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US 2002/0054431 A1Published application
Single-lens stereoscopic infinity microscope
OwnerBryan Costalesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to various stereoscopic optical apparatuses. In one configuration, the apparatus uses a common optical encoder to interface with a number of different objectives. In one configuration, the apparatus uses an encoder that can be either removed from the optical path or reconfigured to produce a two-dimensional rather than a three-dimensional representation of an object. In one configuration, an optical encoder is provided that can provide filtration based on wavelength alone or based on both polarization and wavelength.
Claims73
A stereoscopic apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of objectives;
- an objective mount movably engaged with a body member to permit alignment of a selected objective of the plurality of objectives with an optical path;
- and
- a stereoscopic valve for encoding radiation passing through the selected objective, wherein, when the objective mount is moved by a user, the stereoscopic valve remains at least substantially stationary.
1 more element
A method for producing a three dimensional image, comprising:
- (a) passing first radiation through a first selected objective;
- (b) encoding the first radiation with a stereoscopic valve to form first encoded radiation, the first encoded radiation having a first encoded first portion and a first encoded second portion, the first encoded first portion having a different characteristic than the first encoded second portion;
- (c) moving the first selected objective out of alignment with the stereoscopic valve;
- (d) moving a second selected objective into alignment with the stereoscopic valve;
- (e) passing second radiation through the second selected objective;
- and
- (f) encoding the second radiation with the stereoscopic valve to form second encoded radiation, the second encoded radiation having a second encoded first portion and a second encoded second portion, the second encoded first portion having a different characteristic than the second encoded second portion.
4 more elements
A stereoscopic apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of objectives;
- an objective mount movably connected to a body member to permit alignment of a selected objective of the plurality of objectives with an optical path;
- and
- a stereoscopic valve for encoding radiation passing through the selected objective, wherein the objective mount is positioned between the selected objective and the stereoscopic valve.
1 more element
A stereoscopic apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of objective means for focusing radiation reflected by an object to be imaged;
- an objective mounting means for supporting the plurality of objective means, the objective mounting means being movably connected to a body member to permit alignment of a selected objective means of the plurality of objective means with an optical path;
- and
- a stereoscopic encoding means for encoding radiation passing through the selected objective means, wherein the objective mounting means is positioned between the selected objective means and the stereoscopic encoding means.
1 more element
A method for operating an optical apparatus, comprising:
- (a) focusing first radiation reflected by an object to be imaged to form focused first radiation;
- (b) encoding the focused first radiation with two or more polarizing filters to form encoded first radiation, wherein the encoded first radiation has at least first and second encoded first portions, the first and second encoded first portions having a different characteristic;
- (c) processing the first and second encoded first portions to form a three-dimensional image of the object;
- (d) rotating at least one of the two or more polarizing filters into mutual alignment to convert the apparatus from producing a three-dimensional image to producing a two-dimensional image;
- (e) focusing second radiation reflected by the object to be imaged to form focused second radiation;
- (f) encoding the focused second radiation with the two or more polarizing filters to form encoded second radiation, wherein any two portions of the encoded second radiation have at least substantially the same polarization orientation;
- and
- (g) processing the encoded second radiation to form a two-dimensional image of the object.
5 more elements
A stereoscopic apparatus, comprising:
- an objective;
- a body member supporting the objective;
- and
- two or more polarizing filters, the objective and filters defining an optical path, wherein in a first operational mode the two or more polarizing filters have transversely oriented polarization orientations to form first encoded radiation, two portions of which have differing polarization orientations and in a second operation mode the two or more polarizing filters have at least substantially parallel polarization orientations to form second encoded radiation, any two portions of the second encoded radiation having the same polarization orientation.
1 more element
A method for operating an optical apparatus, comprising:
- (a) focusing first radiation reflected by an object to be imaged to form focused first radiation;
- (b) encoding the focused first radiation with two or more polarizing filters to form encoded first radiation, wherein the encoded first radiation has at least first and second encoded first portions, the first and second encoded first portions having a different characteristic;
- (c) processing the first and second encoded first portions to form a three-dimensional image of the object;
- (d) rotating at least one of the two or more polarizing filters to convert the apparatus from producing a three-dimensional image to producing a two-dimensional image;
- (e) focusing second radiation reflected by the object to be imaged to form focused second radiation;
- (f) encoding the focused second radiation with the two or more polarizing filters to form encoded second radiation, the encoded second radiation has at least first and second encoded second portions, the first and second encoded second portions having a different characteristic;
- and
- (g) processing the encoded second radiation to form a two-dimensional image of the object, wherein at least one of the following statements is true:
- (i) the first encoded first portion is radially offset from the first encoded second portion and (ii) the second encoded first portion is radially offset from the second encoded second portion.
6 more elements
A stereoscopic apparatus, comprising:
- an objective;
- a body member supporting the objective;
- and
- first and second polarizing filters, the objective and filters defining an optical path, wherein in a first operational mode the first and second polarizing filters respectively have first and second polarization orientations to form first encoded radiation, and in a second operation mode the first and second polarizing filters respectively have third and fourth polarization orientations to form second encoded radiation and wherein the first and third polarization orientations of the first polarizing filter are transverse to one another.
1 more element
An optical encoder, comprising:
- a substrate having opposing first and second surfaces;
- at least one color filter located on the first surface;
- and
- at least one polarizing filter located on the second surface.
1 more element
An optical apparatus, comprising:
- a lens for focusing radiation reflected by an object;
- an optical encoder, including:
- at least one color filter;
- and
- at least one polarizing filter;
- and
- first and second analyzing filters, each of the first and second analyzing filters including at least one color filter and at least one polarizing filter, wherein the lens, optical encoder and first analyzing filter form a first optical path and the lens, optical encoder, and second analyzing filter form a second optical path that is different from the first optical path.
4 more elements
A method for operating an optical apparatus, comprising:
- (a) rotating a first plane polarizing filter in an optical encoder to be at least substantially aligned with a second plane polarizing filter in the optical encoder, the optical encoder further including a first color filter and a second color filter, each passing a different wavelength band of radiation;
- (b) rotating a plane polarizing filter of at least one analyzing filter such that the at least one analyzing filter has a polarization orientation that is at least substantially aligned with the first and second plane polarizing filters in the optical encoder;
- and
- (c) thereafter passing radiation through the encoding filter and the first and second analyzing filters to form first and second radiation portions having differing wavelength bands for producing a three-dimensional image of an object.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.