Modular integral magnifier

• US 7,002,749 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stanley H. Kremen
• Original Assignee: Stanley H. Kremen
• Inventors: Kremen, Stanley H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US10/904,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20050088749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 359/618, 359/619, 359621-623, 359/19, 348/51, 345/419
• US Class Current: 359/619
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 25/008 comprising two or more lenses G02B25/004 - G02B25/007 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/027 comprising magnifying means G02B27/023, G02B27/025, G02B27/04, G02B27/06 and G02B27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/005 arranged along a single direction only, e.g. lenticular sheets G02B3/0043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0056 arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0062 Stacked lens arrays, i.e. refractive surfaces arranged in at least two planes, without structurally separate optical elements in-between
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/26 Processes or apparatus specially adapted to produce multiple sub- holograms or to obtain images from them, e.g. multicolour technique
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/307 using fly-eye lenses, e.g. arrangements of circular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

A Modular Integral Magnifier that produces a uniformly magnified orthoscopic three-dimensional image of an original three-dimensional scene. The optical elements to achieve this effect are always maintained in relative alignment and registration regardless of movement and temperature deformations. The modules may be used together to construct a large composite high resolution viewing aperture or screen for large audiences to observe the magnified three-dimensional image. It may be used with photography, videography, or optical imaging of live scenes. It may be used for both still-life and animated three-dimensional images.

Claims

1. A device that produces a uniformly magnified image of a three-dimensional scene, the device being adapted to receive an input integral frame representing the three-dimensional scene unmagnified, said input integral frame comprising a plurality of elemental images arranged in a matrix having a separation characteristic and an image characteristic, wherein said device comprises:

a) an input element adapted to receive the input integral frame;

b) a transmigrator, having an input end and an output end, arranged to transmit and uniformly enlarge by a magnification factor the input integral frame to form an enlarged integral frame having an enlarged frame separation characteristic, wherein the ratio of the enlarged frame separation characteristic to the input frame separation characteristic is equal to the magnification factor; and

,

c) an output matrix lens array, having a focal characteristic and a separation characteristic wherein;

i) the output lens array comprises a plurality of imaging elements equal in number and geometrically similar in arrangement as the elemental images of the enlarged integral frame;

ii) the separation characteristic of the output lens array is equal to the separation characteristic of the enlarged frame;

iii) the ratio of each element of the focal characteristic of the output lens array to the corresponding element of the image characteristic of the input frame is equal to the magnification factor; and

,

iv) each imaging element of the output array is arranged in fixed alignment with each elemental image of the enlarged integral frame.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the input element is a surface.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the surface is substantially planar.

4. The device of claim 2 further comprising an integral photograph affixed to the input element surface.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising an output element to receive the second integral frame, said output element positioned between the transmigrator and the output lens array.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the output element is a surface.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the surface is substantially planar.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising an input matrix lens array adapted to produce the input integral frame, said lens array being in fixed alignment with the input element, wherein:

a) the input lens array comprises a plurality of imaging elements equal in number and geometrically similar in arrangement as the imaging elements of the output lens array;

b) the input lens array has a separation characteristic equal to the separation characteristic of the input integral frame; and

c) the input lens array has a focal characteristic;

d) the ratio of the focal characteristic of the output lens array to that of the input lens array is equal to the magnification factor.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the input lens array is a refractive lens.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the input lens array is a reflective lens.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the input lens array is a diffractive optical element.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the input lens array is a holographic optical element.

13. The device of claim 8 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the input lens array is a spherical lens.

14. The device of claim 8 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the input lens array is formed from two or more crossed cylindrical lenses.

15. The device of claim 8 wherein at least one of the imaging elements focuses light or electromagnetic radiation in one and only one direction.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the input lens array is a cylindrical lens.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the output lens array is a refractive lens.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the output lens array is a reflective lens.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the output lens array is a diffractive optical element.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the output lens array is a holographic optical element.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the output lens array is a spherical lens.

22. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the output lens array is formed from two or more crossed cylindrical lenses.

23. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the imaging elements focuses light or electromagnetic radiation in one and only one direction.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein at least one of the imaging elements of the output lens array is a cylindrical lens.

25. The device of claim 23 wherein some or all of the imaging elements of the output lens array are arranged linearly.

26. The device of claim 1 wherein some or all of the imaging elements of the output lens array are arranged in a rectangular matrix.

27. The device of claim 1 wherein some or all of the imaging elements of the output lens array are arranged in a hexagonally close packed matrix.

28. The device of claim 1 further comprising a television screen or video monitor affixed to the input element.

29. The device of claim 1 further comprising a means for projecting an integral frame being affixed to the input element.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein the integral frame is projected as an analog projection.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein projection is accomplished electro-magnetically.

32. The device of claim 30 wherein projection is accomplished optically.

33. The device of claim 29 wherein the integral frame is projected by scanning.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein the integral frame is projected digitally.

