Patent ID: 9664612
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: A61B,G01N,G02B,G03B,H04N

Claim:
1. An apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information, the apparatus comprising: a lens having a single imaging path operable to direct light captured within a field of view of the lens to an aperture plane of the lens; a polarizer located proximate said aperture plane, said polarizer including a first portion disposed to transmit light having a first polarization state through a first portion of the single imaging path and a second portion disposed to transmit light having a second polarization state through a second portion of the single imaging path, said first and second portions of said single imaging path providing respective first and second perspective viewpoints within the field of view of the lens, wherein said first portion of said polarizer comprises a first polarizer having a first polarization orientation and wherein said second portion of said polarizer comprises a second polarizer having a second polarization orientation, said first and second polarization orientations comprise any one of: respective linear polarization orientations that are orthogonal, respective left-handed and right-handed elliptical polarization orientations, and respective left-handed and right-handed circular polarization orientations; and a modulator disposed in the single imaging path, said modulator being operable to selectively change a polarization state of light passing through the modulator to alternate between forming a first image through said first portion of said single imaging path and forming a second image through said second portion of said single imaging path, said first image representing objects within the field of view from said first perspective viewpoint and said second image representing said objects from said second perspective viewpoint, said first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of said objects, wherein said modulator is disposed in the single imaging path before said polarizer, wherein said modulator is operably configured to: select one of said first and second polarization states for transmission, and alternate between: transmitting the selected polarization state; and causing said selected polarization state to undergo a change between said first polarization orientation and said second polarization orientation.