The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 13, 1994
Filed:
Mar. 30, 1993
John C Nelson, Roanoke, VA (US);
Gary M Vance, Roanoke, VA (US);
Vincent J Thomas, Christianburg, VA (US);
Thomas H Pifer, Jr, Christianburg, VA (US);
ITT Corporation, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
An optical device for reorienting an optical image from a first optical pathway to a second optical pathway and the method of manufacturing such an optical device. In a preferred embodiment, a housing is provided that defines at least two optical pathways. Both optical pathways align with a common aperture in the housing. Since both optical pathways are generally cylindrically shaped and the common aperture aligns with both optical pathways, the common aperture is elliptical in shape so as to correspond to the plane of intersection between the two cylindrical pathways. A generally rectangular mirror, that is larger than the elliptical aperture in the housing, is placed over the aperture on the exterior of the housing. As a result, the mirror covers the area of the elliptical aperture and redirects any light passing through the elliptical aperture from one of the optical pathways into the other optical pathway. Since a rectangular mirror is used, and the mirror is assembled externally from the housing, cost and labor savings are produced over that available in the prior art.