Abstract: There is disclosed an optical stereoscopic system having a prism window which permits free viewing of left and right steroscopic images by an observer. The prism window comprises a pair of prisms positioned with their long sides medially and their short sides laterally, and in abutting and joined relationship. Preferably, the prisms are thin plate prisms, each having a plano face and an opposite prism face formed with a plurality of parallel V-grooves to form, therebetween, a plurality of parallel triangular prisms. The optical system includes left and right stereoscopic imaging surfaces for display of normal, i.e., unreversed, left and right stereoscopic images. The prism window is placed in front of the imaging surfaces and a three dimensional image can be seen by an observer witnessing through a prism window.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for the stereoscopic imaging of right and left stereoscopic optical images as these images are projected and displayed on a screen or video monitor. The system uses encoded right and left stereoscopic images with corresponding decoding right and left filters through which the stereoscopic image is viewed. Either polarized or monochromatic light can be used as the right and left image coding medium. A thin face Fresnel prism is positioned between the observer or observers and the projected or displayed right and left stereoscopic images and is located to fuse the two images so that, when they are observed through the decoding filters, an illusion of a three dimensional object is created. For maximum clarity, the Fresnel prism can be vibrated parallel to the original imaging surface.

Abstract: An optical stereoscopic system is disclosed that permits viewing of adjacent stereoscopic images and that is particularly suited for room viewing, permitting the observer to move about the room, and/or several or more observers to view the display from various positions about the room. The system comprises a pair of light-polarized stereoscopic images which are displayed in adjacent array, i.e., laterally or vertically side-by-side. Each observer is provided with eyepieces to view the display. The eyepieces are binocular and each eyepiece includes a polarized filter and a prism which deviates the line of sight for its respective eye a sufficient degree that both stereoscopic images are fused in the fovea of the eye. Preferred embodiments provide interchangeable prisms, particularly interchangeable Fresnel prisms to permit changing of the diopter of the viewing prisms in the eyepieces.