Patent ID: 6449103
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical system comprising:a solid optical substrate having a convex outer refracting surface, said surface covering most of the front and side of said substrate, said substrate having an internal convex primary reflector surface of radial symmetry, said primary reflector surface being in optical communication with a great circle surrounding it, the plane of said great circle being perpendicular to the optical axis of said optical system, said optical communication being through the outer refractive surface of said substrate, said primary reflector surface having sufficient curvature to be in optical communication with a substantial area in front of and behind the plane of said great circle, said primary reflector surface having an optically transparent central zone, said substrate also having an internal secondary reflector surface of radial symmetry, said secondary reflector surface being coaxially disposed in front of said primary reflector surface, said secondary reflector surface having its reflective surface facing said primary reflector surface, said secondary reflector surface being in optical communication with said great circle surrounding said primary reflector surface and said area in front and behind the plane of said great circle by means of reflection from said primary reflector surface and refraction through the outer surface of said substrate, whereby said optical system produces a virtual image of said great circle and said area above and below its plane, said virtual image being annular, said virtual image being visible from a vantage point behind said optically transparent central zone of said primary reflector surface due to said vantage point being in optical communication with said great circle and said area in front and behind the plane of said great circle by means of reflection from said secondary reflector surface and said primary reflector surface and refraction through the outer surface of said substrate; means for mounting said substrate, said means for mounting providing a protective shield behind the perimeter of said substrate, said means for mounting also having provision for handling the optical system without touching its optical surfaces; said means for mounting providing stable support and alignment of said substrate without causing deformation thereof, said means for mounting providing for attachment of said optical system to an article having a focal surface, said mounting means facilitating use of said optical system in any orientation, said optical system being associated with a refracting lens system, said refracting lens system being disposed coaxial to said optical system, both being associated with the formation of a real image of said virtual image at said focal surface, whereby said optical system when combined with said article having a focal surface facilitate the geometric conversion of said great circle and said area in front and behind the plane of said great circle into a real annular image at the focal surface of said article, or the geometric conversion of a two dimensional annular into a three dimensional projected image.