Patent ID: 6373645
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A prism optical system comprising, in order in which light rays pass from an object side thereof:a first transmitting surface; a first reflecting surface; a second reflecting surface; a third reflecting surface; and a second transmitting surface; wherein when an axial principal ray is projected onto a plane defined by three points at which the axial principal ray impinges on the first transmitting surface, the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface, the projected axial principal ray forms an optical path that bends at two consecutive reflecting surfaces of the three reflecting surfaces in a same direction with respect to a direction of travel of the rays and bends at the other reflecting surface in a direction different from the direction of bending at the two reflecting surfaces, and at least one of the three reflecting surfaces is a rotationally asymmetric surface; and wherein the projected axial principal ray does not cross itself in the prism.