Patent · US Expired

Optical image field splitting system

US5975710A · kind A · utility

64Cited by
7References
1Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 14, 1998
Grant dateNov 2, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 14, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B27/143
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical image field splitting system which is adapted to allow a single camera to be used to view two or more images or object scenes of a single object or one or more images from a plurality of objects is disclosed. The optical image field splitting system includes a camera, a mirror pair, a lens, and a third mirror spaced apart from the mirror pair. The mirror pair includes a first mirror defining a first reflective planar surface and a second mirror defining a second reflective planar surface. The first reflective planar surface is oriented at a first predetermined angle relative to the second reflective planar surface. The lens is coupled to the camera and disposed in an optical path defined between the camera and the mirror pair. The third mirror defines a third reflective planar surface oriented at a second predetermined angle relative to the second reflective surface of the second mirror. An optical path length is defined between the third mirror and the second mirror. The third mirror is selectively rotatable relative to the second mirror without changing the first optical path length.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.