Patent ID: 7614749
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: B29D,G02B

Abstract:
1. A countertop apparatus for generating an aerial image of an object, comprising: a housing with a substantially counter height, having a top surface including a window therein; support means, within said housing for an object to be displayed as an aerial image outside of said window; means for illuminating said object; a partially silvered planar beamsplitter positioned on an optical path of light rays from said illuminated object; a plastic spherical mirror positioned within said housing directed at said window and located at a 45-degree angle with respect to said partially silvered beamsplitter, whereby light rays from said object are partially reflected by said partially silvered beamsplitter toward said plastic spherical mirror directly through said partially silvered beamsplitter and through said window to generate the aerial image of said object outside of said housing, wherein the plastic sperical mirror comprises a plurality of plastic parts forming a mirror surface, and said plastic parts are supported by a plurality of wall structures placed in the plastic parts to prevent aberration and distortion of said plastic parts; and means for preventing an observer viewing said aerial image from seeing reflected images from outside of said housing in said window, wherein objects contained within said housing are displayed as an aerial image in the region of the top of the housing window.