Optical magnifying system and apparatus for viewing small objects

Claim 2

In a compact optical system having a viewing axis for viewing a two dimensional object and providing high magnification of a virtual image thereof viewable in a maximum viewing space along the viewing axis, the combination of: means including a mirror with a concave mirror optical surface having an optical axis coinciding with the viewing axis; means providing a uniformly light transmitting and reflecting optical surface having one edge adjoining an edge of said concave surface and arranged at an angle of less than 90* with respect to a chord of said concave mirror surface extending to an opposite edge thereof; an object frame defining an object to be viewed, one edge of the object frame adjoining an edge of said concave mirror surface opposite from said one edge of said light transmitting and reflecting surface, the object frame being poistioned at an angle of greater than 90* to said chord oF the concave mirror surface and having an object frame optical axis intersecting said viewing axis with an included angle of less than 90* facing said concave mirror surface; said adjoining geometric realtionship of the object frame, concave mirror surface and light transmitting and reflecting surface providing a folded geometric relation with the utilized apertures defined on said optical surfaces by the intersections of marginal rays connecting the edges of the object frame with a viewpoint on the viewing axis, said utilized apertures for an outermost viewpoint on the viewing axis adjoining in the manner corresponding to said surfaces in said folded geometric relation thereby maximizing viewing space.

Claim 3

In an optical system as stated in claim 1 including a body of clear, light transmitting material having a selected index of refraction greater than one positioned in and filling the space between said object frame, said concave mirror surface, and said light transmitting and reflecting surface.

Claim 4

In an optical system as stated in claim 2 wherein said body of clear refractive material is provided with a planar exit surface normal to said viewing axis and passing through the intersection of said light transmitting and reflecting surface with the marginal light rays proximate to the objective frame.

Claim 5

In an optical system as stated in claim 2 wherein said mirror member includes a portion of the body of said clear refractive material upon which concave mirror surface is formed and is provided by a reflective coating on said material.

Claim 6

An optical system as stated in claim 2 wherein said body of clear refractive material includes two body portions joined at a planar interface to provide said light transmitting and reflecting surface.

Claim 7

In an optical system as stated in claim 2 including means for imparting curvature to said object frame for regulating the configuration of the magnified image.

Claim 8

In an optical system as stated in claim 6 wherein said curvature imparting means includes an entrance surface of concave configuration on said body.

Claim 9

An optical system as stated in claim 2 wherein said body includes a planar entrance surface for said object frame.

Claim 10

In an optical system as stated in claim 2 wherein said body includes means for neutralizing negative astigmatism in said optical system, said neutralizing means including an exit surface on said body of concave configuration.

Claim 11

In an optical system as stated in claim 2 including means for illuminating the object frame.

Claim 12

In an optical system as stated in claim 10 wherein said illuminating means includes a light diffusing element and a prism between said diffusing element and said object frame.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for viewing and magnifying a two dimensional object the combination of: a housing having side walls; means at one wall, for holding and positioning a plurality of subjects to be viewed, said positioning means being connected with said housing; means defining an object frame opening on one wall of said housing and at which one of the subjects to be viewed is positioned; means defining an exit opening at another wall of said housing and through which said subject may be viewed in a viewing space extending from said exit opening means; an optical magnifier body of refractive material carried within said housing and having an entrance surface defined by said object frame opening and having an exit surface at said exit opening means, said magnifier body including a concave mirror surface having one edge adjoining said entrance surface defined by said frame opening, a semi-transparent surface in said body between said body exit surface and said concave mirror surface, the edge of said concave mirror surface opposite to said one edge adjoining said semi-transparent surface; said adjoining entrance, concave mirror, semi-transparent and exit surfaces being physically related by obtuse and acute angles respectively whereby marginal rays from edges of said entrance surface with respect to a viewpoint on said viewing axis are transmitted through said optical magnifier body at corresponding adjoining aperture areas on said surfaces in non-interfering relation whereby a magnified virtual image of the object is seen in its entirety at a farthest viewpoint along a viewing axis extending from said exit surface for a selected size of object frame opening and magnification; and means for illuminating the subject to be viewed.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for viewing and magnifying a two dimensional object the combination of: a housing having side walls; means at one wall, for holding and positioning a plurality of subjects to be viewed, said positioning means being connected with said housing; means defining an object frame opening on one wall of said housing and at which one of the subjects to be viewed is positioned; means defining an exit opening at another wall of said housing and through which said subject may be viewed in a viewing space extending from said exit opening means; an optical magnifier body of refractive material carried within said housing and having an entrance surface defined by said object frame opening and having an exit surface at said exit opening means, said magnifier body including a concave mirror surface having one edge adjoining said entrance surface defined by said frame opening, a semi-transparent surface in said body between said body exit surface and said concave mirror surface, the edge of said concave mirror surface opposite to said one edge adjoining said semi-transparent surface; said adjoining entrance, concave mirror, semi-transparent and exit surfaces being physically related by obtuse and acute angles respectively whereby marginal rays from edges of said entrance surface with respect to a viewpoint on said viewing axis are transmitted through said optical magnifier body at corresponding adjoining aperture areas on said surfaces in non-interfering relation whereby a magnified virtual image of the object is seen in its entirety at a farthest viewpoint along a viewing axis extending from said exit surface for a selected size of object frame opening and magnification; and means for illuminating the subject to be viewed.

Claim 15

In an apparatus as stated in claim 12 including a foldable blind means connected with said housing and adapted to cover and protect said exit surface and said entrance surface when said apparatus is not used.

Claim 16

In an apparatus as stated in claim 12 wherein said positioning means includes an elongated U-shaped clip having a light transmitting opening therein opposite said entrance opening in said housing.

Claim 17

In an apparatus as stated in claim 12 wherein said positioning and holding means for said plurality of subjects to be viewed includes a member having a helical thread thereon, a cylindrical holder for said plurality of subjects to be viewed, and guide means on said holder cooperable with said helically threaded member for selectively positioning each subject to be viewed before said entrance surface.

Claim 18

A binocular viewing apparatus for small images including an objective lens; means for splitting a beam passing through said objective lens into two separate paths; and an optical system as stated in claim 1 positioned in each of said paths and arranged for binocular viewing of the subject being viewed.

Claim 19

An optical viewing system as stated in claim 1 including a second similar optical system arranged to relay the image formed by said first optical system.

Claim 20

In an optical system as stated in claim 2 wherein said concave mirror surface is of aspherical shape having meridional curvature decreasing with increasing distance from the mirror axis.

Claim 21

In an optical system as stated in claim 1 wherein said concave mirror surface comprises an optically concave mirror surface having narrow coaxial zones of concentric surface curvature.

Claim 22

A binocular viewing apparatus for small images including an objective lens; means for splitting a beam passing through said objective lens into two separate paths; and an optical system as stated in claim 2 positioned in each of said paths and arranged for binocular viewing of the subject being viewed.

Claim 23

In an optical system as stated in claim 2 wherein said concave mirror surface comprises an optically concave mirror surface having narrow coaxial zones of concentric surface curvature.

Claim 24

An optical system providing maximum viewing space of a magnified virtual image for a selected object size and magnification, said optical system comprising: a solid body of optical refractive material provided with a planar surface area defining an object frame area, a concave surface having one edge thereof adjoining one edge of said object surface, the chord of said concave surface being at an angle of greater than 90* to the plane of said planar object frame area, said concave surface having a mirror coating thereon, a semi-transparent surface having one edge adjoining the edge of said concave surface opposite to that edge at which the object frame area adjoins, said planar semi-transparent surface extending at an angle of less than 90* to said chord and having the opposite edge of said transparent surface in spaced relation to said object area surface, said solid body having a planar exit surface on the side of said body opposite to said concave surface; said entrance surface, semi-transparent surface, concave surface and exit surface being so geometrically related that the marginal rays of an object at said object area extend to said semi-transparent surface, thence to said concave mirror surface, anD thence through said semi-transparent surface and exit surface whereby the apertures utilized by said marginal rays on said surfaces adjoin and are non-interfering whereby a complete magnified virtual image of the object at the object area is viewable in a maximized viewing space located along a viewing axis which coincides with the center normal of the concave mirror surface.

Claim 25

An optical system providing maximum viewing space of a magnified virtual image for a selected object size and magnification, said optical system comprising: a solid body of optical refractive material provided with a planar surface area defining an object frame area, a concave surface having one edge thereof adjoining one edge of said object surface, the chord of said concave surface being at an angle of greater than 90* to the plane of said planar object frame area, said concave surface having a mirror coating thereon, a semi-transparent surface having one edge adjoining the edge of said concave surface opposite to that edge at which the object frame area adjoins, said planar semi-transparent surface extending at an angle of less than 90* to said chord and having the opposite edge of said transparent surface in spaced relation to said object area surface, said solid body having a planar exit surface on the side of said body opposite to said concave surface; said entrance surface, semi-transparent surface, concave surface and exit surface being so geometrically related that the marginal rays of an object at said object area extend to said semi-transparent surface, thence to said concave mirror surface, anD thence through said semi-transparent surface and exit surface whereby the apertures utilized by said marginal rays on said surfaces adjoin and are non-interfering whereby a complete magnified virtual image of the object at the object area is viewable in a maximized viewing space located along a viewing axis which coincides with the center normal of the concave mirror surface.