Pinhead mirror

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Principle of a pinhead camera. Light rays from the object reflect off a small mirror and are projected as an image.
Principle of a pinhead camera. Light rays from the object reflect off a small mirror and are projected as an image.

A pinhead mirror can be used to create a camera similar to a pinhole camera. Instead of passing through a tiny hole, the light to form the image is reflected by a small disc-shaped mirror (with a diameter the same as that of a pinhole; about 0.15mm-0.4mm). One advantage is that a pinhead mirror can be swivelled to scan a scene or project a scene to different locations.

Pinhead mirror technology is protected under US patent 4,948,211 - "Method and Apparatus for Optical Imaging Using a Small, Flat Reflecting Surface".

[edit] References

  • TH Nilsson (1986) "The Pinhead mirror: A previously undiscovered imaging device?" Applied Optics, 25, 2863-2864
  • TH Nilsson (1987) "Pinhead mirrors: imaging, computing and the nature of light" Pinhole Journal, 4, 2-5.


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