Single-lens 3D method, microscope, and video adapter

Abstract

A method and teaching for creating stereographic images with the use of a single lens is presented. A leading linear polarizing filter, a passive half-wave retarder, an electric switched quarter-wave retarder, and a trailing linear polarizing filter are then used in various combination to create: a 3D microscope, a 3D video adapter for microscopes, a general purpose 3D video lens, a 3D video adapter, and a 3D light-valve. A neutral density filter replaces those components to then create a 3D ocular and a 3D ocular adapter.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for producing microscopic/stereoscopic imaging of a subject comprising: 
 a) an objective for producing an image of the subject;    b) a first polarizing means in the light path between the subject and the aperture stop of the objective;    c) a means to manipulate part of the polarized image, said means located at the aperture stop of the objective and the manipulation making the affected part of the light orthogonal to the polarizer;    d) a means to split the light path after the first means into a first part and a second part;    e) a second polarizing means to polarize the first part in the same orientation as the first polarizing means;    f) a third polarizing means to polarize the second part orthogonal to the first polarizing means;    g) a first ocular lens to view one of the parts of the image with one eye;    h) a second ocular lens to view the other image part with the other eye.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as in    claim 1    where the splitting and polarizing means are a polarizing beam splitter.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as in    claim 1    where the manipulative means is a passive half wave retarder.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as in    claim 1    where the manipulative means covers approximately half of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of    claim 1    wherein the first polarizing means is located between the subject and the objective lens.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus of    claim 1    wherein the first polarizing means is ahead of the subject.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of    claim 1    where the first polarizing means is a polarizer on a lens of the objective.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as in    claim 1    wherein the first polarizing means is a coating of a lens of the objective—prior to the half wave retarder.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as in    claim 1    wherein the first polarizing means is a polarizer element in the objective before the half wave retarder.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of    claim 1    where the described location referred to as the aperture stop is a conjugate of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus of    claim 3    where the half wave retarder is a coating on part of an element located at the aperture stop of the lens.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus to produce microscope/stereoscopic imaging for capture on a video camera, comprising: 
 a) an objective to produce an image of the subject;    b) a first polarizing filter in the light path between the subject and the aperture stop of the objective;    c) a passive half wave retarder placed at the aperture stop of the objective, covering approximately half of the aperture;    d) a second polarizing filter located in the light path after the half wave retarder oriented as the first polarizer;    e) a switched quarter wave retarder in the light path between the first and the second polarizing filter with one of the switched orientations to coincide with the polarization from the first polarizer;    f) synchronizing of the switching of the switched quarter wave retarder to the video camera's signal;    g) a video adapter tube to connect the video camera to the apparatus after the second polarizing filter.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of    claim 12    where the described location referred to as the aperture stop is a conjugate of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as in    claim 12    wherein the half wave retarder is a coating on part of an element located at the aperture stop of the lens.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as in    claim 12    wherein the first polarizing filter is a coating of a lens of the objective—prior to the half wave retarder.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as in    claim 12    wherein the switched quarter wave retarder is switched by signals from the video camera.  
     
     
         17 . An adapter apparatus for producing stereoscopic video imaging from a microscope comprised of: 
 a) a first polarizing means between the subject and the aperture stop of the objective creating a first polarized image signal;    b) a manipulation means covering most of the polarized image signal to create a first part and a second part of the first polarized image signal with the polarization of part one being different than the polarization of part two.    c) A video tube to adapt a microscope for video,    d) a switched means to manipulate the two parts of the image signal such that in one of the switched positions the manipulation is to manipulate the first part of the image signal to coincide with the first polarizing means and the other switched position is orthogonal to the first polarization means; and    e) a second polarization means oriented as the first polarizing means after the switched manipulation means and before the video camera.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of    claim 17    where the first polarization means is a polarizing filter.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of    claim 17    where the first polarizing means is a coating on an optical element of the apparatus.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of    claim 17    where the second polarizer is a polarizer filter.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of    claim 17    where the second polarizer is a coating on an optical element of the apparatus.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of    claim 17    where the manipulation means is a half wave retarder.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of    claim 17    where the manipulation means is a half wave retarder covering approximately half of the image signal.  
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as in    claim 23    wherein the half wave retarder is a coating on part of an element located at the aperture stop of the lens.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of    claim 17    where the switch means to manipulate the signal is a switch quarter wave retarder.  
     
     
         26 . A video adapter apparatus for producing stereoscopic imaging of a subject for capture on a video camera comprising: 
 a) a relay lens system;    b) a passive half wave retarder located at the aperture stop of the relay lens system positioned to cover approximately half of the aperture stop;    c) a first polarizing filter in the light path before the half wave retarder;    d) a second polarizing filter orientation as the first polarizing filter, located after the half wave retarder;    e) a switched quarter wave retarder between the first and the second polarizing filter oriented such that one of its switched positions is oriented as the first polarizing filter;    f) switching of the switched quarter wave retarder is synchronized with the video camera.    
     
     
         27 . A video adapter as in    claim 26    where the signal to switch is from the video camera.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of    claim 26    where the described location referred to as the aperture stop is a conjugate of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of    claim 26    where the half wave retarder is a coating on part of an element at the aperture stop.  
     
     
         30 . An apparatus for producing stereoscopic imaging of a subject for capture on a video camera, comprising: 
 a) a lens for producing an image of the subject;    b) a first polarizing filter placed in the light path prior to the aperture stop of the lens; the second polarizing filter oriented such that one of its switched positions is oriented as the first polarizing filter;    f) switching of the switched quarter wave retarder is synchronized with the video camera.    
     
     
         27 . A video adapter as in    claim 26    where the signal to switch is from the video camera.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of    claim 26    where the described location referred to as the aperture stop is a conjugate of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of    claim 26    where the half wave retarder is a coating on part of an element at the aperture stop.  
     
     
         30 . An apparatus for producing stereoscopic imaging of a subject for capture on a video camera, comprising: 
 a) a lens for producing an image of the subject;    b) a first polarizing filter placed in the light path prior to the aperture stop of the lens;    c) a half wave retarder placed at the aperture stop of the lens and positioned to cover approximately half of the aperture stop;    d) a second polarizing filter oriented as the first polarizer and located after the half wave retarder;    e) a switched quarter wave retarder between the first and the second polarizing filter oriented such that one of the switched positions is oriented as the first polarizing filter;    f) switching the switched quarter wave retarder in synchronization with the vide 0  camera.    
     
     
         31 . A video adapter as in    claim 30    where the signal to switch is from the video camera.  
     
     
         32 . An apparatus as in    claim 30    wherein the half wave retarder is a coating on part of an element located at the aperture stop of the lens.  
     
     
         33 . An apparatus as in    claim 30    wherein the aperture stop and half wave retarder and final polarizer are separate from the video lens by using a relay lens with the half retarder located at the aperture stop of the relay lens.  
     
     
         34 . An apparatus as in    claim 30    where the second polarizing filter is after the video lens.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of    claim 30    where the described location referred to as the aperture stop is a conjugate of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         36 . An apparatus as in    claim 30    where the first polarizer is before the video lens.  
     
     
         37 . An apparatus as in    claim 30    where the switched quarter wave retarder and the second polarizer are after the video lens.  
     
     
         38 . An apparatus as in    claim 30    where the switched quarter wave retarder and the first polarizer are before the video lens.  
     
     
         39 . An apparatus for producing stereoscopic imaging of a subject for capture of a video camera, comprising: 
 a) a relay lens system for gathering and relaying the first image plane to a second image plane, with the aperture stop of the relay lens being conjugate of the aperture stop of the first lens;    b) a first polarizing filter placed in the light path prior to the conjugate of the aperture stop;    c) a half wave retarder placed at the conjugate of the aperture stop of the relay lens and after the first polarizing filter and covering approximately half of the aperture stop;    d) a second polarizing filter oriented as the first polarizing filter and after half wave retarder;    e) a switched quarter wave retarder located between the first and second polarizer with one of the switching orientations matching the orientation of the first polarizer; and    f) the switching being synchronized with the video camera.    
     
     
         40 . An apparatus as in    claim 39    where the first polarizing filter acts as a front seal on the adapter.  
     
     
         41 . An apparatus as in    claim 39    wherein the half wave retarder is a coating on part of an element located at the aperture stop of the lens.  
     
     
         42 . An apparatus as in    claim 39    where the switched quarter wave retarder is switched by signals from the video camera.  
     
     
         43 . An apparatus as in    claim 39    where the second polarizing filter acts as the rear seal on the adapter.  
     
     
         44 . An apparatus for producing stereoscopic imagery of a subject when inserted at the aperture stop of any imaging lens, comprising: 
 a) a first and second polarizing means similarly oriented;    b) a manipulation means covering approximately half of the aperture stop located between the first and second polarizing means such that the manipulation of that part of the image signal is manipulated to be orthogonal from the polarization orientation;    c) a switched manipulation means located between the first and the second polarizing means oriented such that the first switched orientation is similar to the orientation of the polarizing means and the second switch orientation causing the image to be orthogonal to the polarization orientation;    d) where the switching of the switched manipulation means is periodic.    
     
     
         45 . An apparatus as in    claim 44    wherein the manipulation means is a half wave retarder.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of    claim 44    where the described location referred to as the aperture stop is a conjugate of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         47 . An apparatus of    claim 44    where the half wave retarder is a coating on an element in the apparatus.  
     
     
         48 . An apparatus of    claim 44    where the polarizing means are coatings on elements of the apparatus.  
     
     
         49 . An apparatus of    claim 44    where the switch manipulation means is a switched quarter wave retarder.  
     
     
         50 . An apparatus of    claim 44    where the switched quarter-wave retarder is switched by signals from the video camera.  
     
     
         51 . An apparatus of    claim 44    wherein the polarizing means and the manipulative means are coatings on the switched quarter wave retarder.  
     
     
         52 . An apparatus for producing stereoscopic imagery of a subject, comprising: 
 a) a relay lens system positioned between the ocular holes of an instrument and the oculars of that instrument, thus forming an adapter;    b) a first ocular with a means to partially affect the image at the aperture stop of a lens system to reduce the transmitted light of the image to a degree between 1% to 100%;    c) a second ocular with a second means to affect the image to the same degree as the first affecting means but have the second affecting means be the reverse of the first affecting means as to which part of the image is being affected.    
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of    claim 52    where the described location referred to as the aperture stop is a conjugate of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         54 . An apparatus of    claim 52    further comprising the affecting means being a neutral density filter.  
     
     
         55 . An apparatus of    claim 52    where the shape of the neutral density filter is-such as to vertically bisect the aperture stop with approximately half of the aperture stop blocked by the filter.  
     
     
         56 . An apparatus of    claim 52    where the refracting edge of the filter is treated with a light absorbing coat.  
     
     
         57 . An apparatus as in    claim 52    where the filter is a coating on an element placed at the aperture stop.  
     
     
         58 . An apparatus as in    claim 52    where the filter is a hole in an obstruction.  
     
     
         59 . A method of encoding depth information about a subject using a lens system when displayed on an image plane, including: 
 a) using a filter;    b) placing said filter at the aperture stop of the lens system;    c) having the filter treat a first part of the light at the aperture stop differently than a second part of the light at the aperture stop.    
     
     
         60 . The method of    claim 59    where the described location of the aperture stop is a conjugate of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         61 . The method of    claim 59    where, in addition, the filter alternately occludes the first part and second part of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         62 . The method of    claim 59    where the filter affects approximately half of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         63 . The method of    claim 59    where the filter affects more than two portions of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         64 . A method for encoding depth information of a subject in a lens system where the encoding method creates a first and a second image signal at the aperture stop then alternately transmits each signal to an image plane.  
     
     
         65 . The method of    claim 64    where in addition the two superimposed signals are complimentary to each other.  
     
     
         66 . The method of    claim 64    where the described location of the aperture stop is a conjugate of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         67 . A method of    claim 64    where, in addition, the image signal is conditioned before it is split into two superimposed image signals.  
     
     
         68 . A method of    claim 64    where, in addition, the conditioning is accomplished by a polarizer.  
     
     
         69 . A method of    claim 64    where, in addition, the means to create two superimposed image signals is by a half wave retarder over approximately half of the aperture stop.  
     
     
         70 . A method of    claim 64    where, in addition, the two image signals are viewed by two eyes, one for one signal and the other for the second signal.  
     
     
         71 . A method of    claim 64    where, in addition, there is a switch to alternate the image plane with the first signal then the second signal.