Abstract:
My invention provides an adaptor housing two cameras for stereoscopic real-time digital viewing and image capture of (1) the immediate environment viewed by the observer, (2) the images viewed through the optical system of a microscope to which my invention is attached, and (3) the images illuminated by an attached slit beam light and viewed by the observer through parfocal right and left compound microscopes or magnifying lenses affixed to my adaptor. By viewing the binocular digital displays the observer is seeing in real-time the focused target and has the option to photograph anything of interest by a right or left digital imaging device or both at any time. Simultaneously image capture of viewable field with both imaging devices produce stereoscopic image format. Importantly, the captured images are an exactly copy of the observer&#39;s view because he is observing the images on the digital displays, in real-time, in focus and in the observed lighting parameters. For playback, image files are transferred unaltered to a digital display or incorporated into a presentation program for synchronous video 3D viewing. My invention may also serve as a stereo viewer by mounting a playback display horizontally in the stereo-dividing insert.

Description:
[0001]    My invention provides for (1) housing dual smartphones or cameras and (2) facility for optical focusing attachments and lighting for observing and capturing mono or stereo photographs while real-time viewing the stereo digital images and means for playing back captured image files. 
         [0002]    My first embodiment provides simultaneous stereo images capture in either still or video format using two smartphones or two cameras of the environment being viewed by the observer without facility of additional focusing or lighting attachments. Synchronized playback of captured right and left image pairs can be viewed on the screens of the recording devices housed in my adaptor. Alternatively, the stereo-paired images may be transferred to a presentation program as a synchronous pairs for playback on a single screen viewable through a stereo-viewer. 
         [0003]    The second embodiment of my adaptor provides observation and photographic capture via a binocular instrument, such as, a slit lamp microscope, operating microscope, or other binocular instruments. Currently a photographic camera or other imaging device for capturing images viewed through the optical system of a slit lamp, microscope, or operating microscope is attached to one ocular of the device. The attached recording device either images the viewable image directly or through a beam splitter that shares the rays with an observer. When the imaging camera is mounted onto one eyepiece, the examiner can no long view stereoscopically. Often times the captured images are not satisfactory because the focusing status and lighting parameter may vary from what the observer is imaging since the camera is not incorporated in the examiner&#39;s real-time viewing line-of-sight. 
         [0004]    The third embodiment of my adaptor incorporates two imaging devices with (1) a compound miniature microscope or magnifying lens to each of the camera ports of my adaptor and (2) a slit light source for illumination. This embodiment provides means of capturing macro stereo images in fine detail of structures such as the human eye by the cameras of the two attached imaging devices while positioning a slit light to accent key features of the image. Such an embodiment is mounted on a headband worn by the observer and as thus serves as a hands-free portable slit lamp. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    In  FIG. 1  is the front view of embodiment 1 showing baseplate  5  having recesses  14  and  15  for holding two smartphones or cameras, such as, iPhone  7  and iPhone  8  as seen in  FIG. 2 . The elements of baseplate  5  of embodiment 1 as shown in  FIG. 1  are camera viewing ports  15  and  16  providing openings for passage of image rays, recesses  14  and  15  for housing iPhones  7  and  8 , magnets  17   a - 17   d  and fastening screws  18   a - 18   d  to secure magnets  17   a - 17   b , and holes  19   a - 19   d  for attaching brackets supporting lens couplers  33  and  34  seen in  FIG. 2 . Shown in  FIG. 2  is embodiment 1 with iPhones  7  and  8  attached, lens couplers  33  and  34  that support lenses  9  and  10 , sliding bars  11  and  12  which adjust the horizontal position of lenses  9  and  10  without rotating. Vertical adjustments of lens  10  is made by sliding lens coupler  33  up or down on brace rod  3  which is preferably hexangular. A hexangular shape provides for easy repositioning to the prior position and as will be expanded upon in the specifications of  FIG. 5 . Only one lens needs to move vertically to provide relative vertical alignment for binocular image fusion. Coupler  33  is supported by brace rod  77  having treads along the lower part so that treaded rotatory knob  79  a when rotated moves coupler  33  up or down along rod  3 . Spring  78  fits around rod  77  and exerts tension on coupler  33  so that rotating knob  79  remains in contact with coupler  33  when coupler  33  is moved downward. Magnets  17   a - 17   d  holds iPhones  7  and  8  securely and provide for quick and easy removable. Should a camera not be sufficiently attracted by the magnets, adhesive magnetic material can be affixed to the back of the camera to improve magnet attraction. Means other than magnets may be used to hold a camera in position, such as, clips or walls along the edge. Switch base  51  with push-button momentary switch  52  connects to the audio ports of iPhones  7  and  8  by cords  50   a  and  50   b . By depressing push-button  52 , both iPhones simultaneously capture images and thereby synchronize exposure. Illustrated in  FIG. 3  is the backside of baseplate  5  showing camera viewing-ports  15  and  16 , handgrips  21  and  22 , and bolts  23 ,  24 ,  25  and  26  that secure the brackets for couplers  33  and  34  to baseplate  5 . Cross-section  4  is seen in  FIG. 4  showing camera port  15  in baseplate  5  and iPhone  8 . In  FIG. 5  is a side view of embodiment 1 showing coupler  33 . In this illustration, coupler  33  and brackets coupler support bars  26  and  27  are constructed of clear acrylic plastic to reveal internal details. Setscrews  130  and  131  in brackets  26  and  27  secure hexangular rod  77  from moving vertically and rotationally. Within coupler  33  are springs  120  and  121 , magnets  122  and  123 , rectangular lens bar  12 , and rod  77 . Wall  124  forms the proximal surface of coupler  33  and is secured by knurled nut  125  and screw  126 . Wall  124  is in apposition with lens bar  12 . Bar  12  is of such a horizontal size that more than fills the space it occupies so that when knurled nut  125  is fully tightened, wall  124  compresses against bar  12  to create sufficient friction to immobilize bar  12 . As a result of immobilizing bar  12  the horizontal position of lens  10  becomes fixed. Spring  120  exerts tension of magnet  122  and both spring  120  and magnet  122  inhibit rotation around hexangular steel rod  77  from rotating. Spring  121  and magnet  123  also inhibit rotation around rod  77 . The flat surface of magnets  122  and  123  rest against the flat surface of the hexangular rod  77  in  6  positions. Magnets  122  and  123  will stop rotation of coupler  33  and maintain that position at each of the 6 flat surfaces on hexangular bar  77  until the torsional force exceeds the friction produced by magnets  122  and  123  and springs  120  and  121 . The hexangular rod  77  is locked in position by setscrew  130  and  131  so that the flat surface of one of the 6 positions of hexangular rod  77  is parallel with bar  12  and with the