Increased resolution and dynamic range capture unit in a surgical instrument and method

An apparatus comprising:

• a first image capture sensor comprising a first image capture sensor surface;
• a second image capture sensor comprising a second image capture sensor surface;
• an assembly positioned to receive light, the assembly comprising:
• an optical stop through which the received light enters the assembly;
• a beam splitter configured to separate the received light into a first portion of light and a second portion of light;
• a surface of the beam splitter configured to reflect the first portion of light onto the first image capture sensor to generate a first image of a scene;
• and
• a reflective unit positioned to receive, directly from the beam splitter, the second portion of light and to reflect the second portion of light onto the second image capture sensor to generate a second image of the scene,
• wherein a first optical path length from the optical stop to the first image capture sensor surface is about equal to a second optical path length from the optical stop to the second image capture sensor surface, and
• wherein the surface of the beam splitter is tilted such that the first image is offset from the second image by less than a pixel.