Abstract:
A type of telescope is described. The telescope comprises a first monocular, a second monocular, an image-recording device and a first optical-switching component. The first monocular comprises a first object lens and a first eyepiece. The second monocular comprises a second object lens and a second eyepiece. The image-recording device is disposed between the first monocular and the second monocular. The first optical-switching component is disposed between the first object lens and the first eyepiece for switching the propagation direction of an incident light from the first object lens to the first eyepiece or the image-recording device. The telescope with the optical-switching component permits the image-recording device to record an image, wherein the field of the recorded image is identical to the field of an image seen by a user.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 92128260, filed Oct. 13, 2003.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a telescope. More particularly, the present invention relates to a telescope with an optical-switching component for recording an image, wherein the field of the recorded image is identical to the field of an image seen by a telescope user.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     With the rapid progress in fabricating techniques and the drop in price of most basic devices, integrated multifunctional devices have become the mainstream products in the market. For example, a mobile phone with digital camera function, a home appliance with networking capability, a multifunctional office system capable of photocopying, faxing and printing can be easily affordable. Due to the additional features, many old products have a longer product life before becoming obsolete. Furthermore, as the workweek is gradually reduced so that people can have more leisure time, birds or waterfowls watching are some of the activities favored not only by naturalist or environment lovers but by commoners as well. Besides watching, some of these people would like to record the activities of these beautiful animals branding into the particular landscape too. However, most digital cameras sold in the market have moderate to low magnification capabilities and hence can hardly display far off scenes with clarity. On the other hand, those professional digital cameras having a high magnification capable of capturing scenes at a great distance in sports stadium would sell for a high price that very few people could afford.  
         [0006]     Because of the need for a high magnification digital camera, integrating a telescope with a digital camera seems to be the solution. Aside from watching from afar, the user may use the integrated telescope to take a snapshot of the scene so that a permanent record is recorded. This type of telescope with digital camera function is very much welcomed by most environmentalist and nature lovers. Following the recent maturity in the fabrication of digital cameras, the integration of a conventional camera with a telescope has become obsolete. Since all the later versions no longer involve integrating a conventional camera with the telescope, the method of integrating a digital camera with a telescope is illustrated in the following description.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing various components inside a conventional binocular type of telescope. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the telescope mainly comprises a first monocular  100 , a second monocular  120  and an image-recording device  140 . The first monocular  100  further comprises a first object lens  102 , a first eyepiece  104  and a first prism  106  disposed between the first object lens  102  and the eyepiece  104 . Similarly, the second monocular  120  further comprises a second object lens  122 , a second eyepiece  124  and a second prism  126  disposed between the first object lens  102  and the eyepiece  104 . In addition, the image-recording device  140  is disposed between the first monocular  100  and the second monocular  120 .  
         [0008]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first object lens  102 , the first eyepiece  104 , the second object lens  122  and the second eyepiece  124  are all fabricated by combining a group of lenses.  
         [0009]     In a conventional telescope, the image-recording device  140  further comprises an image-capturing device  142  and an object lens  146 . The image-capturing device  142  is positioned on the optical path behind the object lens  146 . In addition, the object lens  146  is also fabricated by combining a group of lenses. Furthermore, the image-capturing device  142  is a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor etc.  
         [0010]     Light beams  190  coming from an external source enters the telescope through the first object lens  102  of the first monocular  100  and the second object lens  122  of the second monocular  122 . Thereafter, the light beams  190  travel to the first prism  106  and the second prism  126  and then to the first eyepiece  104  and the second eyepiece  124  before emerging from the telescope and impinging on the left and right eye (not shown) of a user. In addition, a light beam  195  coming from the light source also travels to the image-capturing device  142  through the object lens  146  of the image-recording device  140  to facilitate image recording.  
