Optical equipment capable of independently imaging from multiple different visual angles

Abstract

An optical system is added between lenses and a machine body of a common single-lens camera, a common single-image-sensor camera, a common single-image-sensor video camera, a common single-image-sensor endoscope and a common single-image-sensor microscope, so that multiple paths of independent and complete imaging light rays can be separated from light rays entering the original lens; and the plurality of paths of light rays simultaneously form a plurality of images with different visual angles on different areas of an image sensor (CMOS or CCD) in the original machine body. For example, according to an existing optical hard endoscope system in a hospital, a lens and a camera are connected through an optical adapter, and all the systems can be upgraded into a 3D endoscope system as long as an optical system (a set of optical lenses) is additionally arranged between the lens and the optical adapter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Optical imaging. Background Technology

[0002] Cameras, video cameras, endoscopes, microscopes, and other similar devices can be divided into lenses and bodies. The lens primarily functions optically, processing the light reflected from the surface of the object being photographed and transmitting it to the image sensor. The body mainly consists of the image sensor (CMOS or CCD) and the processing system. The image sensor converts light signals into electrical signals, and the processing system processes these electrical signals into an electronic image.

[0003] 3D cameras, 3D camcorders, 3D endoscopes, and 3D microscopes use two lenses (two light paths) or a single lens containing two independent light paths (two light paths), and two or more image sensors (CMOS or CCD). Each light path forms an image after reaching the image sensor. They are complex in structure, high in cost, and have poor consistency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention incorporates an optical system M between the lens and body of ordinary cameras, video cameras, endoscopes, and microscopes. This system separates multiple light rays entering the original lens into independent, complete imaging beams, allowing these rays to simultaneously form multiple images from different perspectives on different areas of the image sensor (CMOS or CCD) within the original body. This technical solution is simple in structure, low in cost, highly consistent, and widely applicable.

[0005] For example, if a hospital needs a 3D optical endoscope system, it must purchase 3D lenses and a 3D camera system, which are expensive. Currently, only 3D thoracoscopes and 3D laparoscopes are available. While it's relatively easy to implement two independent optical paths on thicker endoscopes (10mm in diameter), implementing two independent optical paths on thinner endoscopes (4mm, 3mm) presents significant manufacturing challenges. Similarly, implementing two independent optical paths on percutaneous nephroscopes, where light transmission direction changes twice by 90°, is extremely difficult. Using the technology of this invention, an optical system M is added between the lens and body of a conventional camera, camcorder, endoscope, or microscope. The input to M is the light output from the original lens. After processing the input light, M can directly generate a 3D image on the image sensor of the conventional camera, camcorder, endoscope, or microscope, or generate multiple images from different perspectives in different areas of the image sensor.

[0006] The hospital's existing rigid optical endoscope system can be completely upgraded to a 3D endoscope system using this invention. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the optical path of a regular lens and a camera. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the optical path cross-section at a suitable position for beam splitting; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a beam splitting method suitable for the beam splitting position; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the imaging of each ray after beam splitting; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the beam-splitting surface; Figure 6 This is a complete optical path and imaging diagram after the implementation of this technical solution. Detailed Implementation

[0008] The light rays contain 3D information, and the light rays (21) entering the optical system N (33) contain the 3D information of the object being photographed.

[0009] In the optical system N(33), there are some specific positions P(2), and each position P has a special region S(5). The light entering the optical system passes through the region S(5) of position P(2). Any point on S(5) will receive the light reflected from various positions on the surface of the object being photographed, thus forming a complete image.

[0010] Divide S(5) into several subregions S1, S2...Sn( Figure 3 ), incident on S1, S2...Sn ( Figure 3 Each point ray contains light rays reflected from various locations on the surface of the subject and entering the optical system. Figure 2 That is, the outgoing rays from each sub-region S1, S2...Sn can form a complete image. Without changing the optical path of the optical system N(33), although the outgoing rays from each sub-region S1, S2...Sn can each form a complete image, these images overlap. When using... Figure 5 By changing the exit direction of the incident rays in regions S1, S2...Sn through four methods (a, b, c, d) or other methods, we can obtain the images formed by the exit rays in each region S1, S2...Sn (12). Figure 4 The images formed by the rays emitted from regions S1, S2...Sn are slightly different due to the different positions of S1, S2...Sn in S (12).

[0011] When using optical imaging devices such as cameras, video cameras, endoscopes, and microscopes, the lens is pointed at the object being photographed, and light reflected from various points on the object's surface enters the lens. The light rays reflected from a single point on the object's surface converge back to a single point when they reach the image sensor. In other words, a single point on the object's surface forms an image of that point on the image sensor, with a one-to-one correspondence between the point and the image.

[0012] In the optical system N(33) of a camera, camcorder, endoscope, microscope, or other optical imaging device, n optical surfaces (24, 25) are placed near region S(5) of the optical system N(33) to change the exit direction of the incident light rays in region S(5). Then, n optical surfaces (23, 26) are used again to change the direction of the exit light rays from optical surfaces (24, 25). Then, a lens group (27, 28) is used to receive the exit light rays from the n optical surfaces (23, 26) and to constrain the light path of the light rays entering it to transmit within it. Thus, one incident light ray of the optical system N(33) is divided into n (24, 25) paths, and each of these n paths can form a complete image. Each of these n paths has its own independent and non-overlapping light path. The light rays emitted from the lens groups (27, 28) are received by a lens group (29), and the light path of the light entering the lens group (29) is narrowed. The light path is further narrowed after the light leaves the lens group (29). The light path is then constrained by a lens group (30). The lens group (30) images the light on the image sensor (31). The light rays emitted from the n optical surfaces (24, 25) are imaged at different positions (32) of the image sensor.

[0013] The above process involves splitting the light rays emitted from the lens into n paths, and then... Figure 5 The outgoing directions of these n light rays are changed by means of other methods, and then each of these n light rays is processed by a lens group. The processed light rays can now be imaged at different positions on the image sensor. The light paths of the n light rays are then brought closer together, so that they share a set of lenses to travel their light paths and form images before reaching the image sensor. Finally, a point on the object surface is imaged as n images on the image sensor. These n images differ because the n optical surfaces are located at different positions in region S.

[0014] When n=2 ( Figure 3 a, Figure 3 (b) A point on the surface of an object forms two images on the image sensor, and these two images have horizontal parallax ( Figure 3 a) or there is vertical parallax ( Figure 3 b), meaning the image sensor displays a pair of 3D images containing 3D information from two different viewpoints. When n=4 ( Figure 3 c) A point on the surface of an object forms four images on an image sensor, and these four images come from four different viewpoints.

[0015] This invention can directly generate two 3D images from different perspectives on cameras, video cameras, endoscopes, and microscopes with a single lens and a single image sensor, or it can directly generate images from n different perspectives.

Claims

1. Divide the region S (Figure 2) at position P (Figure 1, Figure 6) in an optical system N (any point in region S will receive light reflected from various positions on the surface of the object being photographed) into sub-regions S1, S2...Sn (Figure 3). Place an optical surface G1, G2...Gn near S1, S2...Sn to change the exit direction of the light incident on the region G1, G2...Gn.

2. Optical surfaces G1, G2...Gn can be planes, reflecting the light rays incident on them to change their original exit direction (Figure 5a). Optical surfaces G1, G2...Gn can be planes, refracting the light rays incident on them to change their original exit direction (Figure 5b). Optical surfaces G1, G2...Gn can be curved surfaces, reflecting the light rays incident on them to change their original exit direction (Figure 5c). Optical surfaces G1, G2...Gn can be curved surfaces, refracting the light rays incident on them to change their original exit direction (Figure 5d).

3. In the optical system N, optical surfaces G1, G2, ..., Gn are placed near S1, S2, ..., Sn. Optical surfaces G1, G2, ..., Gn change the exit direction of the light rays incident on G1, G2, ..., Gn, resulting in n different exit directions of light rays. Then, n lens groups L1, L2, ..., Ln (the optical centers of each lens group are on a straight line) are used to correspond one-to-one with the n light rays exiting from G1, G2, ..., Gn. The optical path of each light ray is constrained within the corresponding lens group. Then, a lens group T (the optical centers of each lens group T are on a straight line) that can be used to image the image sensor receives the exit light rays from L1, L2, ..., Ln, constraining the optical paths of the exit light rays from L1, L2, ..., Ln within T. The exit light rays from T will form n complete images at different positions on the image sensor, and these n images come from different viewpoints.

4. In the optical system N of a camera, camcorder, endoscope, microscope, etc., at position P of region S, near S1, S2...Sn, place optical surfaces G1, G2...Gn. Optical surfaces G1, G2...Gn will change the exit direction of the light rays incident on G1, G2...Gn, resulting in n different exit directions of light rays. Then, n lens groups L1, L2...Ln (the optical centers of each lens group are on a straight line) are used to correspond one-to-one with the n light rays exiting from G1, G2...Gn. The optical path of each light ray is constrained within the corresponding lens group. Then, a lens group T (the optical centers of each lens group T are on a straight line) that can form an image on the image sensor receives the exit light rays from L1, L2...Ln, constraining the optical paths of the exit light rays from L1, L2...Ln within T. The exit light rays from T will form n complete images at different positions on the image sensor, and these n images come from different viewpoints. Optical surfaces G1, G2...Gn, lens groups L1, L2...Ln, and lens group T are combined to form optical system M. Optical system M takes the light rays emitted from the lenses of cameras, video cameras, endoscopes, microscopes, etc., as input, and the light rays emitted from optical system M form n images with different viewing angles at different positions on the image sensor.

5. Rigid optical endoscope systems used in minimally invasive surgery are a type of endoscope system. The lenses of rigid optical endoscope systems (such as thoracoscopes, laparoscopes, hysteroscopes, neuroendoscopes, sinus endoscopes, arthroscopes, percutaneous endoscopic discectomy, percutaneous nephroscopes, etc.) are connected to the camera (with a built-in image sensor) through an optical adapter A. In the optical system N of the lens, optical surfaces G1, G2, ..., Gn are placed near S1, S2, ..., Sn in the S region of region P. These optical surfaces G1, G2, ..., Gn change the exit direction of the light rays incident on G1, G2, ..., Gn, resulting in n different exit directions. Then, n lens groups L1, L2, ..., Ln are used to correspond one-to-one with the n exit directions of G1, G2, ..., Gn. The optical path of each light ray is constrained within its corresponding lens group. A lens group T receives the exit directions of L1, L2, ..., Ln, constraining their paths within T. The exit directions of lens group T are transmitted to optical adapter A. The exit directions of optical adapter A form n complete images at different positions on the image sensor, and these n images originate from different viewpoints. The optical surfaces G1, G2, ..., Gn, lens groups L1, L2, ..., Ln, and lens group T together constitute the optical system M. The optical system M takes the light emitted from the lens as input, and the light emitted from the optical system M is transmitted to the optical adapter A.

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