Stereoscopic video/film adapter

• US 6,683,716 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SL3D Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SL3D Incorporated
• Inventors: Costales, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US09/565,662
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 359/465, 359/464, 359/462, 359/371, 359/376, 359/377, 359/499
• US Class Current: 359/465
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/22 Stereoscopic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/24 involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters

Abstract

A method for creating stereoscopic images wherein an image altering filter is interposed at the aperture stop of a relay lens system. The relay lens system forms an adapter between the ocular hole of an instrument and the oculars of an instrument. When a pair of such adapters are used in a binocular instrument, and when the adapters are correctly oriented, a 3D image is made available for viewing.

Claims

1. A method for encoding depth information of a subject in a multiple element lens system, comprising:

providing at least a first optical encoder located at least substantially at an aperture stop or a conjugate thereof of a multiple element lens system, the aperture stop or conjugate thereof being located within a multiple element lens system, and

passing light containing the depth information through the at least a first optical encoder, wherein the first optical encoder covers only a portion of the aperture stop or conjugate thereof so as to create first and second light portions having transverse polarization orientations, wherein the at least a first optical encoder encodes a third portion of the light, wherein the first and second light portions provide horizontal head-motion parallax and the third portion provides vertical head-motion parallax.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light has a common polarization orientation before contacting the first optical encoder and the polarization orientations of the first and second light portions are at least substantially orthogonal to one another after contacting the first optical encoder and wherein the third light portion is encoded differently from the first and second light portions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second light portions follow a common optical path and converge on an image plane and wherein the multiple element lens system comprises a plurality of lenses and the aperture stop or conjugate thereof is positioned between at least two of the plurality of lenses.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising before the passing step:

first passing an input light beam through at least a first polarizing filter to form the light wherein the first polarizing filter causes the light to have a common polarization orientation; and

further comprising after the passing step;

second passing each of the first and second light portions through separate respective polarizing filters, wherein the separate polarizing filters have at least substantially orthogonal polarization orientations.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first polarizing filter and first optical encoder are part of an integral unit.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the respective polarizing filters and the first optical encoder are part of an integral unit.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising a polarization rotator and wherein the polarization rotator is positioned between the first polarizing filter and the respective polarizing filters and the first and respective polarizing filters, first optical encoder and polarization rotator, are part of an integral unit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the polarization rotator is a variable retarder.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the first polarizing filter is a coating on a front element of a lens system.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the respective polarizing filters are coatings on a substrate.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the first polarizing filter has substantially the same polarization orientation as the first optical encoder.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein one of the respective polarizing filters has substantially the same polarization orientation as the first optical encoder.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein the first polarizing filter is a coating on the substrate.

14. A method of claim 1, wherein the first optical encoder is a retarder located within an objective lens.

15. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

rotating the polarization orientation of at least one of first and second light portions.

16. A method of claim 15, wherein the rotation is performed by a switched retarder and the switched retarder is orientated such that, when the switched retarder is in a switched mode, the polarization orientation of the switched retarder is substantially the same as the polarization orientation of one of first and second light portions.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the switched retarder is a liquid crystal retarder.

18. A method of claim 1, further comprising before the passing step:

passing the light through a relay lens system to form a conjugate of the aperture stop and wherein the first optical encoder is located at or near the conjugate of the aperture stop.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising before the passing step:

passing the light through at least a first polarizing filter to provide filtered light having a common polarization orientation and wherein the polarization orientations of the first and second light portions are at least substantially orthogonal to one another.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising after the passing step:

passing one of the first and second light portions through at least a first analyzing polarizing filter having at least substantially the same polarization orientation as the one of the first and second light portions; and

passing the other of the first and second light portions through at least a second analyzing polarizing filter having at least substantially the same polarization orientation as the other of the first and second light portions.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is not collimated at the aperture stop or conjugate thereof and wherein the at least a first optical encoder is positioned at a distance from a pupil of the multiple element lens system.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least a first polarizing beam splitter positioned so as to contact the light portions.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is not collimated at the aperture stop or conjugate thereof.

24. A multiple element lens system for encoding depth information of a subject, comprising:

lens means for receiving light containing the depth information, wherein the lens means comprises multiple lenses; and

at least a first optical encoding means, positioned at least substantially at an aperture stop or a conjugate thereof, for creating first and second light portions having transverse polarization orientations, wherein the aperture stop or conjugate thereof is positioned between adjacent lenses in the lens means and wherein the at least a first optical encoding means filter encodes a third portion of the light, wherein the first and second light portions provide horizontal head-motion parallax and the third portion provides vertical head-motion parallax.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the light has a common polarization orientation before contacting the at least first optical encoding means, wherein the polarization orientations of the first and second light portions are at least substantially orthogonal to one another after contacting the at least first optical encoding means, and wherein the at least first optical encoding means covers only a portion of the aperture stop or conjugate thereof and wherein the third light portion is encoded differently from the first and second light portions.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the first and second light portions follow a common optical path and converge on a common image plane and the aperture stop or conjugate thereof at which the at least first optical encoding means is positioned is not located at a pupil.