         [0011]     It should be noted that the field of the image seen by each monocular in a conventional binocular is slightly different from the field of the image captured by the image-recording device. In other words, the image seen by a user and the image captured by the image-recording device are non-identical. To resolve this problem, the object lens within the image-recording device can be modified. However, to provide an identical field of images for both the monocular and the image-recording device, a larger and a heavier object lens must be used. Ultimately, the binoculars will be bulkier and heavier.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0012]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a telescope with an optical-switching component for recording an image, wherein the field of the recorded image is identical to the field of an image seen by a telescope user.  
         [0013]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the telescope comprises a first monocular, a second monocular, an image-recording device and a first optical-switching component. The first monocular comprises a first object lens and a first eyepiece. The second monocular comprises a second object lens and a second eyepiece. The image-recording device is disposed between the first monocular and the second monocular. The first optical-switching component is disposed between the first object lens and the first eyepiece for switching the propagation direction of an incident light from the first object lens to the first eyepiece or the image-recording device.  
         [0014]     According to an embodiment of the telescope, the first object lens, the first eyepiece, the second object lens and the second eyepiece are fabricated using a group of lenses. In addition, a first prism is also disposed inside the first monocular between the first object lens and the first eyepiece. The second monocular similarly comprises a second prism disposed between the second object lens and the second eyepiece.  
         [0015]     According to the aforementioned embodiment of the telescope, the image-recording device further comprises an image-capturing device and a lens assembly. The lens assembly and the image-capturing device are disposed along the optical path behind the first optical-switching component. Furthermore, the lens assembly is disposed between the first optical-switching component and the image-capturing device. The image-capturing device is a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, for example. In addition, the image-recording device according to the present embodiment may include a reflector disposed along the optical path between the first optical-switching component and the image-capturing device for changing the propagation direction of the incident light.  
         [0016]     According to the aforementioned embodiment of the telescope, the first optical-switching component can be a rotatable reflector capable of switching an incident light beam entering the first object lens to the first eyepiece or the image-recording device. In other words, the first optical-switching component comprises a rotatable mechanism and a reflector with the reflector disposed on the rotatable mechanism.  
         [0017]     According to the aforementioned embodiment of the telescope, the first optical-switching component can be an optical element such as a dichroic mirror (DM) or a polarizing beam splitter (PBS). The optical element is capable of diverting a portion of the incident light to the first eyepiece and another portion of the incident light to the image-recording device.  
         [0018]     The aforementioned telescope may further include a second optical-switching component. The second optical component is disposed along the optical path between the second object lens and the second eyepiece for switching the incident light from the second object lens to the second eyepiece or the image-recording device. The second optical-switching component can be a rotatable reflector capable of switching the incident light from the second object lens to the second eyepiece or the image-recording device. In other words, the second optical-switching component comprises a rotate mechanism and a reflector with the reflector disposed on the rotate mechanism.  
         [0019]     According to the aforementioned embodiment of the telescope, the second optical-switching component can be an optical element such as a dichroic mirror (DM) or a polarizing beam splitter (PBS). The optical element is capable of diverting a portion of the incident light to the second eyepiece and another portion of the incident light to the image-recording device.  
         [0020]     The present invention also provides an alternative type of telescope design. The telescope comprises a monocular, an image-recording device and an optical-switching component. The monocular further comprises an object lens and an eyepiece. The image-recording device is connected to the monocular. Furthermore, the optical-switching device is disposed between the object lens and the eyepiece for switching an incident light beam from the object lens to the eyepiece or the image-recording device.  
         [0021]     According to another embodiment of the telescope, the object lens and the eyepiece are fabricated using a group of lenses. The monocular further comprises a prism disposed between the object lens and the eyepiece.  
         [0022]     According to another embodiment of the telescope, the image-recording device further comprises an image-capturing device and a lens assembly. The lens assembly and the image-capturing device are disposed along the optical path behind the optical-switching component. Furthermore, the lens assembly is disposed between the optical-switching component and the image-capturing device. The image-capturing device is a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, for example. In addition, the image-recording device according to the present embodiment may include a reflector disposed along the optical path between the optical-switching component and the image-capturing device for changing the propagation direction of the incident light.  
