Digital solid-state binoculars

#The present invention is in the field of hand-held stereoscopic imaging systems. The invention is a solid state stereoscopic imaging system integrated within a traditional hand-held pair of prism binoculars which allows for improved image enhancement and rugged component design.

#A pair of conventional binoculars is basically two small refracting telescopes held together by a frame that, by definition, produce a stereoscopic or three-dimensional view. Each refracting telescope has an optical path defined through an objective lens, a pair of prisms and an eye piece. The diameter of the objective lens determines the light-gathering power. The two objective lenses are further apart than the eyepeices, which enhances stereoscopic vision. Functioning as a magnifier, the eyepiece forms a large virtual image which becomes the object for the eye itself and thus forms the final image on the retina.

#Recently, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,399, it is suggested that each telescope in a pair of binoculars be provided with an image sensor, a first optical system, a second optical system and a display so that the binoculars can selectively view optically projected images and electronically reproduced images that are stored by the binoculars. The display is a flat panel type liquid crystal display which appears transparent when optically projected images are viewed. When electronically reproduced images are to be viewed, a back light is pivoted behind the display from the eyepiece side. While such binoculars offer the advantage of limited storage and playback of images, they rely upon mechanical components which are subject to wear and failure. Further, because the display is located in the optical path, even though it appears transparent when the optical path is being used, the image quality is degraded, and brightness is lost, due to placement of the display in the optical path.

#FIG. 1A illustrates the top view of the present invention showing the user accessible record and playback buttons;

#FIG. 1B illustrates the bottom view of the present invention showing an access door to an internal power supply;

#FIG. 2A is a ray trace diagrammatic illustration of the optical layout of the present invention;

#Referring now to FIG. 1A, the complete package of the preferred embodiment looks very similar to today's hand-held binoculars 1. A pair of binoculars is basically two small refracting telescopes 1A held together by a frame 1B that, by definition, produce a stereoscopic or three-dimensional view. Each refracting telescope has an optical path defined through an objective lens 2, a pair of prisms 10 (shown in FIG. 2A) and an eyepieces 3. The diameter of the objective lens 2 determines the light-gathering power. The two objective lenses 2 are further apart than the eyepeices, which enhances stereoscopic vision. Functioning as a magnifier, the eyepiece 3 forms a large virtual image which becomes the object for the eye itself and thus forms the final image on the retina.

#Taking advantage of the proven existing binocular design, the preferred embodiment integrates the imaging system within the package so that only a record 4 and playback 5 button are visible on the top view of the outside housing. The record button 4 allows the user to record any image(s) seen through said binoculars 1 and also allows simultaneous recording of stereo sound. Likewise, the playback button 5 allows the user to instantly (or at a later time) playback the stored images and the sound file as a "video clip" stereoscopically--or in other words, the images are played back simultaneously to each eye through the eyepiece 3.

#Also visible on the outside package side view that differs from today's binoculars is a small 3 mm phone jack 7. This provides a digital video input/output to any external device accepting the video format. FIG. 1B depicts the bottom view in which a trap door 8 exists to house a battery 9 that is user accessible and needed to power the internal electronics and to retain the recorded images so that they can be viewed at a later time.