35. The device of claim 34 wherein a digital light processor chip is used to prepare the integral frame for projection.

36. The device of claim 33 wherein projection is accomplished electro-magnetically.

37. The device of claim 33 wherein projection is accomplished optically.

38. The device of claim 1 further comprising evening optics.

39. The device of claim 38 wherein the everting optics are affixed between the input element and the input end of the transmigrator.

40. The device of claim 38 wherein the transmigrator comprises the everting optics.

41. The device of claim 38 wherein the everting optics are affixed between the output end of the transmigrator and the output matrix lens array.

42. The device of claim 38 wherein the everting optics are affixed to the output matrix lens array.

43. The device of claim 38 wherein the everting optics is a matrix lens array.

44. A screen that produces a uniformly magnified image of a three-dimensional scene, comprising a plurality of magnifying devices arranged in a matrix, said magnifying devices each comprising:

a) an input element adapted to receive an input integral frame, said integral frame comprising a plurality of elemental images arranged in a matrix and having a separation characteristic and an image characteristic;

b) a transmigrator, having an input end and an output end, arranged to transmit and uniformly enlarge by a magnification factor the input integral frame to form an enlarged integral frame having an enlarged frame separation characteristic, wherein the ratio of the enlarged frame separation characteristic to the input frame separation characteristic is equal to the magnification factor; and

,

c) an output matrix lens array, having a focal characteristic and a separation characteristic wherein;

i) the output lens array comprises a plurality of imaging elements equal in number and geometrically similar in arrangement as the elemental images of the enlarged integral frame;

ii) the separation characteristic of the output lens array is equal to the separation characteristic of the enlarged frame;

iii) the ratio of each element of the focal characteristic of the output lens array to the corresponding element of the image characteristic of the input frame is equal to the magnification factor; and

,

iv) each imaging element of the output array is arranged in fixed alignment with each elemental image of the enlarged integral frame.

45. The screen of claim 44 wherein the output matrix lens arrays of the magnifying devices are in contact with each other, edge to edge, to form an essentially continuous output array.

46. The screen of claim 44 further comprising a plurality of television screens or video monitors each affixed to the input element of each magnifying device.

47. The screen of claim 46 wherein the output matrix lens arrays of the magnifying devices are in contact with each other other, edge to edge, to form an essentially continuous output array.

48. A method for producing a uniformly magnified three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional scene from an input integral frame having a separation characteristic and an image characteristic, comprising:

a) spatially separating the input integral frame into a plurality of component integral frames;

b) presenting each component integral frame to an input element of the magnifying device of the screen of claim 44 wherein each magnifying device receives only one component integral frame and wherein the logical arrangement of component integral frames remains the same as it was for the input integral frame prior to separation;

c) uniformly enlarging each component integral frame to produce an enlarged component integral frame wherein the enlarged component integral frame is in logical alignment with the component integral frame, and wherein with the center of each elemental image of the enlarged component integral frame is arranged in fixed alignment with the center of each corresponding imaging element of the output matrix lens array of the magnifying device of the screen of claim 44;

d) reconstructing component three-dimensional images from all of the enlarged component integral frames using the output matrix lens arrays of the magnifying devices of the screen of claim 44 wherein all of the component three-dimensional images form a single coherent uniformly magnified three-dimensional image of the three-dimensional scene.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising optically everting the three-dimensional scene to produce the input integral frame.

50. The method of claim 48 further comprising processing the input integral frame so as to produce an orthoscopic uniformly magnified three-dimensional image from the three dimensional scene.

51. The method of claim 48 further comprising processing the component integral frames so as to produce an orthoscopic uniformly magnified three-dimensional image from the three dimensional scene.

52. The method of claim 48 further comprising processing the enlarged component integral frames so as to produce an orthoscopic uniformly magnified three-dimensional image from the three dimensional scene.

53. The method of claim 48 further comprising optically everting the magnified three-dimensional image to produce an orthoscopic uniformly magnified three-dimensional image from the three dimensional scene.

54. A screen that produces a uniformly magnified image of a three-dimensional scene, comprising a plurality of enlarging devices arranged in a matrix in contact with each other, edge to edge, to form an essentially continuous array, and single continuous output matrix lens array joined to all of the enlarging devices, wherein each enlarging device comprises:

a) an input element adapted to receive an input integral frame comprising a plurality of elemental images arranged in a matrix having a separation characteristic and an image characteristic;

b) a transmigrator, having an input end and an output end, arranged to transmit and uniformly enlarge by a magnification factor the input integral frame to form an enlarged integral frame having an enlarged frame separation characteristic, wherein the ratio of the enlarged frame separation characteristic to the input frame separation characteristic is equal to the magnification factor;

and wherein;

i) the single continuous output matrix lens array comprises a plurality of imaging elements equal in number and geometrically similar in arrangement as the elemental images of the enlarged integral frame;

ii) the separation characteristic of the single continuous output matrix lens array is equal to the separation characteristic of the enlarged frame;

iii) the ratio of each element of the focal characteristic of the single continuous output matrix lens array to the corresponding element of the image characteristic of the input frame is equal to the magnification factor; and

,

iv) each imaging element of the single continuous output matrix array is arranged in fixed alignment with each elemental image of the enlarged integral frame.

