting of:

a television monitor;

a video monitor; and

a liquid crystal display

wherein said image source is a display screen.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein said image source is a back projection medium.

6. The device according to claim 3 or 5, further includes deflector mirrors, located between said projection device and image source, for transmission of an image from said projection device onto said image source.

7. The device according to claim 3, 4 or 5 further including:

said Fresnel lens having an observation side; and

a partially translucent mirror positioned on said observation side of said Fresnel lens, which generally prevents visibility into the interior of said housing.

8. The device according to claim 7, further including:

at least one outside light source to illuminate said partially translucent mirror from said observation side of said Fresnel lens.

9. The device according to claim 5 further includes deflector mirrors located between said projection device and image source, for transmission of an image from said projection device onto said image source.

10. A virtual image device for generating virtual images that can be viewed in the space in front of said device comprising:

a housing having dark, opaque non-reflecting walls and one of said walls formed with an observation opening;

an image source;

a concave mirror;

a ray divider having a non-reflective coating on

one side;

a fresnel lens having an observation side and mounted in said observation opening; and

a semi-transparent mirror overlying said observation side of said fresnel lens.

11. A virtual image device according to claim 10 including:

a projection device for transmitting images to said image source on which two-dimensional images may be viewed, where said projection device is of the group consisting of video projector, a slide projector, and a laser projector.

12. A virtual image former according to claim 10 including:

a light source outside to said housing for illuminating said semitransparent mirror such that said semitransparent mirror cooperates with said light source to block visibility into said housing, but said allows for the depiction of said virtual image in front of said housing.