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:
Apr. 04, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 26, 1999
Shahida Rana, Fremont, CA (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A compact optical imaging system that transmits light received from an object located at an image plane to an exit pupil to form an image comprises a first prism, a second prism, a converging reflective element, and a converging transmissive element. The first prism includes a first face, a second face, and a third face that faces the image plane. The included angle between the first face and the second face of the first prism is .alpha.. The second prism includes a first face facing the exit pupil and substantially parallel to the first face of the first prism, and a second face adjacent the second face of the first prism. The converging reflective element is adjacent the first face of the first prism. The converging transmissive element is on or adjacent the first face of the second prism. The included angle .alpha. between the first face and the second face of the first prism lies in a range in which light originating at the exit pupil passes through the converging transmissive element, the second prism and the first prism, is reflected by the converging reflective element back into the first prism, is reflected at the second face of the first prism, is totally internally reflected at the first face of the first prism, and passes through the third face of the first prism to the image plane.