27. A system of claim 24, wherein the lens means comprises:

at least a first polarizing filter for receiving an input light beam to form the light wherein the first polarizing filter causes the light to have a common polarization orientation;

and further comprising in the optical path after the first optical encoding means;

separate respective polarizing filters for filtering each of the first and second light portions, wherein the separate polarizing filters have at least substantially orthogonal polarization orientations.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first polarizing filter and first optical encoding means are part of an integral unit.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the respective polarizing filters and the first optical encoding means are part of an integral unit.

30. The system of claim 27, further comprising a polarization rotator and wherein the polarization rotator is positioned between the first polarizing filter and the respective polarizing filters and the first and respective polarizing filters, first optical encoding means and polarization rotator, are part of an integral unit.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the polarization rotator is a variable retarder.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the first polarizing filter is a coating on a front element of the lens means.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the respective polarizing filters are coatings on a substrate.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein the first polarizing filter has substantially the same polarization orientation as the first optical encoding means.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein one of the respective polarizing filters has substantially the same polarization orientation as the first optical encoding means.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein the first polarizing filter is a coating on the substrate.

37. A system of claim 24, wherein the first optical encoding means is a retarder located in an objective lens.

38. A system of claim 24, further comprising:

means for rotating the polarization orientation of at least one of first and second light portions.

39. A system of claim 38, wherein the means for rotating is a switched retarder and the switched retarder is orientated such that, when the switched retarder is in a switched mode, the polarization orientation of the switched retarder is substantially the same as the polarization orientation of one of first and second light portions.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the switched retarder is a liquid crystal retarder.

41. A system of claim 24, wherein the lens means comprises:

a relay lens system that forms a conjugate of the aperture stop and wherein the first optical encoding means is located at the conjugate of the aperture stop.

42. The system of claim 24, wherein the lens means comprises:

at least a first polarizing filter that provides filtered light having a common polarization orientation.

43. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

at least a first analyzing polarizing filter positioned to receive one of the first and second light portions and having at least substantially the same polarization orientation as the one of the first and second light portions; and

at least a second analyzing polarizing filter positioned to receive the other of the first and second light portions and having at least substantially the same polarization orientation as the other of the first and second light portions.

44. The system of claim 24, wherein the light is not collimated at the aperture stop and/or conjugate thereof.

45. The system of claim 24, further comprising at least a first polarizing beam splitter positioned so as to contact the light portions.

46. A multiple element lens system for encoding depth information of a subject, comprising:

a plurality of lenses operable to receive light containing the depth information; and

at least a first optical encoder, positioned at least substantially at an aperture stop or a conjugate thereof, for creating first and second light portions having transverse polarization orientations, wherein the aperture stop or conjugate thereof at which the at least a first optical encoder is positioned is located between adjacent lenses of the plurality of lenses and wherein the at least a first optical encoder encodes a third portion of the light, wherein the first and second light portions provide horizontal head-motion parallax and the third portion provides vertical head-motion parallax.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the light has a common polarization orientation before contacting the at least a first optical encoder, wherein the polarization orientations of the first and second light portions are at least substantially orthogonal to one another, wherein the at least first optical encoder covers only a portion of the aperture stop or conjugate thereof, and wherein the third light portion is encoded differently from the first and second light portions.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the first and second light portions follow a common optical path and converge on a common image plane and wherein the at least a first optical encoder is not positioned at or near a pupil.

49. A system of claim 46, wherein the one or more lenses comprises:

at least a first polarizing filter operable to filter an input light beam to form the light wherein the first polarizing filter causes the light to have a common polarization orientation;

and further comprising in the optical path after the first optical encoder;

separate respective polarizing filters operable to filter each of the first and second light portions, wherein the separate polarizing filters have at least substantially orthogonal polarization orientations.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the first polarizing filter and first optical encoder are part of an integral unit.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the respective polarizing filters and the first optical encoder are part of an integral unit.

52. The system of claim 49, further comprising a polarization rotator and wherein the polarization rotator is positioned between the first polarizing filter and the respective polarizing filters and the first and respective polarizing filters, first optical encoder and polarization rotator, are part of an integral unit.

53. The system of claim 49, wherein the first polarizing filter is a coating on a front element of a lens in the one or more lenses.

