Abstract: An apparatus for providing left and right eye images along the axis of a single camera lens (7), the apparatus comprising optical means arranged to provide said left and right eye images (22, 20) as a pair of head-to-head or toe-to-toe images, i.e. with the two images (20, 22) separated by a center line and with either the tops of the two images (20, 22) or the bottoms of the two images (20, 22) adjacent the center line, so that the left and right eye images (22, 20) can be simultaneously recorded onto a single frame of a photographic film or other recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus 1 provides left and right eye images to a conventional camera lens 7 such that the images are recorded by the camera 3 as head-to-head images. The apparatus 1 includes left and right plane mirrors 11, 12 that direct light rays from the left and right images onto respective faces of a triangular prism 9, the triangular prism directing the light rays to the camera lens 7. Alternatively, the apparatus may be incorporated within a camera lens, being located between the front and rear lens group of the camera lens. The plane mirrors 11, 12 can be moved along their image axes, effectively adjusting the interocular distance of the apparatus. The angle which the plane mirrors 11, 12 subtend to each other and to the triangular prism 9 may also be adjusted, thus adjusting the convergence of angle of view of the apparatus.

Abstract: A multi-layer image display system and method thereof, in which liquid crystal type image display units for displaying the images according to depth necessary for obtaining the stereoscopic image are arranged according to layers at a predetermined interval without overlapping each other along the rotary axis and rotated as displayed the layer image corresponding to each image display unit, by which the screen is on to express the stereoscopic image when each image display unit arrives at the user's position; and another method in which the reflector or half mirror is installed instead of the image display unit and the layer image corresponding to the relative depth of the reflector or half mirror is synchronized with the rotation speed to express the stereoscopic image in the fixed high speed display device.

Abstract: An adapter enables three-dimensional motion photography by means of a single camera, video or film, that includes a single lens system and image pickup. The adapter is engageable to a conventional camera. An optical system within the adapter includes a mirror for detecting a second, distinct perspective of a field-of-view. The two perspective views are orthogonally polarized and applied to a single switchable liquid crystal polarization rotator that is driven by a periodic SYNC signal derived from the camera. A polarization filter receives the output of the rotator which alternately passes perspective views unaltered and rotated by ninety degrees in polarization, providing alternating frames of one or another perspective view to the camera. The stream of alternating perspectives provides a three-dimensional viewing effect when processed by conventional video and film systems.

Abstract: An arrangement which can produce a stereoscopic image simply and cheaply. An optical unit views an object and a stereoscopic image is provided onto a recording device or a display device by differentially polarizing the beams.

Abstract: The lens body of a camera for sensing moving images is adapted for producing a stereoscopic image by first and second spaced apart optical deflectors. The deflectors include reflective surfaces which lie in parallel planes with respect to one another and which are disposed at an angle to the optical path of incoming image rays. The second deflector lies generally in the optical path of the incoming image rays and deflects incoming image rays from the scene to the first deflector which lies in the path of the deflected rays. The first deflector in turn deflects the image rays to the image sensing means in the camera body. Both deflectors are caused to rotate slowly about an axis defined by the optical path of the incoming image rays while maintaining their relative positions with respect to one another. The orientation of the lens with respect to the image sensing means of the camera remains fixed during rotation of the deflectors.

Abstract: Integrated process for three-dimensional taking, copying and reproducing of still and moving pictures, in which (a) the taking of still or moving three-dimensional pictures is done using conventional cameras which expose as many two-dimensional pictures as there are cameras, there are n cameras which are distributed in groups or supergroups, there being inserted between each two horizontal camera groups which have their optical axes mutually perpendicular a semitransparent plate forming 45.degree.

Abstract: An apparatus for photographing a pair of diagonally related left and right images of a stereoscopic image couple on to film frames of a horizontally moving 65 mm film having 15 film perforations per frame.

Abstract: Lenses (10,11) , e.g. for a camera for a video conferencing system, have divergent optical axes and focus real images via prisms (20,21,22,23) on to a focal plane f. A prism (20) in one path introduces an additional reflection to invert the image while that (22) in the other path causes lateral inversion, so that the two images do not suffer either type of inversion relative to one another. The final reflecting surfaces 211,231 abut in the plane f so that the real images are closely juxtaposed.

