Tri-color separating optical system

Abstract: To form three different color optical images in close vicinity to each other on the same image forming plane in a tri-color separating optical system, the optical system comprising a lens for focusing a subject optical image on a green optical image forming plane (I g ); dichroic mirrors (D b and D r ) or a dichroic prism for directly passing a green color image and reflecting a blue color image in the first direction and a red color image in the second direction; a first prism (P b ) having therein a total reflection surface (M b ) and an extended optical path length for reflecting the blue color image to a blue optical image-forming plane (I b ); and a second prism (P r ) having therein a total reflection surface (M r ) and an extended optical path length for reflecting the red color image to a red optical image-forming plane (I r ).

Description: The present invention relates to a tri-color separating optical system incorporated in various color image pickup apparatus of high resolution. Video signals representative of an optical image of a subject can be obtained through a color image pickup apparatus, and have various advantages such as the signal processing (e.g. editing, trimming, etc.) and the signal recording/reproducing processing being facilitated by use of an erasable recording medium. In the color image pickup apparatus for generating video signals, an optical image of a subject obtained through an image pickup lens system is separated into three primary colors through a color separating optical system and then focused onto a photoelectric transducer composed of image pickup elements in order to generate electrical image information signals corresponding to the optical image of a subject. The generated image information signals are output in time sequence as video signals. As is well known, various image tubes or various solid state image sensing elements are used as the image pickup elements incorporated into the color image pickup apparatus. On the other hand, a multi-layer color film is used to record color optical images of a subject. In passing, it must be mentioned that, recently, various novel television systems (i.e. EDTV/extended frequency range TV, HDTV/high definition TV) have been proposed along with the increasing demand for higher quality and higher resolution reproduced picture. To improve the quality of the reproduced picture, a color image pickup apparatus which can generate video signals of higher picture quality and higher resolution are now required. In the case of color image pickup apparatus using an image tube as the image pickup element however, it is difficult to generate video signals which can reproduce picture images of higher quality and higher resolution. This is because there exists a limit to minimizing the diameter of the electron beam in the image tube. Furthermore, since the target capacitance of the image tube increases with increasing target area, it is impossible to improve the resolution by enlarging the target area. Furthermore, in case of taking moving pictures, the frequency band of video signals is demanded to range from several tens to several hundreds of megahertz (MHz), thus the S/N ratio deteriorates as the resolution of the moving pictures increases. This can be explained in more detail by saying that two means of generating video signals which can reproduce high-quality and high-resolution pictures by a color image pickup apparatus using an image tube as an image pickup element, are by decreasing the electron beam diameter of the image tube or by enlarging its target area. However, it is impossible to reduce the electron beam diameter below a certain limit determined by the performance of an electron gun and the structure of the focusing system. Furthermore, when the target area is enlarged by using a large diameter image lens in order to improve the resolution, since the high frequency signal components of output signals of the image tube have a reduced voltage level due to an increase in the target capacitance, the S/N ratio of the image tube output signals deteriorates markedly. In summary, in the prior-art color image pickup apparatus using an image tube, it has been impossible to generate video signals which can reproduce high-quality and high-resolution pictures. Furthermore, in the case of color image pickup apparatus using solid state image pickup elements, although it is required to increase the number of picture elements (pixels) in order to reproduce high quality and high resolution pictures, there exist other problems in that the frequency of the clock for driving the picture elements increases to as high as 500 to 600 MHz in the case of moving picture cameras and also that the electrostatic capacitance of the driver circuits increases with an increasing number of picture elements. At present, since the upper limit of the frequency of the clock for driving solid state image pickup elements is about 20 MHz, it is therefore impossible to construct a practical apparatus. To ovecome the above-mentioned problems, that is, to generate video signals which can reproduce high-quality and high-resolution pictures, the same applicant has already filed a Patent Application (U.S.S.N. 139,005 corresponding to US-A-4 831 452 published 16.05.89 and EP-A-0 273 773 published 06.07.88) entitled "Color image pickup apparatus", in which one of the proposed systems comprises means for separating an optical image of a subject obtained through an image lens into two or more optical images different in at least the wavelength range; means for forming each