Folded parallel-light-channel based stereo imaging system
View Patent ↗A stereo imaging system includes a pair of folded-parallel-light-channel (FPLC) units arranged to provide a virtual left side view and a virtual right side view of a scene. Each FPLC unit includes a fixed lens unit adapted to focus reflected light comprising an image of a scene to an image sensor and a light-redirecting unit comprising a reflector adapted to define a parallel image reflection path to the fixed lens unit via a collimated light beam.
1. A stereo imaging system, comprising:
two folded-parallel-light-channel (FPLC) units arranged to provide a virtual two-dimensional left-side view and a virtual two-dimensional right-side view of a scene, each FPLC unit comprising:
a) a fixed lens unit adapted to focus reflected light comprising an image of a scene onto an image sensor, and
b) a light-folding unit comprising a reflector adapted to define a parallel image reflection path along the stereo imaging system x-axis to the fixed lens unit via a collimated light beam;
wherein the stereo imaging system is adapted to consolidate the virtual two-dimensional left-side and right-side view into a single three-dimensional image.
2. The stereo imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the fixed lens unit and the light-folding unit of each of the FPLC units are disposed at a pre-determined spaced distance from one another along the x-axis to provide a desired disparity or interocular distance functionality for the stereo imaging system.
3. The stereo imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the reflector defines a planar reflective surface.
4. The stereo imaging system according to claim 3 , further including a concave lens disposed between the reflector and an image inlet of each FPLC unit.
5. The stereo imaging system according to claim 4 , wherein the concave lens defines a lens field of view that is the same as a field of view of the fixed lens unit.
6. The stereo imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the reflector defines an arcuate reflective surface.
7. The stereo imaging system according to claim 6 , wherein the arcuate reflective surface is configured to define a reflector field of view that is the same as a field of view of the fixed lens unit.
8. The stereo imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the fixed lens unit defines one of a wide-angle lens unit or a telephoto lens.
9. A stereo imaging system, comprising:
two folded-parallel-light-channel (FPLC) units arranged to provide a virtual two-dimensional left-side view and a virtual two-dimensional right-side view of a scene, each FPLC unit comprising:
a) a fixed lens unit adapted to focus reflected light comprising an image of a scene onto an image sensor, and
b) a light-folding unit comprising a planar reflector adapted to define a parallel image reflection path along the stereo imaging system x-axis to the fixed lens unit via a collimated light beam;
wherein the stereo imaging system is adapted to consolidate the virtual two-dimensional left-side and right-side view into a single three-dimensional image.
10. The stereo imaging system according to claim 9 , wherein the fixed lens unit and the light-folding unit of each of the FPLC units are disposed at a pre-determined spaced distance from one another along the x-axis to provide a desired disparity or interocular distance functionality for the stereo imaging system.
11. The stereo imaging system according to claim 9 , further including a concave lens disposed between the planar reflector and an image inlet of each FPLC unit.
12. The stereo imaging system according to claim 11 , wherein the concave lens defines a lens field of view that is the same as a field of view of the fixed lens unit.
13. The stereo imaging system according to claim 9 , wherein the fixed lens unit defines one of a wide-angle lens or a telephoto lens.
14. A stereo imaging system, comprising:
two folded-parallel-light-channel (FPLC) units arranged to provide a virtual two-dimensional left-side view and a virtual two-dimensional right-side view of a scene, each FPLC unit comprising:
a) a fixed lens unit adapted to focus reflected light comprising an image of a scene onto an image sensor, and
b) a light-folding unit comprising a convex reflector adapted to define a parallel image reflection path along the stereo imaging system x-axis to the fixed lens unit via a collimated light beam;
wherein the stereo imaging system is adapted to consolidate the virtual two-dimensional left-side and right-side view into a single three-dimensional image.
15. The stereo imaging system according to claim 14 , wherein the fixed lens unit and the light-folding unit of each of the FPLC units are disposed at a pre-determined spaced distance from one another along the x-axis to provide a desired disparity or interocular distance functionality for the stereo imaging system.
16. The stereo imaging system according to claim 14 , further including a concave lens disposed between the convex reflector and an image inlet of each FPLC unit.
17. The stereo imaging system according to claim 14 , wherein the convex reflector is configured to define a reflector field of view that is the same as a field of view of the fixed lens unit.
18. The stereo imaging system according to claim 14 , wherein the fixed lens unit defines one of a wide-angle lens or a telephoto lens.