Stereo imaging system

Abstract

A stereoscopic optical system that includes an image member that is located at a position along a center optical axis and that has a first stereoscopic image area on a first side of the optical axis for receipt of a first stereoscopic image thereon and a second, separate stereoscopic image area on a second, separate side of the optical axis for receipt of a second, separate stereoscopic image thereon. The system includes an optical arrangement extending along the center optical axis and includes a roof prism with first and second roof segments. The arrangement is configured to transmit image-forming rays passing through the first roof segment to the first stereoscopic image area along a first optical path through the arrangement and is configured to transmit image-forming rays passing through the second roof segment to the second stereoscopic image area along a second, different optical path through the arrangement.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A stereoscopic optical system comprising:
 an image member located at a position along a center optical axis and having a first stereoscopic image area on a first side of the optical axis for receipt of a first stereoscopic image thereon and a second, separate stereoscopic image area on a second, separate side of the optical axis for receipt of a second, separate stereoscopic image thereon; and   an optical arrangement extending along the center optical axis and comprising a roof prism with first and second roof segments, the optical arrangement being configured to transmit image-forming rays passing through the first roof segment to the first stereoscopic image area along a first optical path through the optical arrangement, and configured to transmit image-forming rays passing through the second roof segment to the second stereoscopic image area along a second, different optical path through the optical arrangement.   
     
     
         2 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the optical arrangement comprises a sequence of optical elements positioned along the center optical axis, and the optical arrangement comprises an opaque optical barrier located within the sequence of optical elements, the optical barrier is planar, the optical barrier extends parallel to the center optical axis, and the optical barrier is configured to prevent at least some rays passing through the first roof segment from reaching the first stereoscopic image area and to prevent at least some rays passing through the second roof segment from reaching the second stereoscopic image area. 
     
     
         3 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the center optical axis extends in the plane of the barrier. 
     
     
         4 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the sequence of optical elements comprises a split glass window having two portions, and the optical barrier is located between the two portions of the split glass window. 
     
     
         5 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the optical barrier is a coating located between the two portions of the split glass window. 
     
     
         6 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the optical barrier is a baffle. 
     
     
         7 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the optical arrangement comprises a sequence of optical elements spaced along the center optical axis, and the optical arrangement comprises first and second apertures located within the sequence of optical elements, wherein (i) each of the first and second apertures is shifted off of the center optical axis, (ii) the first aperture is configured to prevent at least some rays passing through the first roof segment from reaching the first stereoscopic image area and the second aperture is configured to prevent at least some rays passing through the second roof segment from reaching the second stereoscopic image area. 
     
     
         8 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the first aperture is shifted off of the center optical axis in a first direction transverse to the center optical axis, the second aperture is shifted off of the center optical axis in a second direction transverse to the center optical axis, and the second direction is opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         9 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the optical arrangement a sequence of optical elements spaced along the center optical axis, each of the optical elements comprising a respective dimension extending transverse to the center optical axis, at least one of the optical elements has the respective dimension selected to prevent at least some rays passing through the first roof segment from reaching the first stereoscopic image area and to prevent at least some rays passing through the second roof segment from reaching the second stereoscopic image area. 
     
     
         10 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the optical arrangement comprising a sequence of optical elements positioned along the center optical axis, each of the optical elements comprising a respective dimension extending transverse to the center optical axis, at least some of the optical elements have the respective dimensions selected to prevent at least some rays passing through the first roof segment from reaching the first stereoscopic image area and to prevent at least some rays passing through the second roof segment from reaching the second stereoscopic image area. 
     
     
         11 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the optical arrangement comprising a field stop positioned along the center optical axis, the field stop has a respective dimension extending transverse to the center optical axis, the dimension is selected to prevent at least some rays passing through the first roof segment from reaching the first stereoscopic image area and to prevent at least some rays passing through the second roof segment from reaching the second stereoscopic image area. 
     
     
         12 . A stereoscopic optical system comprising:
 an image member located at a position along a center optical axis and having a first stereoscopic image area on a first side of the optical axis for receipt of a first stereoscopic image thereon and a second, separate stereoscopic image area on a second, separate side of the optical axis for receipt of a second, separate stereoscopic image thereon; and   an optical arrangement extending along the center optical axis, the optical arrangement comprising:
 a roof prism having first and second roof segments, and having an apex located on the center optical axis; 
 a single lens sequence having plural lenses spaced along the center optical axis, with each of the plural lenses having an optical center located on the center optical axis, the single lens sequence being configured to transmit image-forming rays passing through the first roof segment to the first stereoscopic image area along a first optical path and configured to transmit image-forming rays passing through the second roof segment to the second stereoscopic image area along a second, different optical path; and 
 at least one element configured to prevent at least some rays passing through the first roof segment from reaching the first stereoscopic image area and to prevent at least some rays passing through the second roof segment from reaching the second stereoscopic image area. 
   
     
     
         13 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one element comprises an opaque optical barrier that extends parallel to the center optical axis. 
     
     
         14 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein optical arrangement comprises a split glass window having two portions, and the optical barrier is located between the two portions of the split glass window. 
     
     
         15 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the optical barrier is a baffle. 
     
     
         16 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one element comprises first and second apertures, wherein (i)each of the first and second apertures is shifted off of the center optical axis, (ii) the first aperture is configured to prevent at least some rays passing through the first roof segment from reaching the first stereoscopic image area and (iii) the second aperture is configured to prevent at least some rays passing through the second roof segment from reaching the second stereoscopic image area. 
     
     
         17 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the first aperture is shifted off of the center optical axis in a first direction transverse to the center optical axis, the second aperture is shifted off of the center optical axis in a second direction transverse to the center optical axis, and the second direction is opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         18 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein each of the lenses has a respective dimension extending transverse to the center optical axis, the at least one element comprises at least some of the lenses that have the respective dimensions selected to prevent at least some rays passing through the first roof segment from reaching the first stereoscopic image area and to prevent at least some rays passing through the second roof segment from reaching the second stereoscopic image area. 
     
     
         19 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein each of the lenses has a respective dimension extending transverse to the center optical axis, the at least one element comprises at least one of the lenses that has the respective dimension selected to prevent at least some rays passing through the first roof segment from reaching the first stereoscopic image area and to prevent at least some rays passing through the second roof segment from reaching the second stereoscopic image area. 
     
     
         20 . The stereoscopic optical system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one element comprise a field stop positioned along the center optical axis, the field stop has a respective dimension extending transverse to the center optical axis, the dimension is selected to prevent at least some rays passing through the first roof segment from reaching the first stereoscopic image area and to prevent at least some rays passing through the second roof segment from reaching the second stereoscopic image area.