US5002365A — Beam splitter for color imaging apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 162 words

A beam splitter for use with color image apparatus which includes a luminance channel and a chrominance channel, said beam splitter consisting of: two prism elements which are joined together to form a body which is generally triangular in cross section, one of said elements having an input face for receiving an input light beam thereon and a first output face and the other of said elements having a second output face; and a dichroic interference filter disposed between said elements for separating said input light beam into a first light beam which exits through said first output face and has a desired spectral content for said luminance channel and into a second light beam which exits through said second output face and has a desired spectral content for said chrominance channel, said first light beam having at lesser amount of blue light than said second light beam and a greater amount of red and green light than said second light beam.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 162 words

A beam splitter for use with color image apparatus which includes a luminance channel and a chrominance channel, said beam splitter consisting of: two prism elements which are joined together to form a body which is generally triangular in cross section, one of said elements having an input face for receiving an input light beam thereon and a first output face and the other of said elements having a second output face; and a dichroic interference filter disposed between said elements for separating said input light beam into a first light beam which exits through said first output face and has a desired spectral content for said luminance channel and into a second light beam which exits through said second output face and has a desired spectral content for said chrominance channel, said first light beam having at lesser amount of blue light than said second light beam and a greater amount of red and green light than said second light beam.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

A beam splitter, as defined in claim 1, wherein said first prism element is a quadrilateral in cross section.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

A beam splitter, as defined in claim 2, wherein said second prism element is generally triangular in cross section.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

A beam splitter, as defined in claim 1, wherein said beam splitter transmits about 75% of the blue light and about 30% of the red and green light in said input light beam.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

A beam splitter, as defined in claim 4, wherein said filter reflects about 25% of the blue light and about 70% of the red and green light in said input light beam.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

A beam splitter, as defined in claim 5, wherein said interference filter contains alternate layers of TiO 2 and SiO 2 .

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

A beam splitter, as defined in claim 1, wherein said input light beam impinges on said interference filter at an angle of incidence of about 221/2°.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

A beam splitter, as defined in claim 7, wherein said first light beam forms an angle of about 135° with said second beam.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 136 words

A beam splitter for use with color imaging apparatus, said beam splitter being adapted to separate an input beam of light into first and second output beams of light, said beam splitter having: a generally triangular body which has an input face, a first output face through which said first output beam exits said beam splitter, and a second output face through which said second output beam exits said beam splitter; and a dichroic interference filter disposed in said body such that an input beam of light entering into said input face at a right angle has an angle of incidence on said filter of at least 221/2°, said two output beams each pass through one total internal reflection before exiting the beam splitter, and the angle between said two output beam is greater than 90°.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 136 words

A beam splitter for use with color imaging apparatus, said beam splitter being adapted to separate an input beam of light into first and second output beams of light, said beam splitter having: a generally triangular body which has an input face, a first output face through which said first output beam exits said beam splitter, and a second output face through which said second output beam exits said beam splitter; and a dichroic interference filter disposed in said body such that an input beam of light entering into said input face at a right angle has an angle of incidence on said filter of at least 221/2°, said two output beams each pass through one total internal reflection before exiting the beam splitter, and the angle between said two output beam is greater than 90°.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

A beam splitter, as defined in claim 9, wherein said angle between said two output beams is about 135°.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 16 words

A beam splitter, as defined in claim 10, wherein said angle of incidence is about 221/2°.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

A beam splitter, as defined in claim 11, wherein said interference filter is formed from alternate layers of SiO 2 and TiO 2 .

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 137 words

A beam splitter for use with color imaging apparatus, said beam splitter being adapted to separate an input beam of light into first and second beams of light, said beam splitter comprising: a first prism element, said first prism element having an input face which is adapted to receive said input beam and an output face through which said first beam exits from said beam splitter; a second prism element joined to said first prism element to form a generally triangular beam splitter, said second prism element being generally triangular in cross section and having an output face through which said second beam exits from said beam splitter; and a dichroic interference filter interposed between said first and second prism elements, said dichroic interference filter being disposed at an angle of about 221/2° to said input face.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 137 words

A beam splitter for use with color imaging apparatus, said beam splitter being adapted to separate an input beam of light into first and second beams of light, said beam splitter comprising: a first prism element, said first prism element having an input face which is adapted to receive said input beam and an output face through which said first beam exits from said beam splitter; a second prism element joined to said first prism element to form a generally triangular beam splitter, said second prism element being generally triangular in cross section and having an output face through which said second beam exits from said beam splitter; and a dichroic interference filter interposed between said first and second prism elements, said dichroic interference filter being disposed at an angle of about 221/2° to said input face.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-03-25	1994-09-24	1995-03-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-03-25	1998-09-24	1999-03-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-03-25	2002-09-24	2003-03-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Beam splitter for color imaging apparatus

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag