Game: Guess the mystery object !

It might help if I added this qualifier:
Not ONLY a lens.

Some background, this is an image of what the device projects when shined at a vertical wall. The picture is zoomed in to show the aberration because pretty.



Here is another view with some objects that may give you an idea of the spread pattern of this particular light output. Usually, these devices are installed in pairs. This was a test run of a single device, not mounted in its intended system.

Hak, post up what you got! I think we can handle two concurrent mysteries.

HID headlight?

HID projector headlights

Arg got it first, djQuan got it more specifically. Also acceptable: car headlight, or even just car! The projector incorporates a 2.5" aspheric lens, and I used the clearest one I could find at the time, for a nice, sharp cutoff. Then defocused a smidge for a bit of flair.

There is a device in Halogen and HID projector headlamps that cause that. That is why there is such a sharp cutoff.

Without the cutoff, you would be blinded by the lights. Kind of like you would by the idiots that put HID bulbs in housings that originally had halogen bulbs.

I should know, since I got retrofits in my car too which one did you get? I'm using FX-R ones with Osram bulbs. Best money I've ever spent on car lighting.

I've got OEM FX-35 bixenon projectors, with the 2.5" clears from OEM Acura TSX. It's modded to a single cutoff shield for more blue. Stock, it has two cutoffs that are just inside and outside the focal curve of the lens, which results in combined orangy aberration with blue aberration, to make a less distracting color at the cutoff. Powered by Philips 85122 and Hella "Gen 3" OEM ballasts (the ones with igniter and ballast in the same box).

My biggest mistake was using OEM-style housings. While I'm not using the reflector portion, the clear cover portion does not have the same UV-blocking coating that the OEM housing has.

djQuan, either you or ARG both won, so either of you can post the next one. We're still waiting on Hak to post his too :beer:

drEvil, yep, it's amazing how delicate the shields looked. Working with these is how I learned a bit more about lenses, noticing that "straight across" shields result in defocused outer wings, while a curved shield is sharp all across the cutoff, making me believe that there is a "focal curve", a curved plane in space, where the aspheric's focal point lies. Aspherics still confuse me, because the main definition I see is that it is a lens that has not a spherical surface, but rather, a transformed sphere. Not knowing what the transform is, or how it affects things like focal points, still confuses me. Kind of like how my writing style confuses everybody who reads it

BShanahan14rulz said:

Arg got it first, djQuan got it more specifically. Also acceptable: car headlight, or even just car! The projector incorporates a 2.5" aspheric lens, and I used the clearest one I could find at the time, for a nice, sharp cutoff. Then defocused a smidge for a bit of flair.

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A buddy of mine just put HIDs on his car, and I still didn't recognize it until someone said HID, and it clicked. Good "object"

Try this one on for size.

Perhaps it is some sort of layer in an epitaxially grown semiconductor? I almost feel like I have seen that picture within the last 2 years. More likely, it is an ultrasound image from a pregnant millipede. It's cute!

Perhaps DNA?

Cheaters!

link said:

1-dna-imaged-with-electron-microscope-for-the-first-time-thumb-615x461-106831.jpeg

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Mine is a true mystery item- found at a carwash- If I could find who left it i would try to return as i bet these are not cheap
These pics where taken on the hood (bonnet in UK) of my Merc-
the part at each end rotates -I guess so it can fit better in the nylon zipper bag. I had to hold it with one hand when I took the pic with the screen extended- a very powerful spring inside to roll this thing back up-- the screen at the top is fixed- only the bottom part moves-- my guess is a thingy you put in the rear window of a truck or SUV or wagon .. there no markings that I could find on it-- not an easy item to search on--
I tried a greedbay- several ways-- no luck..

hak

It's a wind buffeting screen for a convertible.

I think you got it, now you have to post something for the rest of the troops to guess at

Polonium210 said:

It's a wind buffeting screen for a convertible.

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Polonium210 said:

It's a wind buffeting screen for a convertible.

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You may be correct--BUt i want to find out what car (etc) this was made for--
I may put it up at Greedbay BUT only after i give the owner time to contact the car wash about leaving it behind----- so i really need to know what make of car this is for--I guess I can stop by any dealerships around here to see if a salesperson can give me the info I need.

EDIt-- JUST my take on the blue headlights--(not wanting to argue as its JUST my opinion and there is nothing anyone can say that will change it..

________________


BTW AND IMHO
I would never switch to those headlights- as they really piss a lot of people off- For every bit better YOU can see- those coming at you are blinded- equally-(not a good thing) AND THIS IS MUCH WORSE ON SENIORS-

I have seen cars ahead of me flashing brights at a car on-coming with these headlights AND is NOT using their brights- it just LOOKS like brights-- what does that tell you?? -- With concealed handgun permits- and road rage everywhere-- somebody will get pissed off enough to do something even dumber than the blue headlights- whats legal and whats the right thing to do are clashing over this--
One trucker trick that helps me is to cover or close one eye- as you will still get your better nightvision back quicker than seeing the light with both eyes..

"just sayin''
.

Ok here's one