         [0023]     According to another embodiment of the telescope, the optical-switching component can be a rotatable reflector capable of switching an incident light beam entering the first object lens to the eyepiece or the image-recording device. In other words, the optical-switching component comprises a rotatable mechanism and a reflector with the reflector disposed on the rotatable mechanism.  
         [0024]     According to another embodiment of the telescope, the optical-switching component can be an optical element such as a dichroic mirror (DM) or a polarizing beam splitter (PBS). The optical element is capable of diverting a portion of the incident light to the eyepiece and another portion of the incident light to the image-recording device.  
         [0025]     The optical-switching component in the telescope of the present invention is capable of not only presenting the same field of images to both the eyes of a user and the image-recording device, but also eliminating the need for a dedicated object lens inside the image-recording device. Hence, the telescope can have a lighter weight, smaller volume and inexpensive to fabricate.  
         [0026]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0027]     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing various components inside a conventional binocular type of telescope.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the telescope essentially comprises a first monocular  200 , a second monocular  220 , an image-recording device  240  and an optical-switching component  260 . The first monocular  200  comprises a first object lens  202 , a first eyepiece  204  and a first prism  206  disposed between the first object lens  202  and the first eyepiece  204 . Similarly, the second monocular  220  comprises a second object lens  222 , a second eyepiece  224  and a second prism  226  disposed between the second object lens  222  and the second eyepiece  224 . The image-recording device  240  is disposed between the first monocular  200  and the second monocular  220 , for example. The first optical-switching component  260  is disposed between the first object lens  202  and the first eyepiece  204 , for example, for switching an incident light beam  290  entering the first object lens  202  to the first eyepiece  204  or the image-recording device  240 . It should be noted that the first optical-switching component  260  is disposed inside the first monocular  200  or other suitable positions.  
         [0038]     According to the first embodiment of the telescope, each of the first object lens  202 , the first eyepiece  204 , the second object lens  222  and the second eyepiece  244  comprises a lens group, for example. The image-recording device  240  comprises an image-capturing device  242  and a lens assembly  244 . The lens assembly  244  comprises two lens groups  244   a  and  244   b , for example. In addition, the lens assembly  244  and the image-capturing device  242  are disposed along the optical path behind the first optical-switching component  260 . Furthermore, the lens assembly  244  is positioned between the first optical-switching component  260  and the image-capturing device  242 . The image-capturing device  242  is a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, for example.  
         [0039]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the image-recording device  240  further comprises a reflector  246 . The reflector  246  is disposed along the optical path between the first optical-switching component  260  and the image-capturing device  242 . In the present embodiment, the first optical-switching component  260  is a rotatable reflector comprising a rotatable mechanism  262  and another reflector  264 , for example.  
         [0040]     In the aforementioned first embodiment of the telescope, an incident light beam  290  from a light source enters the telescope through the first object lens  202  of the first monocular  200  and the second object lens  222  of the second monocular  220 . Before activating the first optical-switching component  260 , the incident light beam  290  passes through the first object lens  202  of the first monocular  200 , the second object lens  222  of the second monocular  220 , the first prism  206 , the second prism  226 , the first eyepiece  204  and the second eyepiece  224  and enters the eyes (not shown) of a user. After activating the first optical-switching component  260 , the rotatable mechanism  262  rotates an angle bringing the reflector  264  to a designated location. Therefore, the reflector  264  on the rotatable mechanism  262  will deflect the incident beam  290  from the first object lens  202  of the first monocular  200  towards the image-recording device  240 . Thereafter, the deflected beam will pass through the first lens group  244   a , the reflector  246  and the second lens group  244   b  in sequence before focusing on the image-capturing device  242  inside the image-recording device  240 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 3A , the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. One major difference is that the first optical-switching component  36   a  is a dichroic mirror (DM). The dichroic mirror is capable of transmitting a portion of the incident light  390  to the first eyepiece  204  and another portion of the incident light  390  to the image-recording device  242 . In other words, a portion of the light  390  traveling from the first object lens  202  of the first monocular  200  to the first optical-switching component  360   a  will be sent to the eyes (not shown) of a user via the first prism  206  and the first eyepiece  204 . Meanwhile, another portion of the light  390  will be sent to the image-capturing device  242  of the image-recording