Steroscopic optical apparatus for use with television and video recording equipment

• US 5,270,751 A
• Filed: 01/25/1993
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John A. Christian
• Original Assignee: John A. Christian
• Inventors: Christian, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dowling, William C.
• Application Number:
  US08/008,416
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 353/7-8, 353/10, 352/62-63, 352/57, 352/60, 352/65, 352/86, 358/88, 358/3, 359/464, 359/466, 359/471-473, 359/477-479
• US Class Current: 353/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/35 using reflective optical elements in the optical path between the images and the observer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/211 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/327 Calibration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/339 using spatial multiplexing H04N13/337 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/346 using prisms or semi-transparent mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

Stereoscopic optical apparatus comprising a housing constructed to exclude spurious light sources, first and second optical devices having reflecting surfaces which together form a first pair of optical devices, and third and fourth optical devices having reflecting surfaces which together form a second pair of optical devices. The stereoscopic optical apparatus being such that the first optical device is positioned below the second optical device and the third optical device is positioned below the fourth optical device, the first and third optical devices are inclined a first way and the second and fourth optical devices are inclined a second way. One of the optical devices from the first and second pairs of optical devices being such as to form two optical devices which are level and have their optical center lines separated by a distance, "d", said pairs of optical devices providing left and right views of an object. The stereoscopic optical apparatus being such that it is able to operate in a recording mode for recording images in a camera and in a viewing mode for translating an electronic or photographic display into a human viewable form.

Claims

1. Stereoscopic optical apparatus comprising a housing which is constructed to exclude spurious light sources, a pair of first ports in a first face of the housing, a second port in a second face of the housing, first and second optical devices which each have a reflecting surface and which together form a first pair of optical devices, and third and fourth optical devices which each have a reflecting surface and which together form a second pair of optical devices, and the stereoscopic optical apparatus being such that:

(a) the first optical device is positioned below the second optical device;

(b) the first optical device is inclined with respect to horizontal and has an edge which lies in a vertical datum plane extending through an optical centre of the housing;

(c) the first optical device is rotatable about a horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the vertical datum plane such that the said edge of the first optical device remains in the vertical datum plane;

(d) the second optical device has an upper edge which lies in the vertical datum plane;

(e) the second optical device is rotatable about its upper edge;

(f) the second optical device is inclined with respect to the vertical datum plane;

(g) the third optical device is positioned below the fourth optical device;

(h) the third optical device is inclined with respect to horizontal;

(i) the third optical device has an edge which lies in the vertical datum plane;

(j) the fourth optical device has a lower edge which lies in the vertical datum plane;

(k) the fourth optical device is rotatable about its lower edge;

(l) the fourth optical device is inclined with respect to the vertical datum plane; and

(m) one of the optical devices from the first pair of optical devices and one of the optical devices from the second pair of optical devices being such as to form two optical devices which are on the same level and aligned with said pair of first ports and which have their optical center lines separated by a distance, "d", said pairs of optical devices providing left and right view images of an object that can be detected and recorded, said distance "d" being interpreted by a human brain to be the human inter-ocular distance when said recorded left and right images are viewed by left and right human eyes respectively;

the stereoscopic optical apparatus being such that it is able to operate in a recording mode for recording images in a camera when the first ports are used as entry ports and the second port is used as an exit port, and the stereoscopic optical apparatus being such that it is able to operate in a viewing mode for translating an electronic or photographic display into a human viewable form when the first ports are used as exit ports and the second port is used as an entry port.

2. Stereoscopic optical apparatus according to claim 1 in which the housing has a matt black inner surface.

3. Stereoscopic optical apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first, second, third and fourth optical devices are each a mirror.

4. Stereoscopic optical apparatus according to claim 1 and including correction means for ensuring that two separate images which are obtained during use of the stereoscopic optical apparatus are such that all lines seen to be vertical in one of the images are parallel with corresponding lines in the other image.

5. Stereoscopic optical apparatus according to claim 4 in which the correction means permits the third optical device to be rotatably adjustable about its edge which lies in the vertical datum plane.