Stereoscopic television system and apparatus

Claim 1

An optical device comprising: (a) a box-like housing of substantially rectangular configuration and comprised of front and rear panels, side panels and upper and lower panels which are horizontally oriented during use of the device, said housing having a plane of symmetry that vertically bisects said upper and lower panels equidistantly between said side panels, (b) lower mounting means associated with said lower panel, (c) upper mounting means associated with said upper panel, (d) paired subject-directed rectangular apertures centered in said front panel, (e) a substantially centered aperture in said rear panel, and holding means disposed about said aperture on the exteriorly directed face of said rear panel adapted to removably and separately accommodate apertured adapters for viewing and picture-taking modes of operation, (f) left and right fixed flat reflective surfaces of rectangular periphery mounted within said housing in perpendicular disposition to said upper and lower panels and juxtaposed as the outer surfaces of a V-shaped configuration, the interior facing surfaces of the V being directed toward said front panel, said V having a straight apex line lying within said plane of symmetry adjacent said rear panel, said reflective surfaces being equiangularly disposed with respect to said plane of symmetry and adapted to reflect light through the aperture of said rear panel, (g) left and right adjustable flat reflective surfaces of rectangular periphery mounted within said housing to pivot posts perpendicularly disposed to said upper and lower panels at locations between said fixed reflective surfaces and side panels, said adjustable reflective surfaces being symmetrically disposed about said plane of symmetry at adjustable angles thereto while reflectively facing the corresponding fixed reflective surfaces and adapted to receive light from said subject apertures for reflective transmission to said fixed reflective surfaces, and (h) control means exterior to said housing for simultaneously and equally changing the angles of said adjustable reflective surfaces with respect to said plane of symmetry, whereby (i) when placed in front of the lens of a camera and suitably adjusted by said control means to a picture-taking mode, the device will present to the lens side-by-side left and right images of a subject, and (j) when placed in front of the eyes of a viewing person for the viewing of reproduced flat side-by-side left and right images of said subject and suitably adjusted by said control means to a viewing mode, the device will separately present to the viewing person's left and right eyes corresponding left and right images of said subject, thereby causing said subject to be stereoscopically perceived.