Endoscopic imaging system employing diffractive optical elements
US5980454A · kind A · utility
80Cited by
35References
53Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B27/4272
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An improved endoscope comprises an objective including a diffractive optical element juxtaposed to a solid-state imaging element at the distal tip of the endoscope. An inexpensive halogen lamp at the proximal end of the endoscope is employed as the illumination source. A fiber-optic bundle carries light to the distal tip of the endoscope, where diffractive optical elements are provided to disperse light, illuminating the field of view.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.