Optical: systems and elements – Binocular devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-05-29
Chang, Audrey (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Binocular devices
C359S464000, C359S465000, C359S466000, C359S629000, C348S054000, C348S055000, C348S057000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239908
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL ART
The instant invention generally relates to systems and methods for binocular imaging with a single display, and more particularly to compact systems that incorporate two eye lenses for viewing a single display.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Portable electronic imaging systems employing an electronic image display internal to an optical viewing assembly are well known and are generally designed for two primary applications. The most common is the camcorder, comprising a monocular viewfinder to provide a magnified virtual view of the recorded scene. Such viewfinders provide only a limited apparent field of view and a limited exit pupil and eye relief, and further limit viewing to one eye, resulting in an inconvenient configuration for the user and limited utility for other applications. One solution to this problem has been to replace the viewfinder with a larger flat television display. This solution provides comfortable viewing by both eyes with no exit pupil and eye relief restrictions. However, a large display costs and weighs significantly more than the conventional viewfinder, requires a great amount of battery power, and also provides only a limited field of view.
The second common application of optical viewing assemblies in electronic imaging systems is the head mounted display for night vision or virtual reality applications. Typically employing a biocular or binocular optical system to view one or two display panels, such systems generally provide wider fields of view and larger exit pupils than camcorder viewfinders by employing more elaborate and expensive optical systems, larger display panels, or both. However, the greater cost of such systems combined with the limited utility of head mounted displays results in restricted markets and subsequently in restricted development and production resources.
Generally the electronic image display is a relatively expensive part of a binocular electronic imaging system, particular if the imaging system incorporates separate displays for each eye. Accordingly, the cost of such systems may be reduced by utilizing a single electronic image display to display the binocular image to both eyes. Prior art compact optical systems for providing binocular viewing of a single display require an expensive and heavy beam-splitting cube necessary to preserve the orientation of the image to both eyes. Moreover, the position of a beam splitting cube between the two eye-lenses restricts the relative proximity thereof and accordingly limits the ergonomic utility of the optical system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention overcomes the above-noted problems by providing a compact beam-splitter system together with a means for alternately directing sequential images from a single image display to alternate eyes so that each eye sees only its respective correct orientation of the image. In accordance with a simplified optical display system, the views of the single image display from each respective viewing location, i.e. from separate eye positions, are relatively mirror imaged. Accordingly, the image displayed on the single image display when displayed for one viewing location is mirror imaged relative to that which would be displayed at the other viewing location.
In accordance with a first aspect of the instant invention a compact beam splitter system simultaneously directs the image from a single image display to both eyes, whereby a shutter system in synchronism with the display enables alternate eyes to view alternate sequential images that are displayed by the single display. The compact beam splitter system is preferably adapted so that the lengths of separate optical paths from the single display to each eye are equal. Furthermore, the reflectance of the reflective elements are adapted so that respective image intensities seen by each viewing location relative to the intensity of the image at the single display are also preferably equal. In the first aspect of the instant invention, the intensity of the image directed to each viewing location is less than the intensity of the image at the single display because the image is directed simultaneously to both viewing locations. The image generated by the image display comprises first and second sequential pluralities of image frames that are interleaved with one another, wherein the image frames of one of the sequential pluralities is for display to one eye of the viewer, and the image frames of the other of the sequential pluralities is for display to the other eye of the viewer. Accordingly, the separate sequential pluralities of image frames can contain separate stereoscopic views of a given object so as to provide the viewer a three dimensional view of the object being images. Moreover, one of the sequential pluralities of image frames which undergoes an odd number of reflections in the beam splitter system is displayed as a mirror image of the original source image. The light from the image display is distributed between first and second optical paths by a first beam splitter.
The light traveling on the first optical path is transmitted through a second beam splitter, then reflected off a first beam splitter, then reflected off the second beam splitter, and then travels through a first shutter to reach the first viewing location, wherein the first shutter is controlled in synchronism with the image display so as to be open in synchronism with the first sequential plurality of image frames and closed in synchronism with the second sequential plurality of image frames. A first focussing element in the first optical path, for example a first eye-lens, reimages the light from the image display at the first viewing location.
The light traveling on the second optical path is transmitted through the second beam splitter, then transmitted through the first beam splitter, then reflected off a reflector, and then travels through a second shutter to reach the second viewing location, wherein the second shutter is controlled in synchronism with the image display so as to be open in synchronism with the second sequential plurality of image frames and closed in synchronism with the first sequential plurality of image frames. A second focussing element in the second optical path, for example a second eye-lens, reimages the light from the image display at the first viewing location.
In accordance with a second aspect of the instant invention a compact beam splitter system alternately directs alternate sequential images from a single display to alternate eyes, whereby alternate sequential images are coded by the display with alternate polarizations, and the light is distributed between the separate optical paths by a polarizing beam splitter, wherein substantially all of the light of one polarization is distributed to the first optical path, and substantially all of the light of the other polarization is distributed to the second optical path. The second aspect of the instant invention differs from the first aspect by incorporating a polarization controllable image display, and a polarized beam splitter as the first beam splitter. Moreover, the second aspect of the instant invention does not incorporate the first and second shutters that are incorporated in the first aspect of the instant invention. The remaining elements of the first and second aspects of the instant invention are similar.
In accordance with the second aspect of the instant invention, the light from the single display is directed to either one viewing location or another, and is not simultaneously directed to both viewing locations. Accordingly, the second aspect of the instant invention provides for a greater efficiency than the first because more of the light from the display can reach each viewing location.
Accordingly, one object of the instant invention is to provide an improved compact binocular imaging system that incorporates a single display.
A further object of the instant invention is to provide an improved compact binocular imaging system that is relatively inexpensive to produce.
By dividing the imag
Chang Audrey
Dinnin & Dunn P.C
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