Cloaking or invisibility devices have been proposed many times.
A
popular solution uses a camera and display. The problems with
this approach include the complexity and only working from
one
viewing angle.
I propose a cloaking device that uses optic fibres and lenses,
which will work at
a range of angles.
First consider a bundle of optic fibres (see link to optic fibre
image conduit). This will transmit an image from one end of
the
optic fibre bundle to the other. The problem is that the light is
collimated and the image is only taken from one angle.
I propose using a bundle of fibre optics with a Luneburg lens at
each end of the optic fibre bundle (see my idea Luneburg
microlens array for more explanation of Luneburg lenses). Here
is
an attempted illustration:
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So light that enters the Luneburg lens is focused onto a
point
on the opposite side of the Luneburg lens. It then travels down
an
optic fibre. Then exits through the other Luneburg lens.
The image travelling down the optic fibre would need to be
inverted, which could be done most easily with a ordinary
convex
lens.
For a medium-ish resolution camouflage, each Luneburg lens
would be 1mm in diameter. A 20x20 array/bundle of optic
fibres
each of diameter of 25µm would 'flare out' and attach to the
surface of the Luneburg lens. The bundle would then taper and
have a diameter of 500µm.
This arrangement would give a single input/output pixel pair. A
bunch of these would be arranged such that space in the
middle
could be formed in which the thing/person can be concealed.