Patent US1949275A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5394262A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Volume display optical system and method
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1993-06-18
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Granted: 1995-02-28
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Expires: 2013-06-18
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a method and system for controlling the optics of a coherent light source impacting a three dimensional defined volume. The system uses a scanner to time and spatially position the coherent light. The divergent light beam output of the scanner is then placed through positive and negative lenses to narrow the beam waist while also increasing the divergence angle of the beam. Provision is made to abate the divergence angle so that the light, as it impacts the defined volume, will not continue to diverge, creating a skewed image within the volume.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas W. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3129; G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; G02B30/00; G02B30/50; G02B30/54; H04N13/00; H04N13/30; H04N13/363; H04N13/388; H04N13/393; H04N13/398
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A system for projecting coherent light into a three-dimensional volume comprising: (a) a light source producing coherent light beams; (b) a modulator for controlling the intensity of said light beams; (c) an expander for increasing the diameters of said light beams; (d) a scanner for transmitting said light beams from said expander under control of signals applied to said scanner; (e) a projector for converging the waists of said light beams transmitted from said scanner and for subsequently diverging said refracted light beams relative to each other while maintaining said converged waists; and (f) a collimator for abating the divergence of said light beams and directing said light beams to a display region after abating the divergence of said light beams.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A system for projecting coherent light into a three-dimensional volume comprising: (a) a light source producing coherent light beams; (b) a modulator for controlling the intensity of said light beams; (c) an expander for increasing the diameters of said light beams; (d) a scanner for transmitting said light beams from said expander under control of signals applied to said scanner; (e) a projector for converging the waists of said light beams transmitted from said scanner and for subsequently diverging said refracted light beams relative to each other while maintaining said converged waists; and (f) a collimator for abating the divergence of said light beams and directing said light beams to a display region after abating the divergence of said light beams.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1 where said coherent light beam is a visible light laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 where said beam expander comprises a negative element lens and a positive element lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 where said scanner is an acousto-optic scanner.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1 where said projector comprises: a positive power element lens; and a negative power element lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 where said collimator is a curved mirrored surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 where said collimator is a refractive lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 where said collimator is a Fresnel optic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 where said collimator is a holographic optic.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for projecting a plurality of coherent light sources into a three-dimensional volume comprising: (a) a plurality of light sources, each of said light sources producing coherent light beams; (b) a plurality of modulators, each of said modulators controlling the intensity of said light beams from a different one of said light sources; (c) a plurality of expanders, each of said expanders increasing the diameters of said light beams from a different one of said light sources; (d) a plurality of scanners, each of said scanner refracting said light beams from a different one of said light sources under control of applied signals; (e) a projector for converging the waists of said refracted light beams, for combining said light beams and for subsequently diverging said combined beams relative to each other while maintaining the waists of said combined beams; and (f) a collimator for abating the divergence of said combined beams.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for projecting a plurality of coherent light sources into a three-dimensional volume comprising: (a) a plurality of light sources, each of said light sources producing coherent light beams; (b) a plurality of modulators, each of said modulators controlling the intensity of said light beams from a different one of said light sources; (c) a plurality of expanders, each of said expanders increasing the diameters of said light beams from a different one of said light sources; (d) a plurality of scanners, each of said scanner refracting said light beams from a different one of said light sources under control of applied signals; (e) a projector for converging the waists of said refracted light beams, for combining said light beams and for subsequently diverging said combined beams relative to each other while maintaining the waists of said combined beams; and (f) a collimator for abating the divergence of said combined beams.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 10 where said coherent light sources are visible light lasers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 10 where said beam expanders each comprise: a negative element lens; and a positive element lens.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 10 where said scanners are acousto-optic scanners.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 10 where said projector comprises: a plurality of positive power element lenses for each of said light beams; a plurality of beam splitters to combine the beams into a single beam; and a single negative power element lens to diverge the combined beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 14 where said beam splitters are dichroic beam splitters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 14 further comprising a plurality of mirrors to direct the individual beams towards the axis of the combined beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 10 where said collimator is a curved mirrored surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 10 where said collimator is a refractive lens.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 10 where said collimator is a Fresnel optic.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 10 where said collimator is a holographic optic.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
75 words
A system for projecting coherent light into a three-dimensional volume comprising: (a) an input for accepting coherent light beams; (b) a projector for converging the waists of said light beams and subsequently diverging said light beams while maintaining said converged waists; (c) means for abating the divergence of each of said light beams at substantially the same distance from said projector; and (d) a three dimensional display region for receiving the divergence abated light beam.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
75 words
A system for projecting coherent light into a three-dimensional volume comprising: (a) an input for accepting coherent light beams; (b) a projector for converging the waists of said light beams and subsequently diverging said light beams while maintaining said converged waists; (c) means for abating the divergence of each of said light beams at substantially the same distance from said projector; and (d) a three dimensional display region for receiving the divergence abated light beam.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 21 further comprising a modulator for controlling the intensity of said light beams.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 21 further comprising a scanner under control of applied signals for transmitting said light beams.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 23 where said scanner is an acousto-optic scanner.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 21 where said light beams are provided by a visible light laser.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 21 where said projector comprises: a positive element lens; and a negative element lens.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 21 further comprising a collimator for abating the divergence of said beam after projection.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 27 where said collimator is a curved mirrored surface.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 27 where said collimator is a refractive lens.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 27 where said collimator is a Fresnel optic.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 27 where said collimator is a holographic optic.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-02-27 | 1998-08-29 | 1999-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-27 | 2002-08-29 | 2003-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-02-27 | 2006-08-29 | 2007-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |