Farrand Optical Co., Inc.

Other

Surgical Microsystems, Inc.

Joseph A La Russa

Richard C Troutman

Anthony R Attler

An apparatus for forming at or closer than infinity one or more images of multiple sources is disclosed. The new concept of this invention will permit the manufacture of a flat holographic beamsplitter and a flat holographic analog of a spherical mirror-beamsplitter. The combination of these elements will produce a very compact full color in-line infinity display system of a thickness ranging from &frac38; of an inch thickness to &frac58; inch (based on size) which requires only an image input screen to provide a collimated display. This ultra-thin collimating display can be used to simulate the real aircraft, marine or automobile windows etc., when cut to replace the real windows thereby providing the observer with a true infinity display through actual window size and thickness. Furthermore these windows can be joined-horizontally and vertically, as the application requires. As store windows for advertising purposes they can provide images either at a selectable distance beyond the window away from an observer or, by reversal of the optical system, the images can be projected in space beyond the window towards the observer to appear floating in space.

Image-forming apparatus

Optical simulation apparatus using a video target image superimposed upon an appropriately blanked-out film transparency of background is used to train an observer in target tracking. The apparatus also includes means to occult all or a portion of the target image presented to the trainee by an appropriate foreground image.

Optical simulation apparatus

A cylindrical sleeve has a conically tapered end from which three spring members extend. Additionally, within the sleeve is a shaft that has a portion which extends from the tapered end. The extending portion includes an end of the shaft in the shape of a right truncated cone. The spring members, the extending portion and the tapered end are all inserted within a hollow cylindrical blade that has a cutting edge at its distal end. An edge of the proximal end of the blade is maintained in contact with the tapered end by adjusting the length of the extending portion to cause the extending portion to push the spring members against the interior surface of the blade.

Corneal punch

Undesired images and reflections are eliminated in an in-line infinity display system by tilting the bi-refringent package of the display system at an angle with respect to a plane normal to the optical axis of the curved mirror in the display system and the observer's location so that the undesired images and reflections are directed outside the observer's field of view.

Optical image-forming apparatus with tilted bi-refringent elements

Optical simulation apparatus in which three relatively movable images are input to the system. One of the images is produced by a physical display object and the other images are presented on display screens, superimposed by a beam-splitting mirror, and directed to an infinity display system. True apparent distances and relative parallax of the three images are simulated. The simulation is enhanced by tilting elements of the infinity display system and one of the display screens relative to the optical axis of the apparatus.

Optical simulation apparatus using controllable real-life element

A circular array of twelve light sources transmit light to an eye. A spherical shape of the cornea of the eye is indicated when light reflected therefrom appears to be transmitted from twelve virtual light sources disposed along a circular path within the eye. Correspondingly, an aspherical shape of the cornea is indicated when the virtual sources appear to be disposed along an acircular path within the eye. The array may be disposed within a light reflecting groove which collects ambient light which is transmitted to the eye. A reflection of the collected light appears to be a ring of light which connects the virtual sources.

Indicating an asphericity of the cornea of an eye

An optical system, commonly referred to as an Optical probe in the simulation art, that views either a two dimensional or a three dimensional model in the scale of the model world and then images the view remote from the model to television cameras of real world scale. The two dimensional model viewed is an orthographic projection from a perspective free, full color strip film. The system can view either a front or a rear screen projection. When viewing the projection from any scale eye height, the device introduces the proper perspective with vanishing points from the scale eye height for the television pick-up cameras. The invention can also be used with solid three dimensional models to perform the same function.

Wide angle optical imaging system

Apparatus for forming at or closer than infinity an image of a primary image source is disclosed. The apparatus employs a reflection-type holographic analog of a spherical mirror and a birefringent array of optical elements. The primary image source is linearly polarized and made incident upon the holographic mirror analog. The light from the primary image passing through the analog is given a circular polarization by a first quarter-wave plate, and a fraction of this light is reflected by a plane beam-splitting mirror back to the analog where it is collimated and transmitted again through the first quarter-wave plate, beam-splitting mirror, a second quarter wave plate and a second polarizer for viewing by an observer. The remaining fraction of circularly polarized light from the primary image passing through the first quarter-wave plate which is not reflected by the beam-splitting mirror passes through the second quarter-wave plate, which gives that light a linear polarization at a 90.degree. angle to the polarization direction of the second polarizer so that it is blocked from viewing by the observer. Although the holographic analog is produced with monochromatic light, there is no dispersion of the broad band polychromatic image source because the analog acts as a narrow band filter in the apparatus. The use of the holographic analog reduces the bulk of prior art image-forming apparatus and eliminates undesired optical aberrations encountered with the use of curved glass mirrors in prior art apparatus.

Growing community of inventors

Yorktown Heights, NY, United States of America

Joseph A La Russa