Patent US3652167A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3652167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical image splitting systems
Assignee: Vickers Ltd
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Filing: 1970-04-28
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Granted: 1972-03-28
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Expires: 1990-04-28
Abstract
Abstract In a binocular optical sizing instrument, an adjustable imagesplitting device is arranged, between an objective and the binocular viewing head, for use in measuring the diameters of viewed objects by the image-splitting method. The objective is arranged to form a primary real image of the field of view upstream of the common focal plane of the eyepieces of the binocular viewing head, and optical imaging means are positioned downstream of the primary real image to focus the field of view onto the said common focal plane. The optical system of the instrument is also arranged to form a real image of the objective''s exit pupil at a point optically equivalent to the apparent image-splitting point of the device. Such an image-splitting device can also be used in a monocular sizing instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis Hughes Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:43
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/0004; G02B21/0016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
An optical sizing instrument of the kind comprising an objective and a binocular viewing head having a beam divider and two eyepieces for viewing respective intermediate real images, of a field of view under investigation, formed at a common focal plane thereof by means of the objective, wherein the improvement resides in that: i. an image-splitting device comprising a group of plane reflectors mounted in an adjustable spatial relationship with one another is arranged between the objective and the binocular viewing head for splitting a primary light beam, received from the objective, into two secondary image-bearing beams which, downstream of the said group, are spaced from one another by a distance which is selectively variable by adjustment of the said spatial relationship; ii. the objective is arranged to form a primary real image, of the field of view, at a first position upstream of the said common focal plane; iii. first optical imaging means are mounted downstream of the objective, but upstream of the said group, for forming a real image of the objective''s exit pupil at a point optically equivalent to a point from which the said two secondary beams appear, immediately downstream of the said group, to be mutually divergent; and iv. second optical imaging means are mounted downstream of the said group and the said first position, but upstream of the said common focal plane, for bringing to a focus at the common focal plane the images of the field of view that are borne respectively by the said two secondary beams.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
An optical sizing instrument of the kind comprising an objective and a binocular viewing head having a beam divider and two eyepieces for viewing respective intermediate real images, of a field of view under investigation, formed at a common focal plane thereof by means of the objective, wherein the improvement resides in that: i. an image-splitting device comprising a group of plane reflectors mounted in an adjustable spatial relationship with one another is arranged between the objective and the binocular viewing head for splitting a primary light beam, received from the objective, into two secondary image-bearing beams which, downstream of the said group, are spaced from one another by a distance which is selectively variable by adjustment of the said spatial relationship; ii. the objective is arranged to form a primary real image, of the field of view, at a first position upstream of the said common focal plane; iii. first optical imaging means are mounted downstream of the objective, but upstream of the said group, for forming a real image of the objective''s exit pupil at a point optically equivalent to a point from which the said two secondary beams appear, immediately downstream of the said group, to be mutually divergent; and iv. second optical imaging means are mounted downstream of the said group and the said first position, but upstream of the said common focal plane, for bringing to a focus at the common focal plane the images of the field of view that are borne respectively by the said two secondary beams.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An instrument according to claim 1, comprising prism means mounted upstream of the said group for rotation about the primary beam so as to rotate the images formed in the said common focal plane from the two secondary beams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
210 words
For use in an optical sizing instrument of the Kind comprising an objective and a binocular viewing head having a beam divider and two eyepieces for viewing respective intermediate real images of a field of view, formed at a common focal plane thereof by means of the objective, a module adapted to be arranged between the objective and the binocular viewing head and comprising: i. an image-splitting device comprising a group of plane reflectors mounted in an adjustable spatial relationship with one another for splitting a primary light beam, received from the objective, into two secondary image-bearing beams which, downstream of the said group, are spaced from one another by a distance which is selectively variable by adjustment of the said spatial relationship; ii. first optical imaging means mounted upstream of the said group, for forming a real image of the objective''s exit pupil at a point optically equivalent to a point from which the said two secondary beams appear, immediately downstream of the said group, to be mutually divergent; and iii. second optical imaging means mounted downstream of the said group for bringing to a focus at the said common focal plane the images of the field of view that are borne respectively by the said two secondary beams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
210 words
For use in an optical sizing instrument of the Kind comprising an objective and a binocular viewing head having a beam divider and two eyepieces for viewing respective intermediate real images of a field of view, formed at a common focal plane thereof by means of the objective, a module adapted to be arranged between the objective and the binocular viewing head and comprising: i. an image-splitting device comprising a group of plane reflectors mounted in an adjustable spatial relationship with one another for splitting a primary light beam, received from the objective, into two secondary image-bearing beams which, downstream of the said group, are spaced from one another by a distance which is selectively variable by adjustment of the said spatial relationship; ii. first optical imaging means mounted upstream of the said group, for forming a real image of the objective''s exit pupil at a point optically equivalent to a point from which the said two secondary beams appear, immediately downstream of the said group, to be mutually divergent; and iii. second optical imaging means mounted downstream of the said group for bringing to a focus at the said common focal plane the images of the field of view that are borne respectively by the said two secondary beams.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
