# US 4,398,788 A · Binocular viewing device

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- Number: US 4,398,788 A
- Document ID: US4398788A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/212,478
- Filed: 1980-12-03
- Granted: 1983-08-16
- Earliest claimed: 1979-12-04
- Assignees: U.S. Philips Corporation
- Inventors: Wolfgang Dietz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398788A

## CPC

- G02B 27/144: {using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity (G02B27/147 takes precedence)}
- G02B 23/12: with means for image conversion or intensification
- G02B 23/18: for binocular arrangements {(focusing binocular pairs G02B7/06; adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs G02B7/12)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

In a binocular viewing device for observing one image with both eyes simultaneously, the image is observed directly via a beam splitter with a first ocular, and the image is observed indirectly with a second ocular via an optical imaging system which forms an intermediate image to which the second ocular is adjusted. The optical imaging system may comprise a collimator objective, a telescope objective and an image-inverting deflecting prism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A binocular viewing device, for viewing a single image simultaneously with both eyes, comprising:
a beam splitter, arranged in front of the image, for splitting the image into a first beam and a second beam;
a first ocular, arranged in front of the beam splitter for intercepting the first beam, said ocular being adjusted for viewing the image directly through the beam splitter;
an optical imaging system, arranged in front of the beam splitter for intercepting the second beam, said imaging system forming an intermediate image in an image plane; and
a second ocular, arranged in front of the optical imaging system, said ocular being adjusted to view the image at the intermediate image plane.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A binocular viewing device, as claimed in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the optical imaging system comprises:
a collimator objective having an object focal plane which corresponds substantially with the image;
a telescope objective arranged in front of the collimator objective and having a focal length which is substantially the same as that of the collimator objective, said telescope objective having an image focal plane corresponding to the intermediate image plane; and
an image inverting prism, arranged in front of the telescope objective.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A binocular viewing device as claimed in claim 2 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the telescope objective, the prism, and the second ocular comprise a single structural unit which can be displaced with respect to the collimator objective in order to adjust for the pupillary distance between the eyes of an observer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A binocular viewing device as claimed in claim 3, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the second ocular has a focal length equal to the focal length of the telescope objective.

### Claim 5

A binocular viewing device, for viewing a single image simultaneously with both eyes, comprising a beam splitter, first and second oculars, and a deflection prism, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT:
the first ocular is adjusted for viewing the image directly through the beam splitter;
the device further comprises an optical imaging system for forming an intermediate image at an intermediate image plane, said optical imaging system comprising (i) a collimator objective having an object focal plane which corresponds substantially with the image, (ii) a telescope objective arranged in front of the collimator objective and having a focal length which is substantially the same as that of the collimator objective, said telescope objective having an image focal plane corresponding to the intermediate image plane, and (iii) the deflection prism, said deflection prism comprising an image inverting prism arranged in front of the telescope objective; and
the second ocular is adjusted for viewing, via the optical imaging system, the image at the intermediate image plane.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A binocular viewing device, as claimed in claim 5, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the telescope objective, the image inverting prism, and the second ocular comprise a single structural unit which can be displaced with respect to the collimator objective in order to adjust for the pupillary distance between the eyes of an observer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A binocular viewing device as claimed in claim 6, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the second ocular has a focal length equal to the focal length of the telescope objective.