54. The system of claim 49, wherein the respective polarizing filters are coatings on a substrate.

55. The system of claim 49, wherein the first polarizing filter has substantially the same polarization orientation as the first optical encoder.

56. The system of claim 49, wherein one of the respective polarizing filters has substantially the same polarization orientation as the first optical encoder.

57. The system of claim 49, wherein the first polarizing filter is a coating on the substrate.

58. A system of claim 46, wherein the first optical encoder is a retarder located inside of an objective lens.

59. A system of claim 46, further comprising:

a polarization rotator operable to rotate the polarization orientation of at least one of first and second light portions.

60. A system of claim 59, wherein the polarization rotator is a switched retarder and the switched retarder is orientated such that, when the switched retarder is in a switched mode, the polarization orientation of the switched retarder is substantially the same as the polarization orientation of one of first and second light portions.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the switched retarder is a liquid crystal retarder.

62. A system of claim 46, wherein the one or more lenses comprises:

a relay lens system that forms a conjugate of the aperture stop and wherein the first optical encoder is located at the conjugate of the aperture stop.

63. The system of claim 46, wherein the one or more lenses comprises:

at least a first polarizing filter operable to provide filtered light having a common polarization orientation.

64. The system of claim 46, further comprising:

at least a first analyzing polarizing filter operable to filter one of the first and second light portions and having at least substantially the same polarization orientation as the one of the first and second light portions; and

at least a second analyzing polarizing filter operable to filter the other of the first and second light portions and having at least substantially the same polarization orientation as the other of the first and second light portions.

65. The system of claim 46, wherein the light is not collimated at the aperture stop or conjugate thereof.

66. The system of claim 46, further comprising at least a first polarizing beam splitter positioned so as to contact the light portions.

67. A method for encoding depth information of a subject in a multiple element lens system, comprising:

providing a multiple element lens system having an aperture stop, the multiple element lens system comprising an objective lens and at least a first optical encoder, wherein the objective lens is positioned at the aperture stop or a conjugate thereof, the aperture stop or conjugate thereof is located within the multiple element lens system, and the at least a first optical encoder is positioned inside of the objective lens;

receiving, with the lens system, light containing depth information regarding a subject; and

passing the light through the at least a first optical encoder, wherein the first optical encoder covers only a portion of the aperture stop or conjugate thereof so as to create first and second light portions having transverse polarization orientations.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the light has a common polarization orientation before contacting the first optical encoder and the polarization orientations of the first and second light portions are at least substantially orthogonal to one another after contacting the first optical encoder.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein the first and second light portions follow a common optical path and converge on a common image plane and wherein the multiple lens elements comprise a plurality of lenses and the aperture stop or conjugate thereof at which the first encoder is positioned is located between adjacent lenses.

70. A method of claim 67, further comprising before the passing step:

first passing an input light beam through at least a first polarizing filter to form the light wherein the first polarizing filter causes the light to have a common polarization orientation; and

further comprising after the passing step;

second passing each of the first and second light portions through separate respective polarizing filters, wherein the separate polarizing filters have at least substantially orthogonal polarization orientations.

71. A method of claim 70, further comprising:

rotating the polarization orientation of at least one of first and second light portions.

72. A method of claim 71, wherein the rotation is performed by a switched retarder and the switched retarder is orientated such that, when the switched retarder is in a switched mode, the polarization orientation of the switched retarder is substantially the same as the polarization orientation of one of first and second light portions.

73. A method of claim 67, wherein the at least a first optical encoder is a retarder.

74. The method of claim 67, further comprising before the passing step:

passing the light through at least a first polarizing filter to provide filtered light having a common polarization orientation and wherein the polarization orientations of the first and second light portions are at least substantially orthogonal to one another.

75. The method of claim 67, further comprising after the passing step:

passing one of the first and second light portions through at least a first analyzing polarizing filter having at least substantially the same polarization orientation as the one of the first and second light portions; and

passing the other of the first and second light portions through at least a second analyzing polarizing filter having at least substantially the same polarization orientation as the other of the first and second light portions.

76. A method for encoding depth information of a subject in a multiple element lens system, comprising:

providing at least a first optical encoder located at least substantially at an aperture stop or a conjugate thereof of a multiple element lens system, the aperture stop or conjugate thereof being located within a multiple element lens system, wherein the at least a first optical encoder is located inside of an objective lens, the objective lens being positioned at the aperture stop or a conjugate thereof and

passing light containing the depth information through the at least a first optical encoder, wherein the first optical encoder covers only a portion of the aperture stop or conjugate thereof so as to create first and second light portions having transverse polarization orientations.