{{Short description|Optical device}}{{Cleanup|date=March 2024|reason=The article needs a more in-depth description of the subject in question.|talk=Discussion should be held on whether or not there needs to be elaboration, rewriting, imagery, etc, on this article.}}

An '''illusion transmitter''' uses two parabolic mirrors to transmit 3-D illusions of an object by use of a camera trained on the first mirror, which then sends video signals to a projector aimed at the second mirror. It was invented by Valerie Thomas; she received a patent in 1980.<ref>{{US patent reference |number= 4229761 |issue-date= October 21, 1980 |inventor= Valerie L. Thomas |title= Illusion Transmitter}}</ref> She developed it for the purpose of sending three-dimensional images across a distance, making them look as if they are in front of the mirror.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Henderson |first=Susan |title= African-American Inventors III |pages= 28–33 |date= January 1, 1998 |publisher= Capstone Press | isbn=978-1560656982}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title= First Women in Space - 19 Famous Women Who Explored Space SSU|journal= Popular Mechanics |author= Daisy Hernandez |date= June 8, 2020 |page= 10 |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/g27505368/women-in-space/ |access-date= 31 January 2022}}</ref> As of 2022, the technology is still used by NASA and is being adapted for use in surgery, as well as for televisions and video screens.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.biography.com/scientist/valerie-thomas |title=Valerie Thomas - Inventions, NASA, and Facts - Biography |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=12 April 2021 |orig-date=2 April 2014 |website=Biography.com |publisher=A&E Television Networks |access-date=2 February 2022 |quote=This technology was subsequently adopted by NASA and has since been adapted for use in surgery as well as the production of television and video screens.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/valerie-thomas |title=Valerie Thomas &#124; Lemelson |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=LEMELSON-MIT |publisher=MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY |access-date=2 February 2022 |quote=NASA uses the technology today, and scientists are currently working on ways to incorporate it into tools for surgeons to look inside the human body, and possibly for television sets and video screens one day.}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Transmitter