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. 19, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 28, 2002
D'nardo Colucci, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Raymond L. Idaszak, Apex, NC (US);
Richard W. Zobel, Jr., Raleigh, NC (US);
Suresh Balu, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
David Mcconville, Asheville, NC (US);
D'nardo Colucci, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Raymond L. Idaszak, Apex, NC (US);
Richard W. Zobel, Jr., Raleigh, NC (US);
Suresh Balu, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
David McConville, Asheville, NC (US);
Elumens Corporation, Durham, NC (US);
Abstract
An optical projection system includes an image source that is configured to generate an array of image pixels. A lens assembly is configured to project the array of image pixels onto a hemispherical surface at a projection angle greater than 180°. The lens assembly may include a wide-angle lens assembly and an image relay lens assembly that is configured to reduce dispersion in the array of image pixels between the image source and the wide-angle lens assembly. The wide-angle lens assembly may include a meniscus lens assembly and a wavefront shaping lens assembly. The lens assembly may be further configured to project the array of image pixels onto the hemispherical surface such that there is a constant angular separation between adjacent image pixels. An optical projection system may also include two image sources that are configured to generate first and second arrays of image pixels and two lens assemblies that are configured to respectively project the first and second arrays of image pixels at projection angles that are greater than 180° onto a surface in opposite directions of each other. The combination of the first and second arrays of image pixels may cover a continuous, 360° portion of the hemispherical surface.