EP0645659A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Three dimensional imaging apparatus, camera, and microscope.
Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 1994-09-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A three dimensional imaging apparatus may be used as a microscope or camera. The apparatus comprises an array of lenses (4), each of which is aligned with a respective photodetector (E). A liquid crystal spatial light modulator (3) has several pixels (a, b, c) between each photodetector (E) and lens (4). A control circuit (CC) controls the modulator (3) so that the pixels (a, b, c) in front of each photodetector act as a moving shutter. The outputs of the photodetectors (E) are processed and stored (PCM) to form a three dimensional image.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Geraint Robinson
- 👤 Craig Tombling
- 👤 Paul May
- 👤 David Ezra
- 👤 Graham John Woodgate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/18; G02B21/20; G02B21/22; G02B30/00; G02B30/20; G02B30/26; G02B30/27; H; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/20; H04N13/204; H04N13/207; H04N13/211; H04N13/225; H04N13/229; H04N13/243; H04N13/282; H04N13/296; H04N13/10; H04N13/189; H04N13/221; H04N13/232; H04N13/30; H04N13/302; H04N13/307
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A three dimensional imaging apparatus comprising a photodetector (1), an optical imaging system (4) for imaging an object onto the photodetector (1), a spatial optical modulator (3) interrupting the optical path at a location between the object and the photodetector (1), and a control circuit (CC) for causing the spatial optical modulator (3) selectively to transmit only a segment of the area of the optical path at the location, the segment moving sequentially across the area so that the spatial optical modulator (3) acts as a shutter arrangement, characterised in that the optical imaging system comprises an array (4) of lenses, the photodetector (1) comprises an array of photodetector elements (E), each lens of the array (4) is optically aligned with at least one of the photodetector elements (E), and the spatial optical modulator (3) comprises an array of shutters (a, b, c), each of which is optically aligned with a respective one of the photodetector elements (E).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the spatial optical modulator (3) is disposed between the array (4) of lenses and the photodetector (1).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each of the shutters comprises a plurality of discrete independently controllable modulation elements (a, b, c).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the modulation elements (a, b, c) are arranged in a single row so as to provide parallax viewing in one dimension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the modulation elements (a, b, c) are arranged in a two dimensional array so as to provide parallax viewing in two dimensions.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spatial optical modulator (3) is a liquid crystal device.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spatial optical modulator (3) and the photodetector (1) are formed on a substrate as part of an integrated electro-optical device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the control circuit (7) is part of the integrated device.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised by a further optical imaging system (6) disposed between the object and the optical imaging system (4)
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterised by a further shutter arrangement (5) disposed adjacent the further optical imaging system (6).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, characterised in that the further shutter arrangement (5) comprises a liquid crystal device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the spatial optical modulator (3) defines an array of modulation elements along a first direction, and the further shutter arrangement (5) defines an array of shutters along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A microscope characterised by comprising an apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a circuit (PCM) for processing a sequence of signals from the photodetectors (1) so as to store a three dimensional image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A camera characterised by comprising an apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12 and a circuit (PCM) for processing a sequence of signals from the photodetectors (1) so as to store a three dimensional image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A camera characterised by comprising a plurality of apparatuses, each of which is as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12, and a circuit for processing a sequence of signals from the photodetectors (1) so as to store a three dimensional image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
106 words
A three dimensional imaging microscope characterised by a photodetector array, a microscope lens (6) for imaging an object onto the photodetector array, a spatial optical modulator (5) interrupting the optical path between the object and the photodetector array, and a control circuit (CC) for causing the spatial optical modulator (5) selectively to transmit only a segment of the area of the optical path at the spatial optical modulator (5), the segment moving sequentially across the area so that the spatial optical modulator (5) acts as a shutter arrangement, an object plane and an image plane of the lens being at finite distances from the lens (6).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A microscope as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that the spatial optical modulator (5) comprises a plurality of independently controllable modulation elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A microscope as claimed in claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the spatial optical modulator (5) is substantially coincident with an input aperture or an image of an input aperture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
A microscope as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, characterised in that the spatial optical modulator (5) is a liquid crystal device, and in that the shutters are arranged in a single row so as to provide parallax viewing in one dimension or are arranged as a two dimensional array so as to provide parallax viewing in two dimensions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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