Simultaneously achieving circular symmetry and diminishing effects of optical defects and deviations during real time use of optical devices

Abstract

A method for simultaneously achieving circular symmetry and diminishing effects of optical defects and deviations during real time use of optical devices, and, a corresponding device and system for implementing the method thereof. The method features rotating an entire optical device, rotating at least one optical part of an entire optical device such as an optical assembly or an optical element during real time viewing or projecting by the optical device, in order to spread and blur the optical defects and deviations present in the at least one optical part of the optical device. In a first embodiment of the method, an optical rotation device is activated and controlled for rotating at least one optical part of an optical device during real time use of a viewing or projecting optical device. In a second embodiment of the method, there is included a step for aligning the optical axis of the at least one optical part of the optical device with respect to the rotation axis. In a first, simple, yet practical, embodiment of an optical rotation device for rotating the at least one optical part of the optical device, there are provided means and mechanisms for manual alignment during real time use of an optical device, whereas, in a second, more advanced, embodiment of an optical rotation device for effecting the rotation of the optical part of the optical device, there are provided means and mechanisms for highly accurate and automatic aligning of the optical axis of the optical part of the optical device with the rotation axis, thereby simultaneously achieving a high level of circular symmetry with respect to the optical part of the optical device, and significant diminishment of optical defects and deviations in at least one optical part of the optical device.

1 . A method for diminishing effects of optical defects and deviations during real time use of an optical device, the optical device including a camera, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) including at least one additional camera in the optical device;    (b) positioning the camera and each of said at least one additional camera, such that the camera and each of said at least one additional camera faces a different direction spaced apart at equally spaced angular intervals;    (c) including a rotation variant optical element in the optical device corresponding to each said at least one additional camera, said rotation variant optical element is selected from the group consisting of a part mirror and a beam splitter;    (d) positioning each said rotation variant optical element for diverting images toward each corresponding said at least one additional camera;    (e) recording a first image of an object by the camera, and recording another image of said object by said each of said at least one additional camera; and    (f) processing said first image and said at least one additional image of said object by cancelling out distortion errors of said cameras, thereby obtaining image data corresponding to original orientation and magnitude of said object.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , whereby the optical device is a folded optical device selected from the group consisting of a folded optical device for viewing and a folded optical device for projecting.  
   
   
       3 . An optical rotation device for simultaneously achieving circular symmetry and diminishing effects of optical defects and deviations during real time use of an optical device, comprising: 
 (a) a column for containing at least one optical part of the optical device;    (b) a mount for holding said column, said mount including a sleeve;    (c) a rotation mechanism for enabling rotation of said mount;    (d) a rotation mechanism housing for housing said rotation mechanism;    (e) a motor for actuating rotation of said mount;    (f) a transmission for enabling said motor to effect rotation of said mount; and    (g) an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a position of said column relative to said mount.    
   
   
       4 . The optical rotation device of  claim 3 , wherein said adjustment mechanism features two sets of at least two screws for horizontally adjusting said position of said column along x-axis direction and along y-axis direction.  
   
   
       5 . An optical rotation device for simultaneously achieving circular symmetry and diminishing effects of optical defects and deviations during real time use of an optical device, comprising: 
 (a) a column for containing the at least one optical part of the optical device;    (b) a mount for holding said column, said mount including a sleeve;    (c) a ring for providing slight freedom of movement required to align said column with respect to said mount;    (d) a main rotation mechanism for enabling rotation of said mount;    (e) a main rotation mechanism housing for housing said main rotation mechanism;    (f) a motor for actuating rotation of said mount;    (g) a transmission for enabling said motor to effect rotation of said mount;    (h) two self-aligned rotation mechanisms positioned at either side of said main rotation mechanism;    (i) pre-loaded flexures for mounting, holding, and moving said two self-aligned rotation mechanisms; and    (j) two sets of actuators for actuating said pre-loaded flexures.    
   
   
       6 . The optical rotation device of  claim 5 , wherein said ring is selected from the group consisting of metallic flexure and elastic material.  
   
   
       7 . The optical rotation device of  claim 5 , wherein said actuators are piezo-electric transducers.  
   
   
       8 . A system for simultaneously achieving circular symmetry and diminishing effects of optical defects and deviations during real time viewing by an optical device, comprising: 
 (a) said optical rotation device of  claim 5;     (b) an electronic control unit for activating actuator mechanisms, thereby changing positions of said actuators, said actuator mechanisms include piezo-electric transducers;    (c) a camera for recording images viewed by the optical device;    (d) a digital frame grabber for capturing electronic images of said camera; and    (e) a computer for controlling said electronic control unit.    
   
   
       9 . A system for simultaneously achieving circular symmetry and diminishing effects of optical defects and deviations during real time projecting by an optical device, comprising: 
 (a) said optical rotation device of  claim 5;     (b) an electronic control unit for activating actuator mechanisms, thereby changing positions of said actuators, said actuator mechanisms include piezo-electric transducers;    (c) a light source for projecting an image through the optical device    (d) a beam splitter placed in front of optics of the projecting optical device;    (e) a camera for viewing images projected by the optical device;    (f) a digital frame gabber for capturing electronic images of said camera; and    (g) a computer for controlling said electronic control unit.    
   
   
       10 . The optical rotation device of  claim 3 , whereby said at least one optical part of the optical device is selected from the group consisting of the optical device in its entirety, at least one optical assembly of the optical device, and at least one optical element of the optical device.  
   
   
       11 . The optical rotation device of  claim 3 , whereby said at least one optical part of the optical device exhibits a property selected from the group consisting of rotation invariance and rotation variance.  
   
   
       12 . The optical rotation device of  claim 10 , wherein said optical element is selected from the group consisting of a window, a lens, a mirror, and a prism, wherein said lens includes a convex lens and a concave lens, said mirror includes a flat mirror, a part-mirror, and a parabolic mirror, and said prism includes a beam splitter and a dove prism.  
   
   
       13 . The optical rotation device of claims  3 , wherein said motor the optical device functions as a rotor.  
   
   
       14 . The optical rotation device of  claim 3 , whereby rotating said at least one optical part of the optical device is effected according to two rotation parameters, said two rotation parameters are rotation mode and rotation speed, said rotation mode is selected from the group consisting of discontinuous rotation and continuous rotation.  
   
   
       15 . The optical rotation device of  claim 5 , whereby said at least one optical part of the optical device is selected from the group consisting of the optical device in its entirety, at least one optical assembly of the optical device, and at least one optical element of the optical device.  
   
   
       16 . The optical rotation device of  claim 5 , whereby said at least one optical part of the optical device exhibits a property selected from the group consisting of rotation invariance and rotation variance.  
   
   
       17 . The optical rotation device of  claim 15 , wherein said optical element is selected from the group consisting of a window, a lens, a mirror, and a prism, wherein said lens includes a convex lens and a concave lens, said mirror includes a flat mirror, a part mirror, and a parabolic mirror, and said prism includes a beam splitter and a dove prism.  
   
   
       18 . The optical rotation device of  claim 5 , wherein said motor the optical device functions as a rotor.  
   
   
       19 . The optical rotation device of  claim 5 , whereby rotating said at least one optical part of the optical device is effected according to two rotation parameters, said two rotation parameters are rotation mode and rotation speed, said rotation mode is selected from the group consisting of discontinuous and continuous rotation.  
   
   
       20 . A system for simultaneously achieving circular symmetry and diminishing effects of optical defects and deviations during real time viewing by an optical device, comprising: 
 (a) said optical rotation device of  claim 3;  and    (b) a camera for recording images viewed by the optical device.    
   
   
       21 . A system for simultaneously achieving circular symmetry and diminishing effects of optical defects and deviation during real time projecting by an optical device, comprising: 
 (a) said optical rotation device of  claim 3;  and    (b) a light source for projecting an image through the optical device.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 8 , whereby said computer features a software program for analyzing said captured electronic images for sharpness, for effecting said changing said positions of said actuators of said optical rotation device until a sharpest said electronic image is obtained, and for controlling speed of said motor of said optical rotation device.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 9 , whereby said computer features a software program for analyzing said captured electronics images for sharpness, for effecting said changing said positions of said actuators of said optical rotation device until a sharpest said electronic image is obtained, and for controlling speed of said motor of said optical rotation device.