IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO OPTICAL BEAM SPLITTERS

Abstract: An optical beam splitter which removes aberrations such as coma and transverse chromatic aberration by subjecting all transmitted rays to equal and opposite amounts of induction of coma and transverse chromatic aberration, by curing residual astigmatism by providing a terminal astigmatism correcting lens in each transmitted ray path, and by avoiding ghost images by ensuring adequate separation between the main image and any ghost images. The splitter thus permits the use of high resolution, low sensitivity, linear charge coupled devices in image analysis.

Description: mPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO OPTICAL BEAM SPLITTERS In image analysing devices, it is conventional to scan, point to point, an original with a spot of light and to analyse the modulated light transmitted by or re- fleeted from the original to determine its spectral con¬ tent and brightness. The analysis is generally effected by splitting the modulated light into three colours, for example red, green and blue and to measure the amount of light of each of the colours by means of respective photoresponsive devices. The scanning can be effected by means of a raster on the face plate of a cathode ray tube which is imaged onto the original. Alternatively, the point of light may be caused to move across the original respectively in one direction whilst the original is moved (at a slower rate) orthogonally in its own plane. The modulated and split light is collected and directed onto the respective photoresponsive devices and signals therefrom are representative -of the colour con¬ tent of the original on a point to point basis. Such signals can be stored and/or used indirectly or directly in a reproductive process. The beam splitting may be effected by semi- reflective mirrors which may be dichroic and/or which may be followed by colour filters so that each photo- responsive device receives only light of one of the three colours. A conventional beam splitter is in the form shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings and comprises three prisms two of which have dichroic filters coated on one of their faces. Such a beam splitter is costly and has inherent disadvantages but is of the kind normally used when two dimensional scanning of an original is effected such as in a television camera. United States specification No. 2792740 describes a more basic form of beam splitter but explains that problems arise using inclined dichroic or semi transparent mirrors as the beam splitting elements. These problems are: "ghost images" due to interreflect- ioήs between the surface of each of the mirror supports, transverse chromatic aberration, coma and astigmatism. Linear charge coupled devices (CC_Ds) have now been developed. The individual cells of the array are small enough to give a pixel size providing acceptable resolution. An illuminated line of an original to be scanned is imaged on the array. Three such arrays, with an appropriate beam splitter are used * The original is preferably moved so that successive lines thereof are imaged on the arrays. A linear CCD array may typically be 10 to 15 mm long and contain 1000 cells in the linear array. Each pixel is then 1 thousandth of the width of the original in the direction of the line of illumination. Por example, the light received by each cell of the CCD, for acceptable definition, derives from an area of the original no greater than 0.25 mm (and preferably of the order of 0.025 mm) length in the direction of the line of illumina ion. Unfortunately, the amount of light received by each cell (the integral of light against time) is very small and the lens, imaging the line of light on the array, to provide a sufficient quantity of. illumination, must therefore work at an aperture of, for example, f or greater. The greater the aperture of the lens, the greater is the tendency for optical aberrations and other optical faults to arise. When using linear CCD arrays, as described above, faults such as astigmatism- and ghost images which would be present using the arrangement de¬ scribed in U.S. 2 792 740 would be totally unacceptable. The arrangement described in that specification will over¬ come the problem of coma and transversechromatic aberrat¬ ion and normalises astigmatism for all three channels. Astigmatism, mayalso be overcome totally but in a way that creates ghost images transverse to the line of illumination. The problems of ghost images and/or astigmatism therefore remain. The present invention seeks to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages in a simple, yet inexpensive . oner whilst fully utilising the advantages afforded by the newly developed linear charged coupled device arrays. The invention provides an optical beam splitter, for use in analysing the image content of an original by splitting light transmitted through or reflected from the original into three colours by means of dichroic mirrors mounted on transparent support media, each transparent support medium inducing transverse chromatic aberration, coma and astigmatism in the rays of light transmitted thereby, the beam splitter including at least one further transparent plate, such that light transmitted by the beam splitter to respective linear charge coupled device arrays has induced therein an even number of equal and opposite coma and transverse chromatic aberration contributions, and a respective terminal astigmatism correcting lens in each transmitted light path, before the respective CCD array, for focussing the fully corrected line of light thereonto. Preferably, there are two dichroic mirrors each mounted on a transparent supporting medium, the mirrors being inclined at equal and opposite angles to the axis of the system, and one further transparent plate, light of a first colour being reflected from the first dichroic mirror and light of second and third O PI ' colours are transmit'-tedthereby, light of the second colour being reflected by the second dichroic mirror and trans¬ mitted by the further transparent plate, and light of the third colour being transmitted by the second dichroic mirror such that light of the first colour is not trans¬ mitted and has zero coma, transverse chromatic aberration or astigmatism induced therein, light of the second colour has two equal and opposite amounts of coma and transverse chromatic aberration induced therein in its passage through the transparent support medium of the first dichroic mirror and through the transparent plate, and light of the third colour has two equal and opposite amounts of coma and transverse chromatic aberration in¬ duced therein on passage through the transparent support media of the first and second dichroic mirrors. Each terminal astigmatism correcting lens may be in the form of a plano-convex cylindrical lens having its axis parallel to the length of the respective linear array of CCDs. The transparent support media and the trans¬ parent plate are arranged to be sufficiently thick that ghost images caused by internal reflection are imaged at a location remote from the sensitive surface of the charge coupled devices. Infrared light, inherently produced by most light sources, is not absorbed to any great extent by photographic dyes. It is necessary to ensure that that CCD array which would normally receive infrared light (the "red" array) does not do so. This is ensured by providing an infrared reflecting surface, for example, on the transparent plate. With such a beam splitter, transverse chromatic aberration, coma, astigmatism and ghost images are avoided even though the optical paths may include lenses working at apertures of f or larger and the resolution of the image is within the commercially acceptable range utilising presently available arrays of charge coupled devices. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Pig. 2 illustrates a transparent support medium of thickness sufficient adequately to separate desired light from an unwanted first order ghost image of such light; and Pig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of an optical beam splitter in accordance with the present invention. The optical beam splitter, in accordance with . the present invention is useful in -an image analysing apparatus instead of the relatively expensive beam split¬ ter shown in Pig. 1. An image analysing device incorporating the present invention comprises means (not shown) for holding an original such as a photographic negative to be analysed, means (not shown) for illuminating the original, slit means for passing light transmitted by a narrow width line of the original, and mechanical means (such as ' original moving means) for causing the slit to pass light transmitted by successive line portions of the original. Light modulated by transmission through the original is ultimately focussed onto linear arrays of charge coupled devices (CCDs) responsive respectively to light of a particular colour. The beam splitter of the present invention is interposed in between the orig¬ inal and the linear CCD arrays. As shown in Pig. 3 of the drawings, the beam splitter according- to the invention comprises a first dichroic mirror 10 having a dichroic coating on the front surface of a-transparent supporting medium 12 which coating reflects blue light to a first linear CCD azvraj 11 extending at right angles to the plane of the drawing. The image modulated light is focussed onto the array. The CCD array 11 is sensitive to blue light and may have an appropriate correcting filter (not shown) in the path thereto after the dichroic mirror 10 to over¬ come spectral deficiencies of the dichroic coating. Red and green image modulated light impinging on the dichroic surface of the mirror 10 is transmitted thereby and pass- es through the transparent supporting medium 12. In so doing, transverse chromatic aberration, coma and astigmat¬ ism are induced in the image rays. Transmission through the medium 12 gives rise to at least a discernable first order ghost image due to internal reflections (see Pig. 2). The medium 12 is made sufficiently thick that the first and subsequent order ghost images are displaced sufficiently from the optical path so as to be imaged parallel to but displaced from the respective linear CCD array. The transmitted red and green light then impinge on the surface of a second dichroic mirror 20 having a dichroic coating on its front surface which reflects red light and transmits green light which passes through the transparent support medium 22. Coma, astigmatism and transverse chromatic aberration are induced in the trans¬ mitted green light but because the transparent supporting medium 22 is of the same material and thickness as but oppositely inclined to the medium 12, the transverse chromatic aberration and coma induced are equal and opposite to those induced on transmission through the medium 12 and are therefore corrected. Astigmatism due to light transmission through both the media 12 and 22 is additive and the image, in one plane, would not be in focus at the same distance from the medium 22 as the image in a plane at right angles thereto. A terminal astigmatism correcting lens 24 in the form of a plano-convex cylind-**- rical lens of axis parallel to the length of the array is therefore interposed between the medium 22 and the CCD array 21 so that a fully corrected accurately focussed image of the line of green light from the original im¬ pinges on the CCD array 21. Any ghost images produced by internal reflection in the medium 22 are focussed as a line parallel to but displaced from the linear CCD array 21. As in the case of the "Blue" CCD array, appropriate correcting filters may be interposed between the medium 22 and the CCD array 21. The image modulated red light is reflected from the surface of the dichroic mirror 20 and, as this red light has only passed through the plate 12, an oppositely inclined transparent plate 32 is located such that the reflected red light passes therethrough. In this way, equal and opposite transverse chromatic aberration OMPI and coma are induced to that induced by the medium 12. Thus coma and transverse chromatic aberration are correct¬ ed. However, further astigmatism is induced on transmis¬ sion through the plate 32 and an astigmatism correcting lens 35 (similar to the lens 24) is located so that the red light passing through the plate 32 is fully correct¬ ed and can be accurately focussed onto the sensitive surface of a "red" CCD array 31. Similarly any ghost images caused by the plate 32 are focussed as " line images parallel to but displaced from the array 31. Infrared light (which is not absorbed by photo¬ graphic dyes and hence is unmodulated by the image on the original) is normally reflected by the surface of the dichroic mirror 20 and would normally fall upon the _-ed" CCD array 31. CCDs are sensitive to infrared radiation. The transparent plate 32 has a dichroic coating on the surface 33 thereof which reflects infrared radiation but transmits image modulated red light. It will be appreciated that medium 12 and the medium22 and the medium 12 and the plate 32 are of thick¬ ness and refractive index such that each induces an equal and opposite amount of coma and transverse chromatic aberration for all rays passing through each pair. The support media and the plate are preferably of glass and are each of such thickness (see Pig. 2) that adequate separation takes place between desired and first and sub¬ sequent order ghost images generated by internal reflect¬ ion. Lenses used in the system can work at apertures of f4 and greater. In this way, linear CCD arrays can be used for image analysis without any optical degradation which would cause incorrect signals and consequent loss of image quality in any reproduction.

Claims: Claims 1 An optical beam splitter for use in analysing the image content of an original by splitting light transmitted through or reflected from the original into three colours by means of dichroic mirrors mounted on transparent support media, each transparent support medium inducing transverse chromatic aberration and coma in the rays of light transmitted thereby, wherein the beam splitter includes at least one further transparent plate, such that light transmitted by the beam splitter to respective linear charge coupled device arrays has induced therein an even number of equal and op¬ posite coma and transverse chromatic aberration contribut¬ ions. 2 A beam splitter as claimed in claim 1 further including a respective terminal astigmatism correcting lens in each transmitted light path, before the respective CCD array, for focussing a fully corrected line of light there- onto. 3 A beam splitter as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein there are two dichroic mirrors each mounted on a transparent supporting medium, the mirrors being inclined at equal and opposite angles to the axis of the system, and one further transparent plate, light of a first colour being reflected from the first dichroic mirror and light of second and third colours being transmitted thereby, light o.f the second colour being reflected by the second dichroic mirror and transmitted by the further transparent plate, and light of the third colour being transmitted by the second dichroic mirror such that light of the first colour is not transmit- ted and has zero coma, transverse chromatic aberration or astigmatism induced therein, light of the second colour has two equal and opposite amounts of coma and transverse OMPI chromatic aberration induced therein in its passage through the transparent support medium of the first dichroic mirror and through the transparent plate, and light of the third colour has two equal and opposite amounts of coma and c** transverse chromatic aberration induced therein on passage through the transparent support media of the first and second dichroic mirrors. 4 A beam splitter as claimed in claim 2 or any claim appendant thereto wherein each terminal astigmatism 0 correcting lens is in the form of a plano-convex cylindrical lens having its axis parallel to the length of the respect¬ ive linear array of CCDs. 5 A beam splitter as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the transparent support media and the transparent 5 plate are arranged to be sufficiently thick that ghost images caused by internal reflection are imaged at a locat¬ ion remote from the sensitive surface of the charge coupled devices. 6 A beam splitter as claimed in any preceding claim 0 wherein a infrared reflecting surface, for reflecting non- image-modified radiation transmitted by ' the original, is arranged on the transparent plate. 7 An optical beam splitter, for use in analysing the image content of an original by splitting light trans- mitted through or reflected from the original into three colours by means of dichroic mirrors mounted on transparent support media, each transparent support medium inducing transverse chromatic aberration, coma and astigmatism in the rays of light transmitted thereby, the beam splitter 0 including at least one further transparent plate, such that light transmitted by the beam splitter to respective linear charge coupled device arrays has induced therein an even number of equal and opposite coma and transverse chromatic aberration contributions, and a respective terminal astig¬ matism correcting lens in each transmitted light path, be¬ fore the respective CCD array, for focussing the fully corrected line of light thereonto. 8 An image analysing device, incorporating a beam splitter as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means for holding an original such as a photographic neg¬ ative to be analysed, means for illuminating the original, slit means for passing light transmitted by a narrow width line of the original, and mechanical means for causing the slit to pass light transmitted by successive line portions of the original, the device including optical means for focussing an image of the narrow width line of the original onto the CCD arrays, and wherein the optical means has a orking aperture of f4 or greater OMPI

Inventors: SHARMAN RICHARD ARTHUR, WATT PETER BERNARD, SHARMAN, RICHARD, ARTHUR, WATT, PETER, BERNARD
Applicants: EASTMAN KODAK CO, KODAK LTD, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, KODAK LIMITED
Application year: 1984
Main classification: H04N9
IPC codes: G02B27, H04N9