Abstract: A framing light uses horizontal and vertical framing-light assemblies in which two opposite framing lines of a projected frame are projected from a single light source by use of a beamsplitter, a line emitting laser diode and an angular adjustment which adjusts a spread angle by swinging the light emitting laser diode around a beamsplitter while the beamsplitter is stationary.

Abstract: A framing light uses horizontal and vertical framing-light assemblies in which two opposite framing lines of a projected frame are projected from a single light source by use of a beamsplitter, a line emitting laser diode and an angular adjustment which adjusts a spread angle by swinging the light emitting laser diode around a beamsplitter while the beamsplitter is stationary.

Abstract: A video recording that includes rotation around a central point within a desired range of motion is used to generate a set of frames that is cropped by use of a centering reference and a cropping template registered to each frame by using the centering reference in each of the frames. The centering reference is an interocular distance of the photographic subject (which may be a live person or a mannequin) so that a vertical centerline established at a midpoint of the interocular distance is centered laterally by the cropping template. The images obtained can be displayed in a portable computer device to give an illusion of viewing a photographic subject as a solid 3-D object on the screen and additional product images can be merged to give the further illusion that the subject is wearing the product.

Abstract: Structures with an outer wall structure have multiple angled walls that are alternately joined together so as to create recessed and protruding elements relative to a horizontal structural foundation, there being a façade structure added to the outer wall structure, so that a viewer at a predetermined viewing distance from the outer wall structure will see a reverse-perspective illusion on the outer wall structure when moving laterally relative to the outer wall structure. Reverse-perspective lines are formed by one or more visible elements that help to create a reverse-perspective illusion. Reverse-perspective lines, if extended to infinity, will converge at a vanishing point on a horizon line located at a preselected viewer's eye height at a predetermined distance from the structure but they are not parallel to the horizontal structural foundation.

Abstract: A display surface is attached to a support. The display surface has a recessed element between two protruding elements and a graphic image in which depth is reversed. The display surface can be in a card, which opens like a cover or a pop-up card or an according like card, a room divider, a cardboard display or a display for a building or billboard. Spacing of the display can be controlled.

Abstract: A direct view camera with a direct view lens is mounted to a support to obtain a direct view camera shot while a reflected view camera with a reflected view lens is mounted to the support to obtain a reflected view camera shot without use of a beamsplitter. Interaxial spacing between the direct view and reflected view cameras does not cause an overlap between a direct view active optical area of the beamsplitter that would be used by the direct view lens and a reflected view active optical area of the beamsplitter that would be used by the reflected view lens. A reflective planar mirror is positioned to reflect light from a surface of the reflective planar mirror to the reflected view lens while a transparent planar glass is positioned to allow light to pass substantially perpendicularly through the transparent planar glass to the direct view lens.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stereoscopic photography in which a direct view camera with a direct view lens is mounted to a support to obtain a direct view camera shot while a reflected view camera with a reflected view lens is mounted to the support in a down-looking camera configuration to obtain a reflected view camera shot without use of a beamsplitter when an interaxial spacing between the direct view camera and the reflected view camera does not cause an overlap between a direct view active optical area of the beamsplitter that would be used by the direct view lens and a reflected view active optical area of the beamsplitter that would be used by the reflected view lens.

Abstract: A dual-camera 3-D rig has a support, a first camera with a first lens mounted to the support in a stationary position, a structural member with a curve affixed to the support adjustable over a range of positions to cause the curve to rotate relative to the axis of the structural member, and a second camera with a second lens slidably mounted to the structural member so it is free to move along the curve to vary interaxial spacing between the two cameras while the convergence distance between the two cameras is varied by adjustment of the curved structural member over a range of positions. Pinhole lenses are used and a mirror is positioned along an axis of the first lens in a position such that a reflected image of a first camera entrance pupil is at the height and longitudinal position of the second camera entrance pupil.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic 3-D image is provided in a viewing zone without the need for 3-D glasses by use of one or more projectors that project two or more images having projected exit pupils separated horizontally by no more than an average human interocular spacing onto a 3-D forming screen (which is a lenticular or a raster barrier screen) with a substantially smooth and nominally white back projection surface and a front side with multiple individual vertical elements that project left and right images so that the 3-D forming screen retro-reflects projected light on the screen received from a light source back to the light source.

Abstract: A subway tunnel light box for displaying a back-lighted image to a viewer inside of a subway car traveling in the subway tunnel in which a transparent video display for displaying a number of images, such as an LCD, is mounted in the light box and a narrow light source, preferably having a width of one pixel, is positioned in the box behind each of the images at a distance less than a typical viewing distance so that each image is illuminated by an associated narrow light source with an associated narrow light source horizontal illumination angle substantially the same as a preselected perceived horizontal viewing angle calculated for the typical viewing distance based upon a physical height of the transparent video display and a desired aspect ratio of a perceived image.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying back-lighted images to viewers moving along a path of travel past viewing boxes containing transparent images illuminated by substantially vertical light sources which are then reflected to obtain a shallow light box depth relative to the transparent images, the light sources being located behind the transparent images, relative to the viewer.

