Optical device

• US 7,683,926 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Visionsense Ltd. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Visionsense Ltd. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goldstein, Michael, Yaron, Avi, Horesh, Nadav, Schechterman, Mark, Abraham, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): AN, SHAWN S
• Application Number:
  US10/145,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20020154215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,871 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348/45, 348/46, 348/59, 348/65, 348/77, 348/51, 348/49, 355/22
• US Class Current: 348/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00193 adapted for stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00194 adapted for three-dimensional imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/22 Stereoscopic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2415 Stereoscopic endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/00 Stereoscopic photography
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• 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 13/207 using a single 2D image sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/211 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/214 using spectral multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/218 using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/225 using parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/229 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/232 using fly-eye lenses, e.g. arrangements of circular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/254 in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 : Colour aspects
• 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 13/307 : using fly-eye lenses, e.g. arrangements of circular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 : Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/334 : using spectral multiplexing
• 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 13/344 : with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/365 : using digital micromirror devices [DMD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 : Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 : Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 : for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 : for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations

Abstract

Stereoscopic device including an image directing assembly, an image differentiator and an image detector, the image directing assembly having a first light inlet for receiving a first image and a second light inlet for receiving a second image, the first light inlet being spaced apart from the second light inlet, the image differentiator differentiating between the first image and the second image, wherein the image directing assembly directs the first image to the image detector via a common path, and wherein the image directing assembly directs the second image to the image detector via the common path.

Claims

1. Stereoscopic device, comprising:

an image directing assembly, having only two light inlets, including a first light inlet for receiving a first image and a second light inlet for receiving a second image, said first light inlet being spaced apart from said second light inlet;

an image differentiator, differentiating between said first image and said second image; and

a single image detector, having a plurality of discrete light sensors, defining;

a first group of light sensors receiving said first image from said image differentiator to produce a first image electrical signal, and

a second group of light sensors receiving said second image from said image differentiator to produce a second image electrical signal, said first image electrical signal and said second image electrical signal being logically separable,

wherein said image directing assembly directs said first image to said single image detector via a common path, and wherein said image directing assembly directs said second image to said single image detector via said common path.

2. The stereoscopic device according to claim 1, wherein said inlets define a first pupil and a second pupil.

3. The stereoscopic device according to claim 1, further comprising an optical assembly located in front of said image detector.

4. The stereoscopic device according to claim 3, wherein said image directing assembly is located between an object and said optical assembly, said optical assembly is located between said image directing assembly and said image differentiator, and said image differentiator is located between said optical assembly and said image detector.

5. The stereoscopic device according to claim 3, wherein said image directing assembly, said optical assembly, said image differentiator and said image detector are located in an endoscope.

6. The stereoscopic device according to claim 1, wherein said image differentiator includes a first light filter and a second light filter,

wherein said first light filter admits light in a first range of filter wavelengths, and wherein said second light filter admits light in a second range of filter wavelengths.

7. The stereoscopic device according to claim 6, wherein each of said first range of filter wavelengths and said second range of filter wavelengths is selected from the group consisting of:

substantially visible red color light;

substantially visible green color light;

substantially visible blue color light;

substantially visible cyan color light;

substantially visible yellow color light;

substantially visible magenta color light;

substantially infra-red light;

substantially ultra-violet light; and

visible light.

8. The stereoscopic device according to claim 1, wherein said image directing assembly comprises:

a first parallelogramic prism for directing said first image to said common path; and

a second parallelogramic prism for directing said second image to said common path.

9. The stereoscopic device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a rail; and

a hinge sliding in said rail,

wherein said first parallelogramic prism and said second parallelogramic prism are coupled with said hinge,

wherein said first parallelogramic prism and said second parallelogramic prism move from a refracted position to an extended position, by rotating about said hinge when said hinge moves within said rail.

10. The stereoscopic device according to claim 9, wherein the rotation of said first prism and said second prism about said hinge, is symmetric.

11. The stereoscopic device according to claim 1, wherein said image directing assembly is tilted at a direction other than the longitudinal axis of said stereoscopic device.

12. The stereoscopic device according to claim 1, wherein said first group of light sensors and said second group of light sensors are mutually exclusive.

13. Method for producing a stereoscopic image performed by a stereoscopic device, the method comprising the procedures of:

receiving by the stereoscopic device a first image of a first side of an object through a first aperture and receiving a second image of a second side of said object through a second aperture, said first aperture and said second aperture being spaced apart;

directing said first image and said second image to a common path;

differentiating between said first image and said second image; and

detecting said first image and said second image to produce respectively a first image electrical signal and a second image electrical signal, said first image electrical signal and said second image electrical signal being logically separable.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said apertures define a first pupil and a second pupil.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising a procedure of detecting said differentiated images.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein an optical assembly forms said common path.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising a procedure of illuminating said object.

18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising a procedure of sequentially illuminating at different illuminating wavelengths.

19. The method according to claim 13, further comprising a procedure of storing said first image electrical signal and said second image electrical signal in a logically separable manner.

20. The method according to claim 13, further comprising a procedure of processing said image electrical signals to produce a three dimensional image.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising a procedure of displaying a stereoscopic image according to said processed image electrical signals.

22. Stereoscopic device, comprising:

means for directing an image and having only two light inlets, including a first light inlet for receiving a first image and a second light inlet for receiving a second image, said first light inlet being spaced apart from said second light inlet;

means for differentiating between said first image and said second image; and

means for detecting said first image to produce a first image electrical signal and for detecting said second image and to produce a second image electrical signal, said first image electrical signal and said second image electrical signal being logically separable,

wherein said means for directing said image, directs said first image to said means for detecting, via a common path, and wherein said means for directing said image, directs said second image to said means for detecting said image, via said common path.

23. Stereoscopic device, comprising:

only two light pupils, including;

a first pupil receiving a first image;

a second pupil receiving a second image;

an image differentiator, differentiating between said first image and said second image;

a single image detector, having a plurality of discrete light sensors, defining;

a first group light sensors receiving said first image from said image differentiator to produce a first image electrical signal; and

a second group of light sensors receiving said second image from said image differentiator to produce a second image electrical signal, said first image electrical signal and said second image electrical signal being logically separable; and

an objective lens assembly, directing said first image and said second image toward said image detector.

24. The stereoscopic device according to claim 23, wherein said first pupil and said second pupil do not overlap.

25. The stereoscopic device according to claim 23, wherein said first pupil and said second pupil are hard pupils.

26. The stereoscopic device according to claim 23, wherein said first pupil and said second pupil are soft pupils.

27. The stereoscopic device according to claim 23, wherein said first pupil and said second pupil are virtual pupils.

28. The stereoscopic device according to claim 23, wherein said objective lens assembly is telecentric.