Binoculars for capturing images

#1. Field of the Invention

#The invention relates to a binocular, and more particularly to a binocular having a digital camera.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 schematically shows a binoculars for capturing images according to the first embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 schematically shows the ray tracing in the binoculars for capturing images according to the first embodiment of the invention;

#First Embodiment

#Referring to FIG. 1, a binoculars 10 for capturing images has a binocular mechanism 12, and an image-capturing device 14 is combined with the binocular mechanism 12. The binocular mechanism 12 includes a first optical system 22 and a second optical system 24. The optical systems 22 and 24 respectively have an object lens set 26, 28, an ocular lens set 30, 32, and a prism set 34, 36 disposed between the object lens set 26, 28 and the ocular lens set 30, 32. The prism sets 34 and 36 respectively have a front prism 38, 40 receiving light from the object lens set 26, 28, and a rear prism 42, 44 emitting light toward the ocular lens set 30, 32. The first optical system 22 further includes a beam-splitting device 50 adjacent to the prism set 34. In the first embodiment of the invention, the beam-splitting device 50 is a filter formed on the second-reflection surface 48 of the front prism 38. An image-capturing device 14 is combined with the first optical system 22, and the lens 52 of the image-capturing device 14 receives light passing the filter 50. A supplementary prism 46 is positioned on the filter 50, so as to reduce the optical path length between the object lens set 26 and the image-capturing device and protect thereof. Moreover, the optical path length of the first optical system 22 is equal to the optical path length measured from the object lens set 26 to the lens 52 of image-capturing device 14.

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a beam 54 from an object (not shown) passes the object lens set 26, and enters the front prism 38 of the prism set 34. In the front prism 38, the beam 54 is reflected upon the filter 50 whereby the beam 54 is divided into two beams 56, 58. One beam 56 passes the supplementary prism 46, and enters the lens 52 of the image-capturing device 14. The image-capturing device 14 further captures the beam 56 from the object. Another beam 58 reflected by the filter 50 enters the rear prism 42 and is reflected three times. Next, the beam 58 emitted from the rear prism 42 travels through the ocular lens set 30 and is received by human eye. Thus, the image of the object is simultaneously captured and viewed via the optical systems 22, 24 of the binoculars 10.