Binoculars with micromirror array lenses

• US 8,810,908 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stereo D Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Angstrom, Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Hye Young, Sohn, Jin Young, Cho, Gyoung Il, Seo, Cheong Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US12/050,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20090237783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,345 Days
• Field of Search: 359364-366, 359399-435, 359850-861
• US Class Current: 359/407
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/00 Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/02 involving prisms or mirrors G02B23/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08

Abstract

The binoculars of the present invention comprise two optical units; one optical unit for each eye. Each optical unit comprises a first reflector element and a second reflector element, wherein at least one of the reflector elements is a micromirror array reflector. The binoculars of the present invention provide focusing and/or zoom functions without or with minimal macroscopic mechanical lens movement.

Claims

1. A pair of binoculars with micromirror array reflector comprising two optical units, wherein each of the optical units comprises a first reflector element disposed to reflect light from object and a second reflector element disposed to reflect the light reflected from the first reflector element to eye side, wherein at least one of the reflector elements is a micromirror array reflector comprising a plurality of micromirrors, wherein each micromirror is configured to have two degrees of freedom rotational motion and one degree of freedom translational motion, wherein the micromirror array reflector is configured to have a plurality of optical surface profiles by controlling the motions of the micromirrors.

2. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 1, wherein each optical surface profile of the micromirror array reflector reproduces a reflective optical surface with a predetermined optical property.

3. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 2, wherein each optical surface profile of the micromirror array reflector satisfies convergence condition and phase matching condition.

4. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector claim 1, wherein each of the optical units comprises an objective lens or lens group disposed to an object side.

5. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 4, wherein the objective lens group comprises at least one movable lens working as a variator to change magnification of the optical unit by changing position of the movable lens.

6. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 4, wherein the objective lens group comprises at least one movable lens working as a compensator to maintain focus of the optical unit by changing position of the movable lens.

7. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 4, wherein the objective lens group comprises at least one variable focus lens working as a variator to change magnification of the optical unit by changing the focal length of the variable focus lens.

8. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 4, wherein the objective lens group comprises at least one variable focus lens working as a compensator to maintain focus of the optical unit by changing the focal length of the variable focus lens.

9. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector claim 1, wherein each of the optical units comprises an ocular lens or lens group disposed to the eye side.

10. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 9, wherein the ocular lens group comprises at least one movable lens working as a variator to change magnification of the optical unit by changing position of the movable lens.

11. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 9, wherein the ocular lens group comprises at least one movable lens working as a compensator to maintain focus of the optical unit by changing position of the movable lens.

12. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 9, wherein the ocular lens group comprises at least one variable focus lens working as a variator to change magnification of the optical unit by changing the focal length of the variable focus lens.

13. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 9, wherein the ocular lens group comprises at least one variable focus lens working as a compensator to maintain focus of the optical unit by changing the focal length of the variable focus lens.

14. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector claim 1, wherein each of the optical units comprises an erect lens or lens group.

15. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 1, wherein each optical unit further comprises a beam splitter, wherein the beam splitter is disposed between the first reflector element and the second reflector element.

16. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 1, wherein the micromirror array reflector is configured to change focus of the optical unit by changing the optical surface profiles of the micromirror array reflector.

17. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 1, wherein the micromirror array reflector is a variator configured to change magnification of the optical unit by changing the optical surface profiles of the micromirror array reflector.

18. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 1, wherein the micromirror array reflector is a compensator configured to maintain focus of the optical unit by changing the optical surface profiles of the micromirror array reflector.

19. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 1, wherein the first reflector element has an opening, wherein the light can pass through the first reflector element.

20. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 1, wherein the first reflector element is a first micromirror array reflector and the second reflector element is a second micromirror array reflector.

21. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 1, wherein the binoculars with micromirror array reflector comprise at least one viewer adjustment means, wherein viewer adjusts the optical surface profiles of the micromirror array reflectors by the viewer adjustment means.

22. The binoculars with micromirror array reflector of claim 1, wherein a distance between the optical units can be changed.

23. A pair of binoculars with micromirror array reflector having zoom function without macroscopic mechanical lens movement, wherein the binoculars comprise two optical units, wherein each of the optical units comprises a first micromirror array reflector and a second micromirror array reflector, wherein each micromirror array reflector comprises a plurality of micromirrors and is configured to have a plurality of optical surface profiles by controlling motions of the micromirrors in the micromirror array reflector, wherein the first micromirror array reflector is configured to change magnification of the optical unit by changing the optical surface profile of the first micromirror array reflector, wherein the second micromirror array reflector is configured to maintain focus of the optical unit by changing the optical surface profile of the second micromirror array reflector.

24. A pair of binoculars with micromirror array reflector having focusing function without macroscopic mechanical lens movement, wherein the binoculars comprise two optical units, wherein each of the optical units comprises a mirror and a micromirror array reflector, wherein the micromirror array reflector is configured to have a plurality of optical surface profiles by controlling motions of the micromirrors in the micromirror array reflector, wherein the micromirror array reflector is configured to change focus of the optical unit by changing the optical surface profiles of the micromirror array reflector.