Abstract: A solar tracker has a mounting surface to which a solar device is mounted and means for causing the mounting surface to change its orientation so as to be substantially perpendicular to the sun's rays as the sun travels through a useful arc relative to the solar tracker wherein change of orientation of the mounting surface is caused by bending of the solar tracker attributable. The bending can be caused by mechanical contraction or due to shrinkage caused by loss of water in which case capillary action causes the outer surface material to be saturated and grow when it is not exposed to sunlight. The bendable mounting surface support is an elongated tube held in a nominally vertical position in the absence of sunlight by a vertical support which can be a coiled compression spring, an extruded tube of closed-end structural foam, a vertical floating pole or an air-inflated tube.

Abstract: A sealed, double walled water packet has an inner packet filled with potable water that has a porous outer surface layer containing absorbed water and an outer packet that encloses the inner packet and is connected to the inner layer. The inner packet (which may contain as little as a swallow of water) is connected to the outer packet (both of which can be made as envelopes with tearable sections or peel off corners) along one side or by a string so that the inner packet can be twirled or waved to cause rapid evaporation of water in the porous outer surface layer (which can include hydrogel) to thereby cool the potable water contained inside the inner packet before it is opened.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic 3-D image is provided in a viewing zone without the need for 3-D glasses by use of one or more projectors that project two or more images having projected exit pupils separated horizontally by no more than an average human interocular spacing onto a 3-D forming screen (which is a lenticular or a raster barrier screen) with a substantially smooth and nominally white back projection surface and a front side with multiple individual vertical elements that project left and right images so that the 3-D forming screen retro-reflects projected light on the screen received from a light source back to the light source.

Abstract: A subway tunnel light box for displaying a back-lighted image to a viewer inside of a subway car traveling in the subway tunnel in which a transparent video display for displaying a number of images, such as an LCD, is mounted in the light box and a narrow light source, preferably having a width of one pixel, is positioned in the box behind each of the images at a distance less than a typical viewing distance so that each image is illuminated by an associated narrow light source with an associated narrow light source horizontal illumination angle substantially the same as a preselected perceived horizontal viewing angle calculated for the typical viewing distance based upon a physical height of the transparent video display and a desired aspect ratio of a perceived image.

Abstract: An exhaust system for capturing overspray from conventional paint spray guns and aerosol paint spray cans that including a vacuum hose that is directly interconnected with the paint spray device being used and is strategically positioned in close proximity to the spray nozzle of the paint spray device. In one form of the invention a conventional household-type vacuum cleaner has the vacuum source.

Abstract: A reflective tube centered on a lens of a camera is used in covert wide-angle photography in which and at least one reflected annular image is rotated by 180° to register it with the open-hole (zero-order) image to obtain a wide-angle corrected image. Any exposure differences in reflected images are balanced (or matched to the zero-order image) and rotation of odd-order image(s) is done by dedicated electronics of the camera or a later computer program to align such images with the zero-order image while the photograph is taken of an object using a tube which is no longer than approximately 1/100th the distance of the photographic subject. The reflective tube can be a transparent material (such as Plexiglas®) whose outer surface is painted black to block stray light which would otherwise be transmitted by walls of the tube and to absorb second-surface reflections from inside.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying back-lighted images to viewers moving along a path of travel past viewing boxes containing transparent images illuminated by substantially vertical light sources which are then reflected to obtain a shallow light box depth relative to the transparent images, the light sources being located behind the transparent images, relative to the viewer.

Abstract: A distance indicating apparatus and method determine the distance between a fixed object and a moving object (such as a motor vehicle, airplane or water vessel) by using two spaced-apart projectors to project a distance indicating scale (which can include non-linear markings) and an index along two different paths onto a projection target surface where they are visible to create a visual distance indication that varies as the fixed and moving objects vary in distance less than a certain distance.

Abstract: A guide for use with a cutting member, such as hand saws, that is easy to use, is readily portable and can be adjusted to permit cutting of precise compound angles on work pieces of various configurations. The guide mechanism comprises two angularly related members arranged so that when one member engages the face of a work piece, the other member functions to glidably engage a cutting member, such as the blade of a hand saw with the teeth thereof in cutting relation with said face of the work piece. In one form of the invention, locking mechanisms are provided to lock the member in any selected angular relation and a magnet is carried by the guide member which uniquely functions to continuously urge the saw into engagement with a plurality of rollers that are also carried by the guide member.