Color imager utilizing novel trichromatic beamsplitter and photosensor
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorKent D. Vincent
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The trichromatic beamsplitter consists of composited dichroic beamsplitter plates that separate a projected image into its three color components with spacial as well as spectral precision. The three linear array photosensor comprises a monolithic sensor having three parallel photodiode arrays spaced precisely to accept the color component images of the trichromatic beamsplitter.
Claims45
An apparatus for separating electromagnetic waves having wavelengths comprising:
- a first transparent layer;
- a first filter contiguous with the first side of said first transparent layer for reflecting said electromagnetic waves having said wavelengths within a first range;
- a second filter contiguous with the second side of said first first transparent layer for reflecting said electromagnetic waves having said wavelengths within a second range;
- a second transparent layer attached to said second filter;
- and
- a third filter contiguous with said second transparent layer for reflecting said electromagnetic waves having said wavelengths within a third range.
An apparatus for separating electromagnetic waves having wavelengths comprising:
- a first transparent layer;
- a first filter contiguous with the first side of said first transparent layer for reflecting said electromagnetic waves having said wavelength within a first range;
- a second filter contiguous with the second side of said first transparent layer for reflecting said electromagnetic waves having said wavelengths within a second range;
- and
- a transparent extension means attached to said first filter having a first surface oriented normal to the optical axes of said incident electromagnetic waves and a second surface oriented normal to the optical axes of the reflected electromagnetic waves.
An apparatus for separating electromagnetic waves according to wavelength comprising:
- a multiplicity of transparent layers;
- a multiplicity of filters located on said transparent layers wherein said coatings reflect different ranges of electromagnetic wavelengths;
- and
- wherein said transparent layers with said filters are mounted together.
A method of manufacturing apparatus for separating electromagnetic waves comprising the steps of:
- forming a thick glass substrate;
- applying a first filter to said substrate;
- attaching a thin glass layer to said filter;
- grinding said glass layer;
- polishing said glass layer;
- and
- applying a second filter to said substrate.
An apparatus as in claim 32 wherein said filters are precisely located from each other in order to facilitate the creation of equal optical path lengths and to facilitate the alignment of said means for detecting said separated electromagnetic waves.
An apparatus as in claim 39 wherein said photosensor arrays are located on the same integrated circuit.
An apparatus for separating electromagnetic waves according to wavelength comprising:
- a first transparent layer;
- a first filter contiguous with the first side of said first transparent layer for reflecting said electromagnetic waves having said wavelength within a first range;
- a second filter contiguous with the second side of said first transparent layer for reflecting said electromagnetic waves having said wavelength within a second range;
- and
- a means for equalizing the optical path lengths of said electromagnetic waves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.