Composite Or Echelon Mirrors Or Light Concentrating Array Patents (Class 359/851)
  • Patent number: 5854713
    Abstract: In a reflection type angle of view transforming optical apparatus for transforming an angle of view in an image apparatus and so forth, sufficient strength can be provided and process is facilitated by using reflecting mirrors in a wide angle optical system. The reflection type angle of view transforming optical apparatus includes a primary mirror 8 having a reflecting surface provided in an axisymmetric form to reflect incident light 12 as primary reflected light 13, a secondary mirror 10 having a reflecting surface provided in an axisymmetric form about the same axis of rotational symmetry 9 as that of the primary mirror 8, opposed to the primary mirror 8 so as to reflect the primary reflected light 13 and to get secondary reflected light 14 for focusing on a view point, and a transparent case 11 to support the primary mirror 8 and the secondary mirror 10, and transmit the incident light 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Kuroda, Akito Takeya, Kenichi Nishiguchi, Akira Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 5847889
    Abstract: A large number of ring-like grooves having mutually different diameters are concentrically formed on the back of a planar transparent plastic plate to constitute a Fresnel lens having a concave lens function, a reflecting film is provided to the back so as to provide a convex mirror function to the surface of the transparent plastic plate, and a thin metal sheet is bonded to the reflecting film through an adhesive, thereby constituting a reflecting mirror for an airplane cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Komy Kogei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sakae Komiyama, Yoshinori Koyama
  • Patent number: 5844730
    Abstract: The line bow phenomenon is reduced by appropriately setting the reflective surface and/or the external shape of an optical element (e.g., a toric mirror) thereby realizing approximately linear illumination of the surface of the original document that is being read. In order to do this, optical elements can be formed so that the external shape of the reflective surface of the optical element is bow-shaped. Alternatively, the optical element can be arranged so that the optical axis of the reflective surface is parallel to the axis of the light reflected from the reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiya Aikawa, Nobuhiro Fujinawa, Masayuki Inami
  • Patent number: 5838503
    Abstract: A deflection mirror tower (DMT) of a multiple-disk array, optical storage system includes a plurality of prism members, each having an angular mirror surface, arranged along a vertical axis of the DMT and configured at a predetermined angular orientation to deflect a laser beam to a respective disk surface. The DMT is generally fabricated using a two-level partitioning process. Several prepared glass substrates, i.e., one for each mirror type, are initially sliced into bars having predetermined geometries. A bar from each substrate is sequentially aligned to a master reference and bonded to adjacent bars to form an intermediate bar stack. The stack is then segmented into a plurality of DMT components, each having a plurality of prism members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: Neville K. Lee, Amit Jain, Roy E. Martin
  • Patent number: 5835290
    Abstract: A deflection mirror tower (DMT) of a multiple-disk array, optical storage system includes a plurality of prism members, each having an angular mirror surface, arranged along a vertical axis of the DMT and configured at a predetermined angular orientation to deflect a laser beam to a respective disk surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: Neville K. Lee, Amit Jain, Roy E. Martin
  • Patent number: 5790327
    Abstract: A deflection mirror tower (DMT) of a multiple-disk array, optical storage system includes a plurality of prism members, each having an angular mirror surface, arranged along a vertical axis of the DMT and configured at a predetermined angular orientation to deflect a laser beam to a respective disk surface. The DMT is generally fabricated using a two-level partitioning process. Several prepared glass substrates, i.e., one for each mirror type, are initially sliced into bars having predetermined geometries. A bar from each substrate is sequentially aligned to a master reference and bonded to adjacent bars to form an intermediate bar stack. The stack is then segmented into a plurality of DMT components, each having a plurality of prism members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: Neville K. Lee, Amit Jain, Roy E. Martin
  • Patent number: 5777809
    Abstract: A reflection mirror has reflection steps formed as portions of respective paraboloids of revolution and disposed between adjacent ones of closed curves formed as lines of intersection of a group consisting of the paraboloids of revolution with different focal distances and a fundamental surface for the reflection surface. The fundamental surface for the reflection surface includes a first curved surface portion and a second curved surface portion connected to the first curved surface portion in the n-th order continuity (N.gtoreq.1). The first curved surface portion is shaped such that when a light beam, which is emitted from a point light source supposed to lie on the principal optical axis of the reflection mirror, is reflected at a reflection point on the first curved surface portion, the light beam reflected thereat is directed substantially parallel to the principal optical axis of the reflection mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norimasa Yamamoto, Masahiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 5768039
    Abstract: A head-mounted image display apparatus (HMD) including an ocular optical system, which has an F-number of 1.5 to 3 and enables a flat and clear image to be observed at a view angle of up to 60.degree. or more with substantially no aberration. The HMD has at least two, surfaces and each having a concave surface directed toward the pupil. The two surfaces are disposed so that light rays from an image display device are reflected by the first surface, and the reflected light rays are reflected by the second surface and pass through the first surface to enter an observer's eyeball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayoshi Togino