separated optical image at respective light-to-light converting element; and means for reprojecting the optical image information corresponding to optical images of a subject formed on said single light-to-light converting element, onto erasable recording medium, i.e. rewritable recording medium, in the form of optical image information signals on said erasable recording medium in time sequence. In the above-mentioned color image pickup apparatus, since video signals that can reproduce high-resolution pictures can easily be obtained from such reversible namely rewritable recording medium on which optical image information is recorded, it is possible to solve the aforementioned problems involved in the prior-art apparatus. However, there exists a problem in that the construction of this apparatus is rather complicated since each of two or more optical images with different wavelength ranges obtained by separating an optical image of a subject obtained through an image pickup lens, has to be formed on respective different light-to-light converting elements. In more detail, with reference to Fig. 1, the prior-art tri-color separating optical system comprises a subject O, an image pickup lens L, dichroic mirrors D r , D b , two total reflection mirrors M r1 and M b1 , a red-component optical image-forming plane I r1 , a blue-component optical image-forming plane I b1 , and a green-component optical image-forming plane I g . In the prior-art tri-color separating optical system shown in Fig. 1, since the three image-forming planes I r1 , I b1 and I g of three optical images obtained through color separation are spatially separated from each other, it has been necessary to use a special light-to-light converting element for forming a plurality of optical images. As shown in Fig. 1, the spatial offsets of these three image-forming planes I r1 , I b1 and I g include an axial offset a i.e. a displacement along the light paths to the image-forming planes, and a transverse offset having a same amount a caused in a direction perpendicular to the light paths, both offsets are referred to the green-component optical image-forming plane Ig. The axial offset is caused by the transverse offset. There are other proposed systems disclosed in the same Patent Application (US. S.N. 139,005 corresponding to US-A-4 831 452 published 16.05.89 and EP-A-0 273 773 published 06.07.88), in which separated three(3) color images are focused on a single plane, but these systems require either complicated optical arrangement or expensive optical path-length adjusting members, otherwise an orientation of the focused color images would be opposite each other, i.e. one image would be upright but other two images might be upside-down. Accordingly, when two or more optical images with different wavelength ranges obtained by separating an optical image of a subject obtained through an image pickup lens are recorded on an erasable recording medium, since the image forming planes of optical images obtained through color separation are either spatially separated from each other, or the orientations of optical images of a subject formed on the image-forming planes are different from each other, it is necessary to use a plurality of different erasable recording media to record plural optical images, thus complicating the apparatus structure. The above-mentioned problem is common to a case where two or more optical images with different wavelength ranges obtained by separating an optical image of a subject obtained through an image pickup lens are recorded on an irreversible (not erasable but writable once) recording medium such as a monochrome film which records each of the separated color images in the effort of preventing discoloration inherent to a multilayer color film. As described in the journal Patent Abstracts of Japan (Vol. 9, no. 56 (E-302) [1779]) of 12 March 1985), Japanese patent application 59-196682 relates to a tri-color separating image pickup optical system having components as shown in Fig. 1 of the present application. Additionally, three image pickup tubes are arranged in a common plane to receive the three different color optical images. In order to align the red and blue optical image planes with the green optical image plane, blocks of glass are inserted part way along the paths of the red and blue optical images. The use of mirrors and glass blocks to convey the blue and red optical images from the dichroic mirrors to the optical image plane produces a relatively bulky overall arrangement. Furthermore, because the glass blocks occupy a relatively small fraction of the optical path length of the blue and red optical images it is necessary to use glass blocks made from material having a higher refractive index in order to obtain a desired extension of optical path length. With these problems in mind, therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a tri-color separating optical system by which two or more optical images with different wavelength ranges formed by separating an optical image of a subject obtained through an image pickup lens can be arranged in close vicinity to each other on the same single image forming plane with use of a simple optical system configuration. To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a tri-color separating optical system for separating an optical image of a subject into three different color optical images, which comprises: (a) focusing means for focusing the subject optical image on a first optical image forming plane; (b) dichroic reflecting means, optically coupled to said focusing means, for directly passing a first color optical image therethrough and reflecting a second color optical image in a first direction therefrom and a third color optical image in a second direction opposite to the first direction therefrom; and (c) means for extending the optical path length of the second and third optical images to align the first, second and third different-color optical image forming planes in a single plane; characterised in that the optical path length extending means comprises: a tri-color separating optical system for separating an optical image (O) of a subject into three different color optical images, which comprises: (a) focusing means (L) for focusing the subject optical image (O) on a first optical image forming plane (I g ); (b) dichroic reflecting means (D b ,D r /D p ), optically coupled to said focusing means (L), for directly passing a first color optical image therethrough and reflecting a second color optical image in a first direction therefrom and a third color optical image in a second direction opposite to the first direction therefrom; and (c) means (P b ,P r ) for extending the optical path length of the second and third optical images to align the first, second and third different-color optical image forming planes (I g ,I b ,I r ) in a single plane; characterised in that the optical path length extending means (P b ,P r ) comprises: (d) first optical block means (P b ) in the form of a prism having therein a first total reflection surface (M b ) optically coupled to said dichroic reflecting means (D b ,D r /D p ) and a first extended optical path length, for reflecting the second color optical image reflected from said dichroic reflecting means (D b ,D r /D p ) in the first direction to a second optical image forming plane (I b ) through the first extended optical path length; and (e) second optical block means (P r ) in the form of a second prism having therein a second total reflection surface (M r ) optically coupled to said dichroic reflecting means (D b ,D r /D p ) and a second extended optical path length, for reflecting the third color optical image reflected from said dichroic reflecting means (D b ,D r /D p ) in the second direction to a third optical image forming plane (I r ) through the second extended optical path length; the first, second and third different-color optical image forming planes (I g ,I b ,Ir) being aligned with each other in close vicinity on said single plane, the first and second prisms being of the same shape and being disposed symmetrically about the optical path of the first color optical image, and in that said dichroic reflecting means is a dichroic prism (D p ) having a first dichroic mirror surface (B) for reflecting only the blue color optical image and passing through the red and green color optical images and a second dichoric mirror surface (R) for reflecting only the red color optical image and passing through blue and green color optical images, the first and second mirror surfaces being disposed at the same position on the optical axis of the focusing means (L). Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a color image pickup apparatus by arranging photoelectric transducing elements at the three different color optical image forming planes of the optical system if desired. The features and advantages of the tri-color separating optical system according to the present invention will be more clearly appreciated from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference labels designate corresponding elements and in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical view for assistance in explaining the prior-art tri-color separating optical system incorporated in a color image pickup apparatus; Fig. 2 is a similar diagrammatical view for assistance in explaining an embodiment of the tricolor separating optical system according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a similar diagrammatical view of the embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a perspective yiew showing an example of a practical optical system configuration of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3. A tri-color separating optical system according to the present invention will be described hereinbelow in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In Fig. 2, the optical system comprises an image pickup lens L (focusing means), a first (blue) prism P b (optical block) formed with a first total reflection surface M b and a blue color optical path therein, a second (red) prism P r (optical block) formed with a second total reflection surface M r and a red color optical path therein, and a dichroic mirror (dichroic reflecting means) composed of a first (blue) mirror D b arranged parallel to the first total reflection surface M b , for reflecting only the blue color component but passing through the red and green color components, and a second (red) mirror D r arranged parallel to the second total reflection surface M r , for reflecting only the red color component but passing through the blue and green color components. Furthermore, in Fig. 2, the green color component of an optical image of a subject O travels from the subject O, through the lens L and the dichroic mirrors Db, Dr, to a green image-forming plane I g ; the blue color component of the optical image of the subject O travels from the subject O, through the lens L, the dichroic mirror D b , the first total reflection surface M b , and the first (blue) prism P b , to a blue image-forming plane I b ; and the red color component of the optical image of the subject O travels from the subjct O, through the lens L, the dichroic mirrors D b , D r , the second total reflection surface M r , and the second (red) prism P r , to a red image-forming plane I r . The blue component optical subject image is formed on the blue image-forming plane I b by extending the blue color optical path length within the first (blue) prism P b , while the red component optical subject image is formed on the red image-forming plane I r by extending the red color optical path length within the second (red) prism P r , so that the two, blue and red, color subject optical images can be formed in close vicinity to each other on the same plane F on which a green color optical image is formed, as depicted in Fig. 2. The function of these prisms P b and P r wil be described below. An extension (displacement caused) of the optical path length of a beam of light passing through a prism can be expressed as x = d(n-1)n where d denotes the optical path length in a prism and n denotes the refraction index of the prism. As shown in Fig. 1, the axial offset of the red color image is a between the red image-forming plane I r1 and the green image-forming plane I g , therefore it is possible to form in Fig. 2 both the red and green images on the same green image forming plane I g by properly determining the optical path length d within the prism P r and the refraction index n of the prism P r so that the axial offset a matches the extension x (i.e. x = a). In the same way, it is possible to form both the blue and green images on the same green image-forming plane by properly determining d and n so that a matches x . That is, when the two prisms P b and P r are formed appropriately, it is possible to form three, red, blue and green, color subject images in close vicinity to each other on the same single image-forming plane without reversing the orientations of three color optical images of a subject and without superimposing the three color optical images on the same image-forming plane. Furthermore, when a prism with a large refraction index n is used, since the optical path length d within the prism can be reduced in accordance with the formula (1), it is possible to obtain a small-sized tri-color separating optical system. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which a dichroic prism D p is used instead of the dichroic mirrors D b , D r . This dichroic prism D p is formed with a red dichroic mirror surface R for reflecting only the red color component and passing through the blue and green components, and a blue dichroic mirror surface B for reflecting only the blue color component but passing through the red and green components. The dichroic mirror surfaces R and B are at the same position on the optical axis of the lens L. Further, the prisms P r and P b are disposed symmetrically about the optical path of the green optical image. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the second embodiment of the optical system according to the present invention, in which dimensions are shown in millimeters. Furthermore, in Fig. 4, an area shown by 36x24 indicates an effective area corresponding to a 35 mm camera film frame, so that one frame of the 35 mm film records one set of red, green and blue images aligned and oriented in the same direction. In Figs. 2 and 3 again, when photoelectric transducing elements are placed at the optical image forming plane F in the tri-color separating optical system, it is possible to configure a color image pickup apparatus such as a video camera. Furthermore, when a positive color printing paper (unexposed) is placed at the position of the subject 0, and three negative images are respectively projected from the image forming plane F toward the tricolor separating optical system, it is possible to produce a printed color image on the printing paper. Similarly, when a negative color printing paper (unexposed) is placed at the position of the subject 0, and three negative images are respectively projected from the image forming plane F toward the tri-color separating optical system, it is possible to produce a negative printed color image on the negative printing paper of which intensity and color are reversed if observed with the naked eye. Furthermore, since a multilayer color film is subject to discoloration problem, it is preferable to record three optical images of a subject separated into three different colors on a monochrome film. In this case, however, it is necessary for the record monochrome film to be projected using three different colors of light in order to reproduce a color image therefrom. Furthermore, even if the subject O has mono color, the tri-color optical system of the present invention can form three optical images at a time on the image forming plane without reversing the orientations thereof. As described above, in the tri-color separating optical system according to the present invention, since two or more optical images with different wavelength ranges formed by separating an optical image of a subject obtained through an image pickup lens can be formed in close vicinity to each other on the same single plane causing the extensions of the optical path lengths in two prisms, in the same magnification and the same orientation, it is possible to simplify and minimize the tri-color separating optical system. Therefore, when the optical system of the present invention is incorporated in a color image pickup apparatus and a color image is recorded on a monochrome film, to avoid discoloration caused in a multilayer color film, use of this color image pickup apparatus enables the arrangement of the monochrome film to be simplified.

Claims: A tri-color separating optical system for separating an optical image (O) of a subject into three different color optical images, which comprises: (a) focusing means (L) for focusing the subject optical image (O) on a first optical image forming plane (I g ); (b) dichroic reflecting means (D b ,D r /D p ), optically coupled to said focusing means (L), for directly passing a first color optical image therethrough and reflecting a second color optical image in a first direction therefroms and a third color optical image in a second direction opposite to the first direction therefrom; and (c) means (P b ,P r ) for extending the optical path length of the second and third optical images to align the first, second and third different-color optical image forming planes (I g ,I b ,I r ) in a single plane; characterised in that the optical path length extending means (P b ,P r ) comprises: (d) first optical block means (P b ) in the form of a prism having therein a first total reflection surface (M b ) optically coupled to said dichroic reflecting means (D b ,D r /D p ) and a first extended optical path length, for reflecting the second color optical image reflected from said dichroic reflecting means (D b ,D r /D p ) in the first direction to a second optical image forming plane (I b ) through the first extended optical path length; and (e) second optical block means (P r ) in the form of a second prism having therein a second total reflection surface (M r ) optically coupled to said dichroic reflecting means (D b ,D r /D p ) and a second extended optical path length, for reflecting the third color optical image reflected from said dichroic reflecting means (D b ,D r /D p ) in the second direction to a third optical image forming plane (I r ) through the second extended optical path length; the first, second and third different-color optical image forming planes (I g ,I b ,Ir) being aligned with each other in close vicinity on said single plane, the first and second prisms being of the same shape and being disposed symmetrically about the optical path of the first color optical image, and in that said dichroic reflecting means is a dichroic prism (D p ) having a first dichroic mirror surface (B) for reflecting only the blue color optical image and passing through the red and green color optical images and a second dichoric mirror surface (R) for reflecting only the red color optical image and passing through blue and green color optical images, the first and second mirror surfaces being disposed at the same position on the optical axis of the focusing means (L). The tri-color separating optical system of claim 1, wherein the first or second extended optical path length is determined in accordance with a formula as x = d(n - 1)n where x denotes an extended amount of optical path length; d denotes an optical path length of said first (P b ) or second (P r ) optical block means; and n denotes a refraction index of material of said optical block means (P b P r ). The tri-color separating optical system of claim 1, wherein said focusing means (L) is an image pickup convex lens. A color image pickup apparatus, comprising: (a) a tri-color separating optical system for separating an optical image of a subject into three different color optical images, as recited in claim 1; and (b) photoelectric transducing elements arranged on the first, second and third different color optical image forming planes (I g ,I b ,I r ), respectively.

Inventors: ASAKURA TSUTOU LILAC HOUSE -, FURUYA MASATO C - NIPPON VICTO, NAKAGAKI SHINTARO, SHINONAGA HIROHIKO C- OKURAYAM, TAKANASHI ITSUO, ASAKURA, TSUTOU 301, LILAC HOUSE, 2-177, FURUYA, MASATO C1-3, NIPPON VICTOR NOBI RYO, NAKAGAKI, SHINTARO, SHINONAGA, HIROHIKO C-428, OKURAYAMA A2-COPORASU, TAKANASHI, ITSUO
Applicants: VICTOR COMPANY OF JAPAN, VICTOR COMPANY OF JAPAN, LIMITED
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H04N9
IPC codes: H04N9, G02B27