3D endoscope with optical switch and prism arrangement
US5944655A · kind A · utility
24Cited by
3References
1Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 7, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 7, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B23/2415
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a 3D video endoscope, two lenses are disposed at the front end of a shank portion at a certain squint angle providing for two separate beam paths in each of which an optical switch is disposed and the switches are so controlled that they are alternately transparent and opaque, one being transparent, while the other is opaque, and a beam deflection arrangement is disposed in the beam paths for directing the beams along a single axis into an opto-electronic camera which provides electrical output signals representing alternately the pictures generated by the two front lenses.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.