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:
Mar. 20, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 22, 1999
John Holden, Hertfordshire, GB;
Central Research Labs, Ltd., Hayes, Middlesex, GB;
Abstract
Apparatus for displaying an image suspended in space comprises an object (,) for display, a retroreflector (,) receiving light from the object, a beamsplitter (,) in a path for light from the object to the retroreflector, and a converging lens (,) between the beamsplitter and the retroreflector. The beamsplitter makes an oblique angle to the direction (,) of propagation of the light such that it transmits some light and reflects the rest. Light from the beamsplitter passes through the lens to the retroreflector which reflects it back through the lens to the beamsplitter. This retroreflected light is reflected and/or transmitted by the beamsplitter to form a real image (,) suspended in space. The use of a lens between the beamsplitter and the retroreflector improves image resolution and viewing angle, reduces the area of retroreflector required, and allows low cost bead retroreflectors to be used in high resolution displays.