Optical in situ information system

An apparatus For stereoscopic viewing of a real object and a synthetic object, the apparatus including an illuminator (450A, 450B) for illuminating a real object (490), first and second objective lenses (460A, 460B) for receiving light reflected off of the real object, a computer (410A, 410B) for creating a left eye and right eye stereoscopic synthetic image and for respectively outputting a first and second video signal as a result thereof, a first and a second liquid crystal display (420A, 420B) for respectively receiving the first and second video signals and for providing a first and second synthetic image, a first combiner (440A) for combining the first synthetic image with the received light from the first objective lens as a first combined signal, a second combiner (440B) for combining the second synthetic image with the received light from the second objective lens as a second combined signal, and first and second oculars (470A, 470B) for respectively receiving the first and second combined signals and for respectively directing the first and second combined signals to a left eye (495A) and a right eye (495B) of a viewer, so as to achieve a stereoscopic viewing, the apparatus further comprising:

• a light source (430A, 430B) for outputting light;
• and
• at least one fiber optic line for providing the light output from the light source to the first and second liquid crystal displays,
• wherein the fiber optic line provides the light to the liquid crystal displays for creation of the left eye and right eye stereoscopic images.