Dynamic image enhancer for fiberscopes

• US 4,154,502 A
• Filed: 02/01/1978
• Issued: 05/15/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warner Lambert Limited (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: American Optical Corporation
• Inventors: Siegmund, Walter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US05/874,073
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 350/6.2, 350/96.24, 350/96.25, 350/96.26, 350/96.27
• US Class Current: 385/116
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/065 with dynamic image improvement

Abstract

A short fiber optic image transmitter receives an image produced by a fiberscope objective and transmits the image to the image receiving end of the flexible fiber optic bundle of the fiberscope. The short image transmitter is oscillated about an axis normal to its direction of image transmission for causing images transmitted thereby to scan across the image receiving end of the fiberscope bundle. Synchronous scanning of the opposite image emitting end of the fiberscope bundle renders the received images stationary and of enhanced resolution.

Claims

1. A dynamic image enhancement system for a first bundle of optical fibers having image receiving and emitting opposite end faces and means for scanning images to be transmitted by said first bundle across its image receiving face wherein the improvement comprises:

said scanning means including a second image transmitting bundle of tightly juxtapositioned optical fibers having image receiving and image emitting opposite faces, said receiving and emitting faces of respective first and second bundles adjoining each other with allowance for relative movement therebetween;

field flattening means preceding said second image transmitting bundle; and

means for oscillating said second bundle relative to said first bundle about an axis extending transversely substantially centrally therethrough for effecting a scanning of images transmitted by said second bundle across said receiving face of said first bundle and said allowance for relative movement between said image emitting face of said second bundle and image receiving face of said first bundle being effected by rendering said last mentioned faces approximately equally radially curved.

2. A dynamic image enhancement system according to claim 1 wherein said field flattening means includes a third bundle of tightly juxtapositioned optical fibers, said third bundle having an image emitting face curved to substantially match the curvature of said image receiving face of said second bundle and disposed in aligned adjoining relationship with said image receiving face of said second bundle.

3. A dynamic image enhancement system for a first bundle of optical fibers having image receiving and emitting opposite end faces and means for scanning images to be transmitted by said first bundle across its image receiving face wherein the improvement comprises

said scanning means including a second image transmitting bundle of tightly juxtapositioned optical fibers having image receiving and image emitting opposite faces, said receiving and emitting faces of respective first and second bundles adjoining each other with allowance for relative movement therebetween;

means for oscillating said second bundle relative to said first bundle for effecting a scanning of images transmitted by said second bundle across said receiving face of said first bundle, said means for oscillating said second bundle relative to said first bundle including an alternating current solenoid encircling said first bundle adjacent said image receiving face thereof and a transversely magnetized permanent magnet on said second bundle.