US 7,405,877 B1 · Stereoscopic endoscope

Abstract

Stereoscopic device, including a first image detector and a second image detector, a first entrance pupil, receiving a first image of an object, a second entrance pupil, receiving a second image the object, a directional image separator, receiving the first and second images from the respective first and second entrance pupils, a common optical imaging assembly, located between the entrance pupil and the directional image separator, conveying the images from the respective entrance pupils to the directional image separator, providing the first image to the directional image separator in a first source direction, and providing the second image to the directional image separator in a second source direction, wherein the directional image separator includes a directionally selective surface, the directionally selective surface reflecting the first image in a first target direction, towards the first image detector, and transmitting the second image in a second target direction, towards the second image detector, and wherein the first image and the second image are at least partially overlapping, when arriving at the directionally selective surface.

Claims10

Dependent claims

Stereoscopic device comprising:

a first entrance pupil, receiving a first image of at least one object;
a second entrance pupil, receiving a second image of said at least one object;
a directional image separator, receiving said first image from said first entrance pupil and receiving said second image from said second entrance pupil;
a common optical imaging assembly, located between said entrance pupils and said directional image separator, conveying said first image from said first entrance pupil to said directional image separator, conveying said second image from said second entrance pupil to said directional image separator, providing said first image to said directional image separator in a first source direction, and providing said second image to said directional image separator in a second source direction;
a first image detector;
and
a second image detector,
wherein said directional image separator comprises a directionally selective surface, said directionally selective surface reflecting said first image in a first target direction, towards said first image detector, and transmitting said second image in a second target direction, towards said second image detector, and
wherein said first image and said second image are at least partially overlapping, when arriving at said directionally selective surface.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Stereoscopic endoscope

Life of this patent

Stereoscopic endoscope

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10