device  240  via the lens group  244   a  of the lens assembly  244 , the reflector  246  of the image-recording device  240  and the second lens group  244   b  of the lens assembly  244 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 3B , the third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment of the present invention. One major different is that the first optical-switching component  360   b  is a polarizing beam splitter. The polarizing beam splitter is similarly capable of transmitting a portion of the incident light  390  to the first eyepiece  204  and another portion of the incident light to the image-recording device  242 . In other words, a portion of the light  390  traveling from the first object lens  202  of the first monocular  200  to the first optical-switching component  360   b  will be sent to the eyes (not shown) of a user via the first prism  206  and the first eyepiece  204 . Meanwhile, another portion of the light  390  will be sent to the image-capturing device  242  of the image-recording device  240  via the lens group  244   a  of the lens assembly  244 , the reflector  246  of the image-recording device  240  and the second lens group  244   b  of the lens assembly  244 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the fourth embodiment is similar to the first embodiment of the present invention. One major different is that a second optical-switching component  480  is also installed so that the present embodiment is able to provide the captured image with a perspective. The second optical-switching component  480  is, for example, disposed between the second object lens  222  and the second eyepiece  224  so that an incident light beam  490  falling on the second object lens  222  can be switched to the second eyepiece  224  or the image-recording device  440 . Furthermore, the image-recording device  440  comprises an image-capturing device  442  and a lens assembly  444 , for example. The lens assembly  444  further comprises a first lens group  444   a , a second lens group  444   b  and a third lens group  444   c , for example. It should be noted that the second optical-switching component  480  is disposed inside the second object lens  222  or other suitable location.  
         [0044]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the image-recording device  440  may further comprise a reflector  446  disposed along the optical path between the second optical-switching component  480  and the image-capturing device  442 , for example. In the present embodiment, the second optical-switching component  480  is a rotatable reflector comprising a rotate mechanism  482  and a reflector  484 , for example. The reflector  484  is disposed on the rotate mechanism  482 .  
         [0045]     In the fourth embodiment of the telescope, an incident light beam  490  from a light source enters the telescope through the first object lens  202  of the first monocular  200  and the second object lens  222  of the second monocular  220 . Before activating the first optical-switching component  260  and the second optical-switching component  480 , the incident light beam  290  passes through the first object lens  202  of the first monocular  200  and the second object lens  222  of the second monocular  220 , the first prism  206  and the second prism  226 , the first eyepiece  204  and the second eyepiece  224  and enters the eyes (not shown) of a user. After activating the first optical-switching component  260  and the second optical-switching component  480 , the rotatable mechanism  262  of the first optical-switching component  260  and the rotatable mechanism  482  of the second optical-switching component  480  rotate an angle in synchrony bringing the reflectors  264  and  482  to designated locations. Therefore, the reflector  264  on the rotatable mechanism  262  will deflect the incident beam  490  from the first object lens  202  of the first monocular  200  towards the image-recording device  440 . Besides, the reflector  484  on the rotatable mechanism  482  will deflect the incident beam  490  from the second object lens  222  of the second monocular  220  towards the image recording device  440 . Thereafter, the deflected beam from the first optical-switching component  260  will pass through the first lens group  444   a , the reflector  446  and the second lens group  444   b  in sequence before focusing on the image-capturing device  442  inside the image-recording device  440 . Similarly, the deflected beam from the second optical-switching component  480  will pass through the third lens group  444   c , the reflector  446  and the second lens group  444   b  in sequence before focusing on the image-capturing device  442  inside the image-recording device  440 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the fifth embodiment is similar to the second embodiment of the present invention. One major different is that a second optical-switching component  580  is also installed. The second optical-switching component  580  is a dichroic mirror. The dichroic mirror is capable of transmitting a portion of the incident light  590  to the second eyepiece  224  and another portion of the incident light  590  to the image-recording device  442 . In other words, a portion of the light  590  traveling from the second object lens  222  of the second monocular  220  to the second optical-switching component  580  will be sent to the eyes (not shown) of a user via the second prism  226  and the second eyepiece  224 . Meanwhile, another portion of the light  590  will be sent to the image-capturing device  442  of the image-recording device  440  via the third lens group  444   c  of the lens assembly  444 , the reflector  446  and the second lens group  444   b  of the lens assembly  444 .  
