Three-dimensional image optical system

• US 7,054,067 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nippon Hoso Kyokai
• Original Assignee: Nippon Hoso Kyokai
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Masaki, Okano, Fumio, Arai, Jun, Okui, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US10/849,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20040263964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 359/644, 359/622, 359/625, 359/626
• US Class Current: 359/622
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/606 for relief projection
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/08 by simultaneous recording
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/24 using apertured or refractive resolving means on screens or between screen and eye

Abstract

A three-dimensional image optical system including at least an elementary image optical subsystem constructed with plural afocal optical elements which include the first and the second optical components, wherein the plural afocal optical elements are aligned in a planar arrangement. The variety of the focal length to satisfy the afocal property is realized with the combination of the first optical components and the second optical components, that results in to provide the flexibility of the depth magnification, by which a remote observation is possible.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional image optical system comprising an elementary image optical subsystem that includes plural afocal optical elements placed in a planar array to form an elementary image optical subsystem,

wherein each of said afocal optical elements has a first optical component and a second optical component both aligned at a distance such that an optical convergence area of said first optical component and an optical convergence area of said second optical component spatially coincide, and

wherein said first and second optical components are surrounded and held by an optical gobo element.

2. A three-dimensional image optical system according to claim 1,

wherein said first optical component and said second optical component are both aligned at a distance such that said first optical component and said second optical component are aligned in a common optical axis in which optical focal points of said first optical component and said second optical component coincide.

3. A three-dimensional image optical system according to claim 2,

wherein a focal length of said first optical component and a focal length of said second optical component are different.

4. A three-dimensional image optical system according to claim 2,

wherein said first optical component has a convergent focal length and said second optical component has a virtual focal length.

5. A three-dimensional image optical system according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of said first optical component and said second optical component is a radial graded refractive index rod lens.

6. A three-dimensional image optical system according to claim 5,

wherein optical length Z_u of said first optical component is in a range of 0>

Z_u>

P/2 and different from optical length Z_u of said second optical component which is in a range of 0>

Z_u>

P/2 where a normalized meridional serpentine period P=2π

/A^1/2 is defined by optical property parameter A of said first and second optical components.

7. A three-dimensional image optical system according to claim 5,

wherein optical length Z_u of said first optical component is in a range of 0>

Z_u>

P/2 and optical length Z_u of said second optical component is in a range of P/2>

Z_u>

P where a normalized meridional serpentine period P=2π

/A^1/2 is defined by optical property parameter A of said first and second optical components.

8. A three-dimensional image optical system according to claim 2,

wherein said first optical component and said second optical component are both held with an optical gobo element.

9. A three-dimensional image optical system according to claim 5,

wherein said first optical component and said second optical component are both held with an optical gobo element.

10. A three-dimensional image optical system according to claim 1,

wherein even quantity of said elementary image optical subsystems, which are placed in a series with distances so that an image reproduced by a foreside elementary image optical subsystem locates before a subsequent elementary image optical subsystem, are employed.

11. A three-dimensional image optical system according to claim 2,

wherein even quantity of said elementary image optical subsystems, which are placed in a series with distances so that an image reproduced by a foreside elementary image optical subsystem locates before a subsequent elementary image optical subsystem, are employed.

12. A three-dimensional image optical system according to claim 5,

wherein even quantity of said elementary image optical subsystems, which are placed in a series with distances so that an image reproduced by a foreside elementary image optical subsystem locates before a subsequent elementary image optical subsystem, are employed.