Abstract: An assembly for use in a microscope having an objective assembly including an aperture. The assembly includes a lens and a beamsplitter. configured to form a respective aperture image on each of two optical paths. The assembly further includes, on each optical path, a stop structure located on a plane of the respective aperture image, so as to block a portion of the respective aperture image in order to provide an exit pupil, such that a stereoscopic image of an object viewed through the microscope is produceable by the combination of the images of the object visible through each exit pupil. Image sensors are configured to capture an image visible through the respective exit pupil and to output a digital image. A digital image processor is configured to apply a correction to the respective digital image output by each image sensor, based on the position of the respective stop structure.

Abstract: A viewing apparatus for producing a stereoscopic image for an observer, the viewing apparatus comprising: first and second video projectors for projecting respective ones of first and second video images of an object, the first and second images being different images which are one or both of spatially and angularly shifted in relation to the object so as to convey parallax between the images; a mirror arrangement comprising a concave mirror which receives light from the first and second video projectors, the mirror arrangement being located in relation to the first and second video projectors such that focussed images of the object are produced at the mirror arrangement; and a viewing lens for relaying exit pupils corresponding to each of the focussed images as reflected by the mirror arrangement to a viewing plane so as to be viewable at the respective eyes of the observer as a stereoscopic image without use of adapted eyewear; wherein the video projectors comprise first and second video displays which are

Abstract: An optical instrument for producing an optical image to be viewed by an observer, the optical instrument comprising: an optical system for producing an optical image of an object which is viewable by an observer at an exit pupil; and a diffractive element located at an image plane of the optical system for producing an array of the exit pupils, which are perceivable as a single, enlarged exit pupil by the observer; wherein the diffractive element comprises a surface which has an array of diffractive units, each of which generates one of the exit pupils of the array of exit pupils, the diffractive units each comprising a lenticule, which is effective to produce diffractive interference of light and generate a plurality of exit pupils which are displaced relative to one another in the form of an array of exit pupils, the lenticules each comprising an irregular feature having a plurality of surfaces; wherein the diffractive units are disposed progressively radially outwardly from the optical axis of the diffract

Abstract: An optical instrument includes an optical system for producing an optical image; and a diffractive element which includes a surface having an array of diffractive units. The diffractive units include replications of a pattern of separated areas which produce diffractive interference of light and generate an array of exit pupils to be viewable as a single, continuous enlarged exit pupil The areas include irregular features of different sizes in horizontal and vertical section, which have curved surfaces at lateral faces The diffractive units are disposed progressively radially outwardly from the optical axis of the diffractive element and configured progressively with an increasing angular offset. Independent of location on the aperture of the diffractive element and without any relay lens arrangement, light from the received image is relayed to a common region on a viewing plane across the aperture.

Abstract: A viewer for viewing an object under magnification, the viewer comprising: an objective lens for producing an image of an object located at an object plane and having a radial extent defined by an aperture stop; a partially-transmissive reflector for allowing transmission of light therethrough from the objective lens to a mirror arrangement and providing for reflection of light which is returned thereto from the mirror arrangement; a mirror arrangement which receives a light component from the partially-transmissive reflector, and is located such that a focussed image of the object is produced at the mirror arrangement and light received by the mirror arrangement is reflected back to the partially-transmissive reflector and relayed to produce an image of the object; a viewing lens arrangement for producing an optical image of the object which is viewable by an observer at an exit pupil at a viewing plane; wherein the objective lens has a beam path angle (a) as defined by a distance from the object plane to th

Abstract: The invention provides an optical instrument including means (1, 2) to produce an optical image to be viewed by an observer including a diffractive element (7) located at an intermediate focal or image plane (4) of the optical instrument and comprising a pattern of a plurality of areas effective to cause diffraction interference in light passing through the optical instrument and thereby produce an expanded exit pupil (6) comprising a combination of a multiplicity of exit pupils displaced relative to one another transverse to an optical axis (3) of said instrument.

Abstract: Optical magnifying apparatus comprises an objective lens (11) from which light is directed to a beam splitting mirror (12). A portion of the light passes through the beam splitting mirror to a first concave mirror (13) and is reflected back via the beam splitting mirror through a viewing lens (5) to a first eye (16) of an observer. The remainder of the light is reflected by the beam splitting mirror to a second concave mirror (17) from which it is reflected back via the beam splitting mirror through the viewing lens to a second eye (19) of the observer. Focussed first and second images (14, 18) of an object (10) are produced respectively on the surfaces of the first and second concave mirrors. The optical axes of the concave mirrors are relatively offset such that the relayed pupils of the mirrors are separated horizontally by a distance approximately equal to the average interpupillary spacing of an observer.

Abstract: A composite optical component for use in an improved optical system, for example, of the type in U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,109 includes opposed discs having surfaces in contact. The surfaces in contact are grooved with parallel grooves providing an undulating surface every portion of which is arcuate and capable of magnifying an image at a focal plane approximately between the grooved surfaces of the discs. The grooves are arranged transverse to one another, and preferably at 90.degree., and the component is rotated about an axis normal to the focal point.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical device for use in microscopes and screen projectors comprising a screen formed with multiple lenticular surfaces mechanically traversed at a speed above persistence of vision in the light path between an object and an observation plane, the lenticular surfaces increasing the angle of light ray pencil egress from their angle of incidence to an extent rendering the use of eyepieces unnecessary.