Three-dimensional light ray input apparatus

• US 7,433,110 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Taira, Kazuki, Momonoi, Yoshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cherry; Euncha P
• Application Number:
  US11/517,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20070057145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 359209-211, 359/362, 359/363, 359/709, 359/710
• US Class Current: 359/209.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/30 involving parallax barriers

Abstract

A three-dimensional input apparatus includes a lens L1 for converting angular information about light rays from a object, a focusing element L3 for focusing the light rays from the object to the vicinities of an array R of photoelectric elements, and a lens L2 for performing conversion into a real image near the surface of the focusing element L3. The lens L2 is present between the lens L1 and focusing element L3. The array R records light as image signal sequentially. A driver portion drives the optical system and scans light ray information about the object.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus for inputting light from a three-dimensional object which is present on a plane consisting of x-y axes in an orthogonal coordinate system and which has a depth in a z-axis direction, said apparatus comprising:

a first optical element, a second optical element, a focusing element, an imaging element, and a recording portion,

wherein each of said first and second optical elements has a length in a y-axis direction,

wherein said imaging element is capable of imaging a two-dimensional image,

wherein said first and second optical elements move together in an x-axis direction and scan light from the object,

wherein said first optical element distributes light rays from surroundings of the object onto said second optical element,

wherein light focused on said second optical element is brought to a focus on said imaging element by said focusing element,

wherein said imaging element images (i) said light brought to a focus, (ii) light, which is present at each position in the x-axis direction on said second optical element is at a position on said imaging element that corresponds to each position in the x-axis direction, and (iii) light, which is present at each position on the second optical element in the y-axis direction, at a position on the imaging element that corresponds to each position in the y-axis direction, and

wherein said recording portion records images imaged by said imaging element in the order of the scanning.

4. A three-dimensional light ray input as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first optical element is a single linear array of optical subelements.

5. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second optical element is a single linear array of optical subelements.

8. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said focusing element performs scanning along the y-axis direction of said second optical element by means of a mirror or prism.

11. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said focusing element is a variable focus.

17. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein

(A) there are provided three reflective elements between said second optical element and said focusing element,

(B) said three reflective elements move together with said second optical element,

(C) the reflective element reflecting light from said second optical element moves at a speed twice a speed at which the other two reflective elements move, and

(D) an optical path length from said second optical element to said fixed focusing element is constant.

20. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein a spacing between said first and second optical elements is set equal to the focal distance of said second optical element, and wherein said reflective elements are scanned while fixing said first and second optical elements.

23. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the focusing element and the imaging element moves in the x-axis direction integrally with the first and second optical elements as to scanning-wise receiving light rays from the three-dimensional object.

27. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 23, further comprising a third optical element that achieves scaling of imaging in a maner that only a range capable to obtain light rays from the second optical element is focused on a image-capturing area of the imaging element.

31. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein

(A) there are provided three reflective elements between said second optical element and said focusing element,

(B) said three reflective elements move together with said second optical element,

(C) the reflective element reflecting light from said second optical element moves at a speed twice a speed at which the other two reflective elements move, and

(D) an optical path length from said second optical element to said fixed focusing element is constant.

2. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus for inputting light from a three-dimensional object which is present on a plane consisting of x-y axes in an orthogonal coordinate system and which has a depth in a z-axis direction, said apparatus comprising:

a first light aperture control element, a second optical element, a focusing element, an imaging element, and a recording portion,

wherein each of said first light aperture control element and second optical element has a length in a y-axis direction,

wherein said imaging element is capable of imaging a two-dimensional image,

wherein said first and second optical elements move together in an x-axis direction and scan light from the object,

wherein said first light aperture control element distributes light rays from surroundings of the object onto said second optical element,

wherein light focused on said second optical element is brought to a focus on said imaging element by said focusing element,

wherein said imaging element images (i) said light brought to a focus, (ii) light, which is present at each position in the y-axis direction on said second optical element, at a position on said imaging element that corresponds to each position in the y-axis direction, and (iii) light, which is present at each position on the second optical element in the x-axis direction, at a position on the imaging element that corresponds to each position in the x-axis direction, and

wherein said recording portion records images imaged by said imaging element in the order of the scanning.

6. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second optical element is a single linear array of optical subelements.

9. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said focusing element performs scanning along the y-axis direction of said second optical element by means of a mirror or prism.

12. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said focusing element is a variable focus.

18. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein

(A) there are provided three reflective elements between said second optical element and said focusing element,

(B) said three reflective elements move together with said second optical element,

(C) the reflective element reflecting light from said second optical element moves at a speed twice a speed at which the other two reflective elements move, and

(D) an optical path length from said second optical element to said fixed focusing element is constant.

21. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein a spacing between said first and second optical elements is set equal to the focal distance of said second optical element, and wherein said reflective elements are scanned while fixing said first and second optical elements.

24. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the focusing element and the imaging element moves in the x-axis direction integrally with the first and second optical elements as to scanning-wise receive light rays from the three-dimensional object.

28. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 24, further comprising a third optical element that achieves scaling of imaging in a maner that only a range capable to obtain light rays from the second optical element is focused on a image-capturing area of the imaging element.

32. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein

(A) there are provided three reflective elements between said second optical element and said focusing element,

(B) said three reflective elements move together with said second optical element,

(C) the reflective element reflecting light from said second optical element moves at a speed twice a speed at which the other two reflective elements move, and

(D) an optical path length from said second optical element to said fixed focusing element is constant.

33. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein

(A) there are provided three reflective elements between said second optical element and said focusing element,

(B) said three reflective elements move together with said second optical element,

(C) the reflective element reflecting light from said second optical element moves at a speed twice a speed at which the other two reflective elements move, and

(D) an optical path length from said second optical element to said fixed focusing element is constant.

3. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus for inputting light from a three-dimensional object which is present on a plane consisting of x-y axes in an orthogonal coordinate system and which has a depth in a z-axis direction, said apparatus comprising:

a second optical element, a second light aperture control element, a focusing element, an imaging element, and a recording portion,

wherein said second optical element has a length in a y-axis direction,

wherein said imaging element is capable of imaging a two-dimensional image,

wherein said second optical element moves in an x-axis direction and scans light from the object,

wherein light from the object is incident on said second optical element,

wherein said light incident on the second optical element is brought to a focus on said imaging element via said second light aperture control element by said focusing element,

wherein said imaging element images (i) said light brought to a focus, (ii) light, which is present at each position in the y-axis direction on said second optical element, at a position on said imaging element that corresponds to each position in the y-axis direction, and (iii) light, which is present at each position on the second optical element in the x-axis direction, at a position on the imaging element that corresponds to each position in the x-axis direction, and

wherein said recording portion records images imaged by said imaging element in the order of the scanning.

7. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second optical element is a single linear array of optical subelements.

10. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said focusing element performs scanning along the y-axis direction of said second optical element by means of a mirror or prism.

13. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said focusing element is a variable focus.

14. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second light aperture control element is present near a principal point of said focusing element.

15. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second light aperture control element is present near a focal plane side of object.

16. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second light aperture control element is capable of controlling an aperture width in the x-axis direction and an aperture width in the y-axis direction independently.

19. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein

(A) there are provided three reflective elements between said second optical element and said focusing element,

(B) said three reflective elements move together with said second optical element,

(C) the reflective element reflecting light from said second optical element moves at a speed twice a speed at which the other two reflective elements move, and

(D) an optical path length from said second optical element to said fixed focusing element is constant.

22. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein a spacing between said first and second optical elements is set equal to the focal distance of said second optical element, and wherein said reflective elements are scanned while fixing said first and second optical elements.

25. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the second light aperture control element as well as the focusing element and the imaging element moves in the x-axis direction integrally with the second optical element as to scanning-wise receive light rays from the three-dimensional object.

26. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the focusing element and the imaging element moves in the x-axis direction integrally with the second optical element as to scanning-wise receive light rays from the three-dimensional object;

and

the second light aperture control element is present near an object-side focal plane of the focusing element.

29. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 25, further comprising a third optical element that achieves scaling of imaging in a maner that only a range capable to obtain light rays from the second optical element is focused on a image-capturing area of the imaging element.

30. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 26, further comprising a third optical element that achieves scaling of imaging in a maner that only a range capable to obtain light rays from the second optical element is focused on a image-capturing area of the imaging element.

34. A three-dimensional light ray input apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein

(A) there are provided three reflective elements between said second optical element and said focusing element,

(B) said three reflective elements move together with said second optical element,

(C) the reflective element reflecting light from said second optical element moves at a speed twice a speed at which the other two reflective elements move, and

(D) an optical path length from said second optical element to said fixed focusing element is constant.