# US 10,310,283 B2 · Stereoscopic optics > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,283 B2 - Document ID: US10310283B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/293,136 - Filed: 2016-10-13 - Published: 2017-02-02 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-18 - Assignees: Reach3D Medical LLC - Applicants: Reach3D Medical LLC - Inventors: Kevin Brent May; Richard J. Michaels - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310283B2 ## CPC - G02B 21/22: Stereoscopic arrangements - G02B 13/0095: {Relay lenses or rod lenses (in instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies G02B23/2446)} - G02B 23/2415: {Stereoscopic endoscopes} - G02B 30/24: involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters - G03B 17/565: {Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors} - G03B 35/04: with movement of beam-selecting members in a system defining two or more viewpoints - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract An adapter system for displaying and recording stereoscopic images from a single lens optic device and methods of producing stereoscopic images using such an adapter are provided herein. The adapter system utilizes an active stereoscopic shutter mounted along the optical path of the single lens optic device, such as, for example, a microscope or an endoscope, to provide a stereoscopic image to a video or still camera mounted along the same optical path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stereoscopic optic adapter comprising: an optical adapter body configured to optically interconnect a single lens optical device defining a region to be imaged and an image capture device, the optical adapter body comprising at least a stereoscopic shutter and an optical relay; wherein the stereoscopic shutter comprises a plurality of separately controllable occludable regions configured to alternately occlude the light exiting from predetermined regions of the single lens optical device, and wherein the stereoscopic shutter is configured to produce a stereoscopic image from the imaged region of the single lens optical device; wherein the optical relay comprises one or more optical elements configured to transmit light from said single lens optical device through said stereoscopic shutter to said image capture device such that the stereoscopic shutter produces a stereoscopic image from the imaged region and transmits said stereoscopic image to said image capture device; and wherein the relative rotational alignment between the stereoscopic shutter and the camera is adjustable such that the rotational alignment is configurable to ensure capture of the stereoscopic image by the image capture device, and wherein the stereoscopic shutter and the image capture device are rotatably interconnected such that the rotational orientation of the camera relative to the region to be imaged may be altered while maintaining the relative rotational alignment of the stereoscopic shutter and the image capture device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the stereoscopic shutter is configured to alternately occlude the light exiting from predetermined regions of the single lens optical device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 2, wherein the predetermined regions are the left and right regions of the imaged region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the occludable regions are formed by a device selected from the group consisting of mechanical, electromechanical, chemical and material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the occludable regions are formed in a shape selected from the group consisting of curve, circular, hexagonal and rectangular. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the occludable regions is fixed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the stereoscopic shutter is disposed between the optical relay and the single lens optical device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the stereoscopic shutter is disposed between the optical relay and the image capture device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the stereoscopic shutter is disposed with the optical relay. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the optical relay includes an iris. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the stereoscopic shutter is disposed within one of either the single lens optical device or the image capture device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the stereoscopic shutter acts as an iris. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the stereoscopic shutter is incorporated within a zoom lens. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 13, wherein the zoom lens comprises a series of converging lenses that are configured to be removably placed into optical alignment with the stereoscopic shutter to adjust the focal length of the adapter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter is removable interconnected between the image capture device and the single lens optical device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter is integrated within the image capture device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter is integrated within the single lens optical device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the light entering the stereoscopic shutter has a conjugate configured to be nearly collimated. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the optical relay is located adjacent to the exit of the single lens optical device.