Abstract: A coupon dispensing system includes a touch-screen device presenting one or more product category icons that can be activated by a user's touch, a coupon printer for printing coupons based on one or more selections made by a user touching an image of a coupon on the touch-screen, independent of whether the user makes or has made any purchases, a computer, microprocessor device or other device for controlling the operations of selecting and printing coupons, and a method of attracting customers to said coupon dispensing system including a flat panel display for displaying advertising or a real image projection system for projecting into a space in front of said coupon dispensing apparatus a real image created from one or more sources that transmit, reflect or emit light.

Abstract: A real image display system includes a primary image source for projecting a primary image from the start of a primary light path to an end of the primary light path at which the primary image is viewable, two reflectors positioned in the primary light path between the primary image source and the projected real image, a circular polarizer for circularly polarizing a light beam positioned in the primary light path between the mirror and real image, whereby outside light entering the system is substantially blocked before exiting the system, thereby substantially eliminating ghost image formation caused by outside light sources.

Abstract: A real image projection system includes at least one curved reflector, positioned in a tilted configuration, wherein an optical axis of the reflector is not coincident with a viewing axis, and a beampath between a target source and the curved reflector neither passes through nor reflects off of a beamsplitter.

Abstract: A photo-screen device for a real image projection system includes a transparent or semi-transparent material having a fixed or static image applied to the surface thereof, wherein the photo-screen is positioned so as to intersect a real image beampath of the real image projection device. In an alternative embodiment, a method for producing a photo-screen device for a real image projection system includes the steps of printing colors thereon in reverse order and positioning the photo-screen such that the non-printed side faces a viewer of the real image.

Abstract: A real image projection system comprises a single curved mirror having two different optical surfaces of revolution, one on the convex surface and one on the concave surface. In one embodiment, the convex surface is a conical curve of spherical or parabolic surface of revolution, coated with a reflective optical coating. The concave surface is much like that of a Mangin mirror, but it has an aspheric surface of revolution, optimized to reduce spherical aberrations over a larger area offset from the optical axis. The system optionally employs a single aspheric surface of revolution on the concave surface for reduction of aberrations, although the Mangin mirror approach, using an aspheric concave surface of revolution, is the preferred embodiment.