FIBERSCOPE VIEWING SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC IMAGE ENHANCER

• US 3,740,115 A
• Filed: 09/02/1971
• Issued: 06/19/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warner Lambert Technologies Inc (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Henry B. Cole
• Inventors: Cole, Henry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Application Number:
  US05/177,229
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96B
• US Class Current: 385/25
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/065 with dynamic image improvement

Abstract

A flexible optical fiber viewing system including a relatively long and thin bundle of optical fibers having image-receiving and image-emitting opposite end faces and a bundle of tapered optical fibers having image-receiving and image-emitting opposite end faces. The image-emitting and image-receiving faces of the bundle of tapered fibers and the flexible fiber bundle respectively are optically interfacially coupled and one is rotated eccentrically relative to the other to effect nutation of images conveyed by the bundle of tapered fibers upon the image-receiving face of the flexible bundle of optical fibers. Rotated synchronously with the bundle of tapered optical fibers, adjacent the image-emitting face of the flexible bundle, is a tilted plate of glass or its equivalent which receives the optical images emitted by the flexible bundle for neutralizing motion imparted to these images at the image-receiving end of the bundle.

Claims

1. In a fiberscope viewing system including means for forming optical images of remote objects within the system, an elongated image-transmitting fiberscope having image-receiving and imageemitting opposite end faces and eye piece means in the system for viewing images transmitted by and emitted from said fiberscope, the improvement, in combination with said fiberscope, comprising:

a bundle of tapered optical fibers all secured together in sideby-side relationship with each other, corresponding larger ends of said fibers forming an image-receiving face of said bundle and corresponding opposite smaller ends of said fibers together forming an image-emitting face of said bundle, said imageemitting face of said bundle of tapered optical fibers and said image-receiving face of said fiberscope being optically interfacially coupled;

means for continuously moving said bundle of tapered optical fibers in given directions and amounts relative to said imagetransmitting fiberscope for imparting a nutuational movement of images emitted from said bundle into said fiberscope; and

means for continuously neutralizing said movement of images adjacent said image-emitting end of said fiberscope in directions and by amounts corresponding to said direction and amount of said moving of said bundle to stabilize said images for static viewing thereof in said eyepiece of said system.

2. The improvement in a fiberscope viewing system according to claim 1 wherein said means for neutralizing said movement of said images comprises a second bundle of tapered optical fibers being substantially constructionally identical to said first-mentioned bundle, said second bundle being disposed with its end of smallest dimension interfacially rotatably coupled to said image-emitting face of said fiberscope;

and means for moving said second bundle of tapered optical fibers synchronously in the same direction and extent as the movement of said first mentioned bundle.

3. The improvement in a fiberscope viewing system according to claim 2 wherein said first and second bundles of tapered optical fibers have their respective axes of symmetry offset from centers of respectively adjacently optically coupled image-receiving and image-emitting end faces of said fiberscope;

the extent and radial directions of said offset being substantially identical in each case; and

said means for moving said first and second bundles of tapered fibers is constructed and arranged to revolve said bundles of tapered fibers about centers of respectively adjacent end faces of said fiberscope.

4. The improvement in a fiberscope viewing system according to claim 1 wherein said means for neutralizing said movement of said images comprises:

a flat plate of glass adjacent said image-emitting face of said fiberscope, said plate of glass being tilted relative To said image-emitting face of said fiberscope sufficiently for effecting said neutralization of movement of images when rotated synchronously with said movement of said bundle of tapered optical fibers and means for rotating said plate of glass synchronously with said movement of said bundle of tapered fibers.