Patent ID: 6046867
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A compact optical imaging system that transmits light received from an object located at an image plane to an exit pupil to form an image, the optical imaging system comprising:a first prism including a first face, a second face and a third face, the third face facing the image plane, the first prism having an included angle .alpha. between the first face and the second face;a second prism including:a first face facing the exit pupil and substantially parallel to the first face of the first prism, anda second face adjacent the second face of the first prism;a converging reflective element adjacent the first face of the first prism; anda converging transmissive element one of (a) on, and (b) adjacent, the first face of the second prism, in which:the included angle .alpha. lies in a range in which light originating at the exit pupil passes through the converging transmissive element, the second prism, and the first prism, is reflected by the converging reflective element back into the first prism, is reflected at the second face of the first prism, is totally internally reflected at the first face of the first prism, and passes through the third face of the first prism to the image plane.