Abstract: A stereo-camera head is provided, particularly for robotic applications, in which the parameters of focus, zoom and camera convergence are adjusted by remotely controlled motor drives. Camera separation distance and iris function can be similarly controlled. Twin cameras can be mounted on a common base by means of camera cradles pivotally mounted on the base or by means of rotary carriers that are mounted to traverse along respective lead screws driven by respective stepper motors. Alternatively, there may be a single camera lens system transmitting both left and right images received from left and right movable optical elements via a beam splitter/combiner. Two CCD imaging chips can receive the left and right images from the single lens system via a second beam splitter/combiner. A controlling micro-computer can be employed to keep the stereo images within human tolerance of fusion limits.

Abstract: This invention relates to an attachment for motion picture projectors to utilize stereoscopic film. The invention contains a quick mounting means to mount it on most standard theater projectors, a means to precisely adjust the attachment to the projector and internal adjusting means to accurately align and project stereoscopic images upon the theater screen. The invention is intended to be used by theater personnel who have no special training with stereoscopic film projection and to be used on most standard theater projectors without modifications.

Abstract: A stereoscopic projecting apparatus has a polyhedral prism and two types of polarizing filters which are arranged at the incident (or emerging) planes of the prism and which have orthogonal deflecting directions. Left and right-eye pictures are alternately formed on the consecutive frames of a cinefilm. The cinefilm is driven in such a way as to cross the projection region of light emitted from a lamp. An optical image transmitted from the cinefilm is projected onto a screen by the polyhedral prism, through a relay lens, a projection lens or the like. The left and right-eye images are deflected in directions 90.degree. apart from each other, by the polarizing filters at the respective incident or emerging planes of the prism. A viewer can stereoscopically observe the image superimposed on the screen, using polarized viewing glasses having polarized lenses deflected in the deflecting directions of the images.

Abstract: A lens system is provided for being coupled to a camera. The lens system has two prime lenses for receiving light from objects being filmed. Light passing through the prime lenses is reflected by a pair of prisms and a pair of mirrors to a relay lens. Light from the relay lens is used to expose the film in a conventional movie camera so that the image from one prime lens is recorded above the image from the other prime lens. Each film frame is divided in half, one half storing the image recorded by one prime lens, the other half storing the image recorded by the other prime lens. The two prime lenses are displaced both vertically and horizontally. As the two prime lenses are focused by being moved horizontally, one of the prime lenses moves vertically to insure that the object being focused on appears at the same height within its half frame as the object appears in the half frame storing the image from the other prime lens.

Abstract: Lens system for 3-D filming comprises a pair of negative achromatic lenses horizontally spaced substantially on the interpupillary distance. Behind these front lenses, a pair of tilted rhomboid prisms fold the optical paths to be closely positioned one above the other. On these paths, rear lens systems focus the images onto the film plane in upper and lower frame halves. The forward negative achromatic lenses are adjustable fore and aft for focus adjustment, and the rear lens systems are laterally adjustable for convergence control.

Abstract: A stereo optics apparatus, comprising a zoom lens attachable to a camera body and having an operating element operable when moved in first and second directions to increase or decrease the focal length of said zoom lens, first and second spaced apart movable reflectors facing said zoom lens on either side of and transverse to the optical axis of said zoom lens, said first and second reflectors being movable to change the acute angle included therebetween, third and fourth reflectors facing said first and second reflectors, respectively, and said zoom lens, said reflectors being operable to divide the light entering said zoom lens into two separate beams, a first electrical motor for operating said operating element of said zoom lens, a second electrical motor for moving said first and second reflectors, said motors being operated in synchronism such that said included angle is increased or decreased by said second motor as said focal length is decreased or increased, respectively, by said first motor.

Abstract: A stereoscopic lens system for simultaneously recording left and right images on longitudinally displaced half-frames of a motion picture film. Left and right images are formed by a pair of adjustable receiving lenses horizontally spaced by the average human interocular distance and vertically spaced by an amount corresponding to the half-frame displacement. Images formed by the receiving lenses are focused onto respective field lenses. These images are in turn directed by front-silvered flat mirrors to the optical elements of a relay lens mounted to the optics body containing the above-described elements. Provision is made for the mounting of accessory receiving lenses and convergence altering optical elements located in front of the receiving lenses.