         [0047]     In the aforementioned fifth embodiment, the second optical-switching component is not limited to a dichroic mirror. A polarizing beam splitter may also be used to achieve a similar effect.  
         [0048]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the telescope comprises a monocular  600 , an image-recording device  640  and an optical-switching component  660 . The monocular  600  further comprises an object lens  602 , an eyepiece  604  and a prism  606  disposed between the object lens  602  and the eyepiece  604 . The image-recording device  640  is disposed on the monocular  600 . The optical-switching component  660  is disposed between the object lens  602  and the eyepiece  604  for switching an incident light beam  690  from the object lens  602  to the eyepiece  604  or the image-recording device  640 . It should be noted that the optical-switching component  660  is disposed inside the object lens  602  or other suitable location. In addition, the object lens  602  and the eyepiece  604  comprise lens groups, for example.  
         [0049]     According to the sixth embodiment of the telescope, the image-recording device  640  comprises an image-capturing device  642  and a lens assembly  644 , for example. The lens assembly  644  further comprises a first lens group  644   a  and a second lens group  644   b , for example. The image-capturing device  642  is disposed along the optical path behind the optical-switching component  660 . Furthermore, the lens assembly  644  is positioned between the optical-switching component  660  and the image-capturing device  642 . The image-capturing device  642  is a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, for example. It should be noted that the image-recording device  640  may further include a reflector  646  disposed along the optical path between the optical-switching component  660  and the image-capturing device  642 . In the present embodiment, the optical-switching component  660  is a rotatable reflector comprising a rotatable mechanism  662  and another reflector  664 , for example.  
         [0050]     In the aforementioned sixth embodiment of the telescope, an incident light beam  690  from a light source enters the telescope through the object lens  602  of the monocular  600 . Before activating the optical-switching component  660 , the incident light beam  690  passes through the object lens  602 , the prism  606 , the eyepiece  604  of the monocular  600  and enters the eye (not shown) of a user. After activating the optical-switching component  660 , the rotatable mechanism  662  rotates an angle bringing the reflector  664  to a designated location. Therefore, the reflector  664  on the rotatable mechanism  662  will deflect the incident beam  690  from the object lens  602  of the monocular  600  towards the image-recording device  640 . Thereafter, the deflected beam will pass through the first lens group  644   a , the reflector  646  and the second lens group  644   b  in sequence before focusing on the image-capturing device  642  inside the image-recording device  640 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing various components inside a telescope according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the seventh embodiment is similar to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. One major different is that the optical-switching component  760  is a dichroic mirror. The dichroic mirror is capable of transmitting a portion of the incident light  790  to the eyepiece  604  and another portion of the incident light  790  to the image-recording device  642 . In other words, a portion of the light  790  traveling from the object lens  602  of the monocular  600  to the optical-switching component  760  will be sent to the eye (not shown) of a user via the second prism  606  and the eyepiece  604 . Meanwhile, another portion of the light  790  will be sent to the image-capturing device  642  of the image-recording device  640  via the lens group  644   a  of the lens assembly  644 , the reflector  646  and the lens group  644   b  of the lens assembly  644 .  
         [0052]     In the aforementioned seventh embodiment, the optical-switching component is not limited to a dichroic mirror. A polarizing beam splitter may also be used to achieve a similar effect.  
         [0053]     In summary, major advantages of the telescope according to the present includes: 
    1. The telescope has an optical-switching component for providing the human eye and the image-recording device with an identical field of images.     2. There is no need to include an object lens dedicated to the image-recording device so that the telescope is lighter, occupies less volume and has a lower production cost.    
 
         [0056]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.