55. The screen of claim 54 further comprising a plurality of television screens or video monitors each affixed to the input element of each enlarging device.

56. A device that produces a uniformly magnified image of a three-dimensional scene, the device being adapted to receive an input integral frame representing the three-dimensional scene unmagnified, said input integral frame comprising a plurality of elemental images arranged in a matrix having a separation characteristic and an image characteristic, wherein said device comprises:

a) a means for receiving the input integral frame;

b) a means for transmitting and uniformly enlarging by a magnification factor the input integral frame to form an enlarged integral frame having an enlarged frame separation characteristic, such that all of the parts of the input integral frame remain logically aligned with all of the corresponding parts of the enlarged integral frame, and wherein the ratio of the enlarged frame separation characteristic to the input frame separation characteristic is equal to the magnification factor; and

,

c) a means for reconstructing the three-dimensional image from the enlarged integral frame, said means having a focal characteristic and a separation characteristic wherein;

i) said means for reconstructing comprises a plurality of imaging means equal in number and arrangement as the elemental images of the enlarged integral frame;

ii) the separation characteristic of the means for reconstructing is equal to the separation characteristic of the enlarged frame;

iii) the ratio of each and every element of the focal characteristic to the corresponding element of the image characteristic of the input frame is equal to the magnification factor; and

,

iv) each of the imaging means of the means for reconstructing is arranged in fixed alignment with the center of each elemental image of the enlarged integral frame.

57. The device of claim 56 further comprising a means to produce the input integral frame, said means to produce being in fixed alignment with the means for receiving the input integral frame, wherein:

a) the means to produce the input integral frame comprises a plurality of imaging means equal in number and arrangement as the imaging elements of the output lens array;

b) the means to produce the input integral frame has a separation characteristic equal to the separation characteristic of the input integral frame; and

c) the means to produce the input integral frame has a focal characteristic;

d) the ratio of the focal characteristic of the means for reconstructing the three-dimensional image to that of the means to produce the input integral frame is equal to the magnification factor.

58. A screen that produces a uniformly magnified image of a three-dimensional scene, comprising a plurality of enlarging devices arranged in a matrix in contact with each other, edge to edge, to form single continuous means for reconstructing the three-dimensional image joined to all of the devices, wherein each enlarging device comprises:

a) a means for receiving an input integral frame comprising a plurality of elemental images arranged in a matrix having a separation characteristic and an image characteristic;

b) a means for transmitting and uniformly enlarging by a magnification factor the input integral frame to form an enlarged integral frame having an enlarged frame separation characteristic, such that all of the parts of the input integral frame remain logically aligned with all of the corresponding parts of the enlarged integral frame, and wherein the ratio of the enlarged frame separation characteristic to the input frame separation characteristic is equal to the magnification factor;

and wherein;

i) said single continuous means has a focal characteristic and a separation characteristic;

ii) said single continuous means for reconstructing comprises a plurality of imaging means equal in number and arrangement as the elemental images of the enlarged integral frame;

iii) the separation characteristic of the single continuous means for reconstructing is equal to the separation characteristic of the enlarged frame;

iv) the ratio of each and every element of the focal characteristic of the single continuous means to the corresponding element of the image characteristic of the input integral frame is equal to the magnification factor; and

,

v) each of the imaging means of the single continuous means is arranged in fixed alignment with the center of each elemental image of the enlarged integral frame.

59. A screen that produces a uniformly magnified image of a three-dimensional scene, comprising a plurality of magnifying devices arranged in a matrix, said magnifying devices each comprising:

a) a means for receiving an input integral frame, said integral frame comprising a plurality of elemental images arranged in a matrix and having a separation characteristic and an image characteristic;

b) a means for transmitting and uniformly enlarging by a magnification factor the input integral frame to form an enlarged integral frame having an enlarged frame separation characteristic, such that all of the parts of the input integral frame remain logically aligned with all of the corresponding parts of the enlarged integral frame, and wherein the ratio of the enlarged frame separation characteristic to the input frame separation characteristic is equal to the magnification factor; and

,

c) a means for reconstructing the three-dimensional image from the enlarged integral frame, said means having a focal characteristic and a separation characteristic wherein;

i) said means for reconstructing comprises a plurality of imaging means equal in number and arrangement as the elemental images of the enlarged integral frame;

ii) the separation characteristic of the means for reconstructing is equal to the separation characteristic of the enlarged frame;

iii) the ratio of each and every element of the focal characteristic to the corresponding element of the image characteristic of the input frame is equal to the magnification factor; and

,

iv) each of the imaging means of the means for reconstructing is arranged in fixed alignment with the center of each elemental image of the enlarged integral frame.

60. The screen of claim 59 further comprising a plurality of means for producing a video image each affixed to the input element of each magnifying device.

61. The screen of claim 60 wherein the means for reconstructing the three-dimensional image of the magnifying devices are in contact with each other, edge to edge.