GB2208013A

GB2208013A - Stereo viewer

Info

Publication number: GB2208013A
Application number: GB08719325A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adlen Mow-Cheung Li
Original assignee: LI ADLEN MOW CHEUNG
Current assignee: LI ADLEN MOW CHEUNG
Priority date: 1987-08-14
Filing date: 1987-08-14
Publication date: 1989-02-15
Also published as: GB8719325D0

Abstract

A stereo viewer 10 adapted to produce three-dimensional images as well as to produce special visual effect by means of fusion of images, said stereo viewer comprises a housing 12 having a display window 26, a generally L-shaped slot 30 provided on the housing to receive two hingedly connecting planular members 38,40 therethrough, and a pair of images 34,36 being provided respectively on the two planular members. A two-way surface semi-mirror (50,Fig.3) is secured within the housing in a slanted position bisecting the two images. Filter means (96,98,Fig.3) is disposed in parallel spaced relationship with each image so that an observer wearing polarising spectacles can see one image by each eye. Two window means 90,(92,Fig.3) are provided on the housing to transmit light therethrough coming either from natural or artificial light sources. <IMAGE>

Description

STEREO VIEWER The present invention relates to a stereo viewer and in particular to a stereo viewer adapted to produce three-dimensional images as well as to produce special visual effect by means of fusion of images.

Stereo viewers are known in prior art. One type of stereo viewer makes use of two mirrors that are set facing outwardly at 45 to the line of sight. The two mirrors are arranged to reflect a stereoscopic pair of pictures or images disposed on opposite sides thereof and facing inwardly parallel to the line of sight. Due to the fact of reversal in the mirrors, each picture or image has to be laterally reversed in its viewing position. This is an inherent disadvantage. Furthermore, since two mirrors are employed and the pictures or images are arranged on opposite sides of the two mirrors, this kind of stereo viewer is too bulky to handle. Another type of stereo viewer is similar to the one mentioned above. The difference is that two extra reflecting mirrors are introduced such that pairs of images to be viewed can be arranged side-by-side in one plane.However, there are a total number of four mirrors used in the viewer thus giving rise to a cost of manufacture which is relatively high.

Yet another kind of stereo viewer consists of a number of prisms or half lens. The structure of this kind of stereo viewer is usually rather complicated and that the cost of manufacture is again very high.

An object of the present invention is to produce a stereo viewer which is adapted to generate threedimensional images as well as to produce special visual effect by way of fusion of images.

Another object of the present invention is to produce a stereo viewer which is provided with windows means whereby it is able to make use of either natural light source or artificial light source.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stereo viewer which is relatively simple in structure and is low in manufacturing cost.

A further object of the present invention is to produce a stereo viewer which is light in weight and easy to handle.

According to the present invention, there is provided a stereo viewer comprising a housing having a display window, a slot means being provided on said housing, a pair of images being provided respectively on two planular members which are hingedly connected to each other and adapted to be removably fitted into said housing through said slot means, the image provided on one of said planular members being mirror image to the image provided on the other one of said planular members, a two-way surface semimirror being disposed within said housing bisectinq said pair of images, a first window means being disposed on said housing at a position corresponding to one of said images, a second window means being disposed on said housing at a position corresponding to the other one of said images, and filter means being associated with each image, whereby an observer wearing polarizing spectacles could see one image by a left eye and the other image by a right eye so that fusion of said images can be effected.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a stereo viewer embodying the present invention, showing the imaqes in a ready-to-insert position.

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the stereo viewer as shown in Figure 1 with the images being inserted into the stereo viewer.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line X-X of Figure 2 showing the internal structures of the stereo viewer.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a pair of images according to the present invention in a substantially unfolded position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the pair of images of Figure 4 in a folded position.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a stereo viewer, associated light condensing means and artificial light source means in an exploded manner.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of an extended portion of the support base of the stereo viewer showing the lug portion provided thereon.

Referring now in more detail to the drawing, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, Figure l-shows a stereo viewer designated generally by reference numeral 10.

Stereo viewer 10 comprises a housing 12 and a support base 14 both preferably fabricated of a plastic material of rigid structure. The housing 12 has, according to the preferred embodiment, a front wall 16, a top wall 18, a rear wall 20 and two side walls 22, 24. Provided on the front wall 16 is a display window 26 through which selected images inserted in the housing 12 can be viewed. These images as well as the projection scheme of the stereo viewer 10 will be described later in detail. The display window 26 is defined by an opening 28, most preferably in the shape of a rectangle, and a transparent plastic sheet covering the opening 28.

A slot 30, most preferably in a L-shaped configuration, is provided on side wall 22 of the housing 12.

This L-shaped slot 30 is, according to the illustrated embodiment, inverted with the horizontal portion of the slot 30 being disposed near the upper edge of the side wall 22 and the vertical portion of the slot 30 being disposed near the rear edge of the side wall 22. The L-shaped slot 30 is adapted to receive a pair of images 32 therethrough.

The pair of images 32 comprises a first image 34 and a second image 36. The first image 34 and the second image 36 are provided on a first planular member 38 and a second planular member 40 respectively. The planular members 38 and 40 are of transparent plastic materials and are hingedly connected to each other along a respective side thereof by means of hinge means or transparent tape or film.

The images 34 and 36 are disposed on one side of the planular members 38 and 40 respectively in such a manner that when the planular members 38 and 40 are folded up along a folding line 48, the first image 34 and the second image 36 will be disposed in a facial relationship with each other.

The images 34 and 36 are mounted to the planular members 38 and 40 by means of offset printing or other known processes.

Figure 4 depicts the pair of images 32 in an unfolded manner.

The images 34 and 36 are so arranged such that the first image 34 is a mirror image to the second image 36 or vice versa and that the first image 34 and the second image 36 have their upper edges directly facing each other, as illustrated in Figure 4.

Detail structure of the stereo view 10 will now be described with reference to Figure 3 in which a crosssectional view of the stereo view 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown.

A two-way surface semi-mirror 50 is secured within the housing 12 in a substantially diagonal position as shown in Figure 3. This space-saving arrangement of the two-way surface semi-mirror 50 inside the housing 12 would effectively bring the necessary interior space of the housing 12 to a minimum rendering the stereo viewer 10 not too bulky to handle. This two-way surface semi-mirror 50 serves to project the pair of images 32 towards an observer's eyes when the observer is looking into the stereo viewer 10 through the display window 26.

To achieve a desired projection result, the twoway surface semi-mirror 50 is so set up such that it bisects the angle between the two planular members 38 and 40.

A first window means 90 is provided on the top wall 18 covering substantially the entire surface thereof and is adapted to transmit light therethrough so that the first image 34 can be illuminated. Similarly, a second window means 92 is provided on the rear wall 20 of the housing 12 covering substantially the entire surface thereof and is adapted to transmit light therethrough to illuminate the second image 36. Each of the first and second window means 90, 92 is defined by an opening having a matt translucent plastic sheet 94 being fitted thereto.

Filter means 96 and 98 are mounted within the housing 12, each corresponds to an image. Filter means 96 is disposed in parallel spaced relationship with planular member 38 whilst filter means 98 is disposed in parallel spaced relationship with planular member 40. The type of filter means chosen as well as its function will be described later.

Referring again to Figure 1, it is appreciated that the L-shaped slot 30 has a thickness slightly greater than the thickness of the planular members 38 and 40 so that insertion of the planular members 38 and 40 through the slot 30 is facilitated.

It can be seen that a first elongated ledge portion 42 is projecting outwardly from the inner peripheral portion of the horizontal portion of the L-shaped slot 30.

In addition, a second elongated ledge portion 44 is projecting outwardly from the inner peripheral portion of the vertical portion of the L-shaped slot 30.

The first elongated ledge portion 42 and the second elongated ledge portion 44 are provided integrally with side wall 22 of the housing 12 and are, according to the illustrated embodiment, joined together at one end thereof constituting, as a whole, a L-shaped ledge portion 46.

This L-shaped ledge portion 46 defines as a guide means for guiding the insertion of the pair of planular members 38 and 40 through the L-shaped slot 30. The way by which the images 32 are inserted into the housing 12 will now be explained.

To insert the pair of images 32 through slot 30, an observer first graps the planular members 38 and 40 by their respective edge portions 52, 52 and then holds the pair of images 32 in a position as shown in Figure 1 so that planular member 38 is positioned horizontally and planular member 40 vertically. The observer first brings edge portion 54 of planular member 38 against the first ledge portion 42 so that the planular member 38 is in alignment with the horizontal portion of the slot 30.

Then the observer slides the planular members 38 and 40 along the first ledge portion 42 bringing the edge portion 56 of planular member 40 against the second ledge portion 44 such that the planular member 40 is in alignment with the vertical portion of the slot 30.

Finally, the planular memebers 38 and 40 are pushed through the slot 30 and held within the housing 12.

A part of the edge portions 52, 52 is left to be extended outwardly from the side wall 22 of the housing 12 in order to facilitate removal of the planular members 38 and 40 from the housing 12, as illustrated in Figure 2.

As depicted in Figure 1 and Figure 2, a support base 14 is engaged to the housing 12 and is pivotally connected thereto at a base portion thereof. The support base 14 comprises two parallel leg members 60, 60 which are connected by connecting members 61, 61 at their respective ends thereof. A first end of each of the leg members 60, 60 is provided integrally with an extended portion 62. Provided on each extended portion 62 is an aperture 64 through which a pin 66 is journaled.

Also, integrally provided at the second end of each of the leg members 60, 60 is another extended portion 68, the inner surface of which is provided with a lug 70 (Figure 7). The lug 70 has, according to the preferred embodiment, an elongated convex surface adapted to mate with a plurality of elongated grooves or recesses 72 each having a corresponding concave surface Adjustment of the stereo viewer 10 can be achieved by manipulating the housing 12 with respect to the support base 14 by moving the housinq 12 pivotally about a pivot axis defined by the pins 66, 66 provided on the side walls 22 and 24 respectively.

As housing 12 pivots about the pivot axis, each lug 70 cams over the portion of the side wall intermediate the recesses 72 and is retained in a selected recess 72 to frictionally hold the housing 12 in a desired angle relative to the observer.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the stereo viewer 10, two light condensing devices 80, 80 and artificial light source container 82, 82 in an exploded position.

Light condensinq devices 80, 80 are preferably adopted to condense light therethrough whereby the pair of images 32 is brightly and uniformly illustrated. The light condensing devices 80, 80 as illustrated in Fiqure 6 have a dimension slightly larger than that of their corresponding window means and are adapted to overlay the window means at the outer surface thereof.

Means (not shown) may be used to hold the light condensing devices 80, 80 in a fixed position relative to the window means 90 and 92. Such means may take the form of a pair of guide tracks or grooves.

Although the images 32 can be observed with natural light source, artificial light source may also be introduced. Two light source containers 82, 82 are preferably hingedly connected to each other, each having an illuminating lamp (not shown) provided therein.

Further means (not shown) may also be provided on the housing 12 to hold the containers 82, 82 in a fixed position relative to the housing 12. Such means preferably takes the form of a pair of guide tracks or grooves.

Cross-polarizer principle is applied - in the present invention. The pair of images 32 mentioned hereinbefore can be in the form of stereoscopic images which are projected on to the two-way surface semi-mirror 50 through polarizing filters.

The observer needs to wear polarizing spectacles wherein the viewing filters for the left and right eyes oriented with their planes of polarization parallel to the corresponding polarizing filters provided within the housing 12. Therefore, the left eye could see only one image and the right eye could see the other image and the images fuse to a three-dimensional impression.

Special visual effect can be produced when the pair of images 32 are two different but not stereoscopic images which are fused to form an illusion. In this case, the filter means used may be of plain color filters.

Although the pair of images 32 has been described as being arranged at right1 angle to each other, with the twoway surface semi-mirror 50 being disposed at a 45 to each image, it is understood that the pair of images 32 and the surface mirror 50 may be arranged in other relationships.

While the present invention has been shown and described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be noted that various other changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A stereo viewer comprising: (a) a housing having a display window; (b) a slot means being provided on said housing; (c) a pair of images being provided respectively on two planular members which are hingedly connected to each other and are adapted to be removably fitted into said housing through said slot means; (d) the image provided on one of said planular members being mirror image to the image provided on the other one of said planular member; (e) a two-way surface semi-mirror being disposed within said housing bisecting said pair of images; (f) a first window means being disposed on said housing at a position corresponding to one of said images; (g) a second window means being disposed on said housing at a position corresponding to the other one of said images; (h) filter means being associated with each image;; (i) whereby an observer wearing polarizing spectacles could see one image by a left eye and the other image by a right eye so that fusion of said images can be effected.

2. A Stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair of images are stereoscopic.

3. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot means is in a L-shaped configuration.

4. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein said slot means is in an inverted L-shaped configuration.

5. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a front wall, a top wall, a rear wall and two side walls wherein said display window is disposed on said front wall of said housing, and said first and second window means are disposed on the top and rear walls of said housing.

6. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said twoway surface semi-mirror is secured within said housing in a slanted position.

7. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1 or 6, wherein said two-way surface semi-mirror is generally diagonally secured within said housing.

8. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said images have their upper edges directly facing each other.

9. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1, wherin said planular members are hinqedly connected by means of transparent tape or film.

10. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 9, wherein said planular members are adapted to be foldable along a folding line.

11. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein said planular members are of transpaent plastic material.

12. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each window means comprises a window opening being covered by a matt translucent plastic sheet adapted to transmit liqht therethrough coming either from natural or artificial light sources.

13. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1 or 12, wherein each window means further comprises a light condensing means overlaying said matt translucent plastic sheet for condensing light therethrough.

14. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stereo viewer further comprises a support means pivotally connected to said housing for supporting said housing at different angle with respect to the observer.

15. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said slot means further comprises an integral ledge portion projecting outwardly from the inner peripheral portion of said slot means and defininq a guide means for guiding of insertion of said planular members through said slot means.

16. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filter means are polarizing filters.

17. A stereo viewer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filter means are color filters.

18. A stereo viewer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.