  • Patent number: 5696625
    Abstract: A flat screen receives light from a light projector at a projector location, and reflects the light to a spectator area. The screen has a center, spaced apart upper and lower edges and a pair of spaced apart side edges. The screen includes a multiplicity of reflective elements arranged in a plurality of vertical rows. Each row extends between the upper and lower edges of the screen. The plurality of rows are horizontally spaced and distributed between the pair of side edges. The elements of one row are displaced vertically with respect to the elements of an adjacent row and all of said element lie in a common plane so that the screen is flat. Each element has an optically active convex surface with a vertical generatrix and a curved horizontal directrix which crosses the generatrix at a center of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventors: Pierre Leon A. Malifaud, Gerard Marcel Vuillaume
  • Patent number: 5610773
    Abstract: An array of M.times.N thin film actuated mirrors for use in an optical projection system comprises an active matrix, an array of M.times.N supporting members, M.times.N trinities of first, second and third conduits and an array of M.times.N thin film actuating structures. Each of the actuating structures includes a first, an electrodisplacive and a second layers, wherein the first and seconds layers are placed on top and bottom of the electrodisplacive layer. In each of the actuated mirrors, the first layer therein is connected, individually and electrically, to a conduction line pattern through the second and the third conduits, thereby acting as bias electrode and the second layer is connected electrically to one of the transistors included in through the first conduit to thereby act as a signal electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronic Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Ki Min
  • Patent number: 5593761
    Abstract: An electron beam shaping mask for an electron beam with pattern writing capability, includes a substrate with various opening patterns and metallic films, which are respectively formed on top- and bottom-surfaces of the substrate. The metallic films serve as foundation metallic layers. According to the structure, a total thickness of the metallic layer is divided into the two thin metallic films. Since the substrate is protected from both sides by the metallic films, its thickness can be made to be thin. Therefore, a highly accurate patterning can be easily performed, and thermal stresses can be decreased and exfoliations of the metallic films can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Itoh, Hiroshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5555135
    Abstract: An illumination system for illuminating a surface includes a reflecting element having a finite focal length. A light source is located at a point, close to a focal point of the reflecting element, which is deviated from the principal axis of the reflecting element. Light from the light source is reflected by the reflecting element, whereby light with parallel rays is directed toward the surface. The surface is illuminated with symmetrical illuminance distribution with respect to the optical axis of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haruo Uemura
  • Patent number: 5550680
    Abstract: An array of M.times.N thin film actuated mirrors for use in an optical projection system, comprises an active matrix, an array of M.times.N actuating structures, an array of M.times.N mirror layers and an array of M.times.N supporting members. Each of the actuating structures includes a first and a second identically structured actuating parts, each of the first and second actuating parts having at least a thin film layer of a motion-inducing material, a first and a second electrodes. The first electrodes from each of the first and second actuating parts are physically joined, thereby serving as the common bias electrode, and the second electrodes function as the signal electrode. Furthermore, each of the mirror layers is divided into a first and a second reflectors. Each of the reflectors is provided with a first surface, a second opposing surface and a central tab portion therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-Seon Yoon
  • Patent number: 5532884
    Abstract: A deflection mirror tower (DMT) of a multiple-disk array, optical storage system includes a plurality of prism members, each having an angular mirror surface, arranged along a vertical axis of the DMT and configured at a predetermined angular orientation to deflect a laser beam to a respective disk surface. The DMT is generally fabricated using a two-level partitioning process. Several prepared glass substrates, i.e., one for each mirror type, are initially sliced into bars having predetermined geometries. A bar from each substrate is sequentially aligned to a master reference and bonded to adjacent bars to form an intermediate bar stack. The stack is then segmented into a plurality of DMT components, each having a plurality of prism members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: Neville K. Lee, Amit Jain, Roy E. Martin
  • Patent number: 5526195
    Abstract: A rear view system for a vehicle (10) includes in combination a light transmitting member (2) and a light reflective medium (16) spatially displaced from the member. The member has a first face (4) for light emergence from which in use light rays are directed towards the medium (16) and a second face (6) for light incidence, each face being disposed on a respective side of a median plane (8). The member (2) comprises a plurality of elemental prismatic sections, the prismatic angles of the elemental sections progressively changing along the length of the member whereby rays of refracted light emerging through the first face are in parallelism or substantial parallelism one with the other irrespective of the angles of incidence of the rays. The shape of the light transmitting member (2) is such as to afford a wide angular scope of view to the system thereby to enhance safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Optical Perspectives Ltd.
    Inventor: Justin M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5525856
    Abstract: A light irradiation device emits a visible light and an ultraviolet ray by using one light source to reduce an energy cost and simplify a mechanism. A light source 7, a first reflection mirror 8 and a second reflection mirror 9 are provided in a case 6. A radiation light ranging from an ultraviolet area to a visible light area is emitted from the light source 7. The first reflection mirror 8 is a visible light reflection mirror and the second reflection mirror 9 is an ultraviolet ray reflection mirror. Of the light emitted from the light source 7, the visible light is reflected by the first reflection mirror 8 and the ultraviolet ray passes through the first reflection mirror 8 and is reflected by the second reflection mirror 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Kouji Kawai, Shigeki Ishihara
  • Patent number: 5504629
    Abstract: An optical projection system, capable of displaying an M.times.N number of pixels and having a reduced optical path and hence a reduced size, wherein M and N are integers, comprises a non-point light source, an array of M.times.N actuated mirrors, a projection screen, a projection lens and a lens system including a first lens unit, a second lens unit and an optical baffle located therebetween, wherein the optical baffle is provided with a plurality of apertures and light absorbing regions, each of the lens units includes an array of M.times.N microlenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae-Young Lim
  • Patent number: 5477602
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the production of panels for a large segmented parabolic telescope reflector, using a simple adaptation of a technique common to a lathe. The reflective surface of each panel is contoured both radially and circularly by oscillating a platen supporting the panel about a fixed axis relative to a tool which is fixed during platen oscillation. The tool is repositionable between oscillations along an x axis to achieve the radial contour and along a z axis to achieve the desired parabolic or spherical contour. Contrary to the normal contouring of such a surface with a 5-axis CNC machine, tool positioning along either axis is independent of tool location along the other axis, simplifying the machine structure as well as its computerized operation. A unique hinge is provided to restrain the platen in a radial direction while allowing floating action of the platen on an air cushion during its oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Bosma Machine & Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Marinus B. Bosma
  • Patent number: 5452136
    Abstract: A reflecting mirror, wherein mirror segments are fused together thereby composing the reflecting mirror by formulating square sums of displacements at a plurality of sampling points on a mirror surface of the reflecting mirror as a function of a thermal expansion coefficient vector having components of deviations of thermal expansion coefficients of the respective mirror segments from the average thermal expansion coefficients of all the mirror segments, positions of the components corresponding to arranging positions of the respective mirror segments; generating a stochastic process wherein the smaller the square sum of the displacement of the thermal expansion coefficient vector, the larger the probability whereby the thermal expansion coefficient vector appears, by a computer using random numbers; selecting the thermal expansion coefficient vector minimizing the square sum of the displacement from the appeared thermal expansion coefficient vectors; and arranging and fusing together the mirror segments in a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Nishiguchi, Aki Sasaki, Izumi Mikami, Kouki Asari
  • Patent number: 5430577
    Abstract: A double reflector is described which comprises two spaced apart primary mirrors oriented toward a common focus. The optical system further comprises two separate secondary deflector mirrors as well as tertiary deflector mirrors for beam concentration on a common focus. Both the primary mirrors and the secondary deflector mirrors are so-called off-axis reflectors, i.e. their surface represent surface sectors of a hypothetical big aspherical mirror body. As surface sectors of a hypothetical big hyperbolic mirror, the primary mirrors are inclined at an angle with respect to the common optical axis and each disposed at a given spacing from the same in such manner that the inner marginal rays of the incident radiation which are closest to the optical axis, will converge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignees: Karl F. Angstenberger, Hermann Hugenell
    Inventor: Hermann Hugenell
  • Patent number: 5361292
    Abstract: A series of segments of a parent aspheric mirror having one foci at at a si-point source of radiation and the other foci at the radius of a ring field have all but one or all of their beams translated and rotated by sets of mirrors such that all of the beams pass through the real entrance pupil of a ring field camera about one of the beams and fall onto the ring field radius as a coincident image as an arc of the ring field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventor: William C. Sweatt
  • Patent number: 5322053
    Abstract: A cooking panel member formed of a plurality of individual panel reflector plates includes first and second inner rows of individual panel plates hingedly mounted together, with first and second outer rows of panel plates interconnected to the inner rows of plates to provide a completed arcuate member having a concave surface to reflect heat to a cooking vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Inventor: Otto H. Leicht
  • Patent number: 5313326
    Abstract: A projection unit for a car head-up display comprises a display source, a curved mirror which provides the optical power of the projection unit and, in use, receives light from the display source, and a Fresnel mirror extending generally between the display source and the curved mirror and disposed to receive reflected light from the curved mirror and to reflect that light in a desired direction. The curved mirror and the Fresnel mirror may be disposed on a solid block of transparent material having one curved end coated to provide the curved mirror, the display source being located at an opposite end of the block, and the Fresnel mirror being formed in a block face extending from the opposite end of the block to the curved end of the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Pilkington plc
    Inventor: Andrew P. Ramsbottom
  • Patent number: 5235469
    Abstract: A horizontal cut stepped mirror mounted to the pillars of an automobile to either side of the windscreen. Such mirrors may be mounted for adjustment or affixed directly to the pillar. Cushioning and mechanical adjustments may be used in mounting to the pillar for safety. The mirrors can be mounted inwardly and/or outwardly of the side window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Inventor: Richard C. Horian
  • Patent number: 5223039
    Abstract: An illuminating apparatus includes a light source section; an integrator section for spreading out and making uniform light generated from the light source; and a collimator lens for making the light which is spread out and made uniform by the integrator section a parallel light flux, wherein the integrator section is formed of a reflecting member for reflecting light generated from the light source section toward the collimator lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobumasa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5222025
    Abstract: A concave Fresnel mirror, suitable for use in image display systems. With proper orientation of the facet slopes of the Fresnel mirror, the angular field presentation to the eye will represent a constant magnification for all points in the object space at the nominal eye position determined from the intended application of the invention. This invention provides a numerical means to determine the facet slopes of off-axis Fresnel reflectors using commonly available spreadsheet software which is then easily transformed into numerical control data for cutting the desired configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Roy Y. Taylor, II
  • Patent number: 5219445
    Abstract: An illuminating apparatus wherein light which is emitted by one or more projectors is divided into light beams by reflectors or lenses and is directed against the surface to be illuminated by an array of neighboring luminant spots in such a way that the eye of an observer looking at the spots from the surface to be illuminated is not affected by glare, that the surface is adequately illuminated, and that the eye can discern discrete luminant spots. This is accomplished by causing several light beams to impinge upon each unit area of the surface to be illuminated and by appropriate selection of the distance of the surface to be illuminated from the luminant spots as well as by appropriate selection of maximum dimensions of the spots and their mutual spacing in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventor: Christian Bartenbach
  • Patent number: 5157556
    Abstract: A main mirror for a reflecting telescope comprises plurality of individual polygonal reflecting elements (1 to 11) and positioning and adjusting elements (12) connected thereto. Prior art main mirrors of this type have a poor capacity for transmitting ponint images and for modulation and are unsuitable for use in the infrared region, because the positioning and adjustment elements, in particular the measurement sensors arranged in the region of the separating lignes between the individual polygonal reflecting elements (1 to 11) emit interfering thermal radiation. Furthermore, the polygonal reflecting elements (1 to 11) of prior art main mirrors (20) are expensive to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Karl F. Angstenberger
    Inventor: Hermann Hugenell
  • Patent number: 5153780
    Abstract: A dish reflector and method for concentrating moderate solar flux uniformly on a target plane on a solar cell array, the dish having a stepped reflective surface that is characterized by a plurality of ring-like segments arranged about a common axis, and each segment having a concave spherical configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Gary J. Jorgensen, Meir Carasso, Timothy J. Wendelin, Allan A. Lewandowski
  • Patent number: 5128787
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a transparent display, such as an LCD, is provided with back reflector having a plurality of reflecting facets angularly displaced with respect to the plane of the display cell so as to enhance contrast of the display without consumption of additional power while reducing glare. Advantageously the reflecting facets are oriented to concentrate reflection to a viewer of light above the viewer and light coming from over the viewer's shoulder. The result of such concentration is a display having backlit visual characteristics without the consumption of backlighting power. Preferred embodiments are disclosed for vertical and horizontal mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Greg E. Blonder
  • Patent number: 5113292
    Abstract: A grated thin-film surface forms a plurality of successive narrow silvered panels which are oriented to provide a composite and linear mirror. The thin film is mounted against a support whose inward face is a congruent replica of the inside upper section of a vehicle windshield, or sandwiched between the plies of such a support. The reflective surface is covered with a layer of liquid crystal of which the opacity can be electrically adjusted. The plane of each silvered panel is defined by a first transversal angle in reference to the horizon, and by a longitudinal angle in reference with the slant of the underlying inward face section of the support and windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Inventor: Anton K. Simson
  • Patent number: 5109349
    Abstract: A segmented mirror control system comprises an array of structural elements (e.g. mirrors) which can be actively positioned to maintain an accurate pre-determined overall shape. The present invention is "active" and so may be characterized as an Active Segmented Mirror Control "ASMC". The segments of a mirror or the reflecting panels, in for example, a radiotelescope, may be continually adjusted with ASMC to provide an accurate reflecting mirror of very large diameter even when disturbed by external forces. ASMC is a closed loop control system. That is, an array of sensors is first used to measure differential position errors. This data is then processed to determine position actuator commands. Finally, these commands are used to move the segments until the sensors are nulled and the desired shape is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Kaman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Bobby L. Ulich, Kent Pflibsen
  • Patent number: 5087116
    Abstract: An image display system is designed to provide a magnified presentation of the object for direct visual viewing with emphasis on low distortion and high apparent brightness. The image display system comprises two optical components: a concave Fresnel mirror surface and a second planar mirror surface, each coated with highly reflective material. Because there are two reflections in the optical path between the eye and the object, the presentation will be erect and right reading. The use of metallic coating will assure a high gain transfer of optical radiation from the object to the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Roy Y. Taylor, II
  • Patent number: 5074646
    Abstract: Alignment difficulties in optical computing arrangements are overcome by integrating the optical components on a single substrate and arranging the elements in a manner that causes them to interact with one another to perform the desired function. The substrate has one or two major surfaces and the elements are grown or fabricated on those surfaces using conventional integrated circuit manufacturing techniques. Most advantageously, the position-sensitive optical devices are manufactured on one side. Reflective planar optical devices are obtained by applying a reflective layer over the fabricated planar optical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Alan Huang, Jurgen Jahns
  • Patent number: 5054900
    Abstract: A grated thin-film surface forms a plurality of successive narrow silvered planes which are oriented to provide a composite and linear mirror. The thin film can be mounted against the inside upper section of a vehicle windshield, or sandwiched between the plies of a laminated windshield. The reflective surface is covered with a layer of liquid crystal of which the opacity can be electrically adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Inventor: Anton K. Simson
  • Patent number: 5050976
    Abstract: A mirror or antenna apparatus having individual petal segments, each of a complex shape, mated with a central hub assembly. Registration pads are provided on the hub assembly to align the petal segments with respect to the hub and each other. Electrical actuators provide fine tuning adjustments in the order of microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Graham W. Flint