An instrument according to claim 1, wherein the group of plane reflectors comprises means presenting a plane partially-reflecting interface to the primary beam, and first and second plane reflectors which are fixedly positioned relative to one another with their planes intersecting the plane of said partially-reflecting interface in respective parallel lines and which face towards said partially-reflecting interface and which are mounted for rotation relative to said partially-reflecting interface about an axis that is perpendicular to the primary beam immediately upstream of the said group and lies in the plane of said interface and is parallel to said respective parallel lines.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
An instrument according to claim 4, wherein the planes of the first and second reflectors are perpendicular to one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An instrument according to claim 4, wherein said first and second plane reflectors comprise respective plane front surface mirrors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An instrument according to claim 4, wherein the planes of the first and second reflectors are equidistant from the said axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An instrument according to claim 4, wherein the means presenting said plane partially-reflecting interface to the primary beam comprise a Swan cube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
An instrument according to claim 1, wherein the two secondary beams appear, immediately downstream of the said group, to be mutually divergent from a point at a finite distance from the second optical imaging means, and the first optical imaging means comprise a field lens and a field collimator, said field collimator being mounted downstream of the field lens but upstream of the said group.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
An instrument according to claim 1, wherein the two secondary beams appear, immediately downstream of the said group, to be mutually divergent from a point at a finite distance from the second optical imaging means, and the first optical imaging means comprise a field lens and a field collimator mounted downstream of the field lens but upstream of the said group, the said first position being upstream of the said group and the field lens and the field collimator serving in combination to collimate the primary real image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
An instrument according to claim 10, wherein the image-splitting device, the first optical imaging means and the second optical imaging means are parts of an exchangeable module mounted in the instrument between the objective and the binocular viewing head.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
An instrument according to claim 11, wherein the exchangeable module further includes prism means mounted upstream of the said group, but downstream of the field lens, for rotation about the primary beam so as to rotate the images formed in the said common focal plane from the two secondary beams.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
114 words
An instrument according to clAim 1, wherein the group of plane reflectors comprises means presenting a plane partially-reflecting interface mounted for splitting said primary beam into a reflected beam and a transmitted beam, and first and second reflection devices, each having at least one plane reflecting surface, arranged for receiving said reflected beam and said transmitted beam respectively and returning them to said interface whereat they are transmitted and reflected respectively, the two reflection devices being fixed relative to one another and being mounted for rotation relative to said partially-reflecting interface about an axis that is perpendicular to the primary beam immediately upstream of said group and lies in the plane of said interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
A module according to claim 3, wherein the group of plane reflectors comprises first and second plane reflectors and means presenting a plane partially-reflecting interface to the primary beam, the first and second plane reflectors being fixed with respect to one another and facing the plane partially-reflecting interface, the plane of said interface intercepting the planes of the first and second reflectors in respective parallel lines, and the means presenting the partially-reflecting interface being mounted for rotation with respect to the first and second reflectors about an axis that is perpendicular to the primary beam immediately upstream of the said group and which lies in the plane of the interface parallel to the said parallel lines.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A module according to claim 14, wherein the first and second plane reflectors constitute respective plane front surface mirrors mounted at right angles to one another.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A module according to claim 14, wherein the planes of the first and second reflectors are equidistant from the said axis,
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A module according to claim 14, wherein the means presenting said plane partially-reflecting interface to the primary beam comprise a Swan cube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
A module according to claim 3, wherein the two secondary beams appear, immediately downstream of the said group, to be mutually divergent from a point at a finite distance from the second optical imaging means, and the first optical imaging means comprise a field lens and a field collimator, said field collimator being mounted downstream of the field lens but upstream of the said group.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
240 words
An optical sizing instrument of the kind comprising an objective and eyepiece means for viewing a field of view under investigation imaged by means of the objective at a focal plane of the eyepiece means, wherein the improvement resides in that: i. an image-splitting device comprising a group of plane reflectors mounted in an adjustable spatial relationship with one another is arranged between the objective and the eyepiece means for splitting a primary light beam, received from the objective, into two secondary image-bearing beams which, downstream of the said group, are spaced from one another by a distance which is selectively variable by adjustment of the said spatial relationship; ii. the objective is arranged to form a primary real image, of the field of view, at a first position upstream of the said focal plane; iii. first optical imaging means are mounted downstream of the objective, but upstream of the said group, for forming a real image of the objective''s exit pupil at a point optically equivalent to a point from which the said two secondary beams appear, immediately downstream of the said group, to be mutually divergent; and iv. second optical imaging means are mounted downstream of the said group and the said first position, but upstream of the said focal plane, for bringing to a focus at the said focal plane the images of the field of view that are borne respectively by the said two secondary beams.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
240 words
An optical sizing instrument of the kind comprising an objective and eyepiece means for viewing a field of view under investigation imaged by means of the objective at a focal plane of the eyepiece means, wherein the improvement resides in that: i. an image-splitting device comprising a group of plane reflectors mounted in an adjustable spatial relationship with one another is arranged between the objective and the eyepiece means for splitting a primary light beam, received from the objective, into two secondary image-bearing beams which, downstream of the said group, are spaced from one another by a distance which is selectively variable by adjustment of the said spatial relationship; ii. the objective is arranged to form a primary real image, of the field of view, at a first position upstream of the said focal plane; iii. first optical imaging means are mounted downstream of the objective, but upstream of the said group, for forming a real image of the objective''s exit pupil at a point optically equivalent to a point from which the said two secondary beams appear, immediately downstream of the said group, to be mutually divergent; and iv. second optical imaging means are mounted downstream of the said group and the said first position, but upstream of the said focal plane, for bringing to a focus at the said focal plane the images of the field of view that are borne respectively by the said two secondary beams.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
An instrument according to claim 19, comprising prism means mounted upstream of the said group for rotation about the primary beam so as to rotate the images formed in the said focal plane from the two secondary beams.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
101 words
An instrument according to claim 19, wherein the group of plane reflectors comprises means presenting a plane partially-reflecting interface to the primary beam, and first and second plane reflectors which are fixedly positioned relative to one another with their planes intersecting the plane of said partially-reflecting interface in respective parallel lines and which face towards said partially-reflecting interface and which are mounted for rotation relative to said partially-reflecting interface about an axis that is perpendicular to the primary beam immediately upstream of the said group and lies in the plane of said interface and is parallel to said respective parallel lines.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
An instrument according to claim 21, wherein the first and second reflectors comprise respective plane front surface mirrors mounted at right angles to one another.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
196 words
For use in an optical sizing instrument of the kind comprising an objective and eyepiece means for viewing a field of view imaged by means of the objective at a focal plane of the eyepiece means, a module adapted to be arranged between the objective and the eyepiece means and comprising: i. an image-splitting device comprising a group of plane reflectors mounted in an adjustable spatial relationship with one another for splitting a primary light beam, received from the objective, into two secondary image-bearing beams which, downstream of the said group, are spaced from one another by a distance which is selectively variable by adjustment of the said spatial relationship; ii. first optical imaging means mounted upstream of the said group, for forming a real image of the objective''s exit pupil at a point optically equivalent to a point from which the said two secondary beams appear, immediately downstream of the said group, to be mutually divergent; and iii. second optical imaging means mounted downstream of the said group for bringing to a focus at the said focal plane the images of the field of view that are borne respectively by the said two secondary beams.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
196 words
For use in an optical sizing instrument of the kind comprising an objective and eyepiece means for viewing a field of view imaged by means of the objective at a focal plane of the eyepiece means, a module adapted to be arranged between the objective and the eyepiece means and comprising: i. an image-splitting device comprising a group of plane reflectors mounted in an adjustable spatial relationship with one another for splitting a primary light beam, received from the objective, into two secondary image-bearing beams which, downstream of the said group, are spaced from one another by a distance which is selectively variable by adjustment of the said spatial relationship; ii. first optical imaging means mounted upstream of the said group, for forming a real image of the objective''s exit pupil at a point optically equivalent to a point from which the said two secondary beams appear, immediately downstream of the said group, to be mutually divergent; and iii. second optical imaging means mounted downstream of the said group for bringing to a focus at the said focal plane the images of the field of view that are borne respectively by the said two secondary beams.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
100 words
A module according to claim 23, wherein the group of plane reflectors comprises means presenting a plane partially-reflecting interface to the primary beam, and first and second plane reflectors which are fixedly positioned relative to one another with their planes intersecting the plane of said-partially-reflecting interface in respective parallel lines and which face towards said partially-reflecting interface and which are mounted for rotation relative to said partially-reflecting interface about an axis that is perpendicular to the primary beam immediately upstream of the said group and lies in the plane of said interface and is parallel to said respective parallel lines.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
A module according to claim 24, wherein the first and second reflectors comprise respective plane front surface mirrors fixed at right angles to one another.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-28 | 1975-09-27 | 1976-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-28 | 1979-09-27 | 1980-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-28 | 1983-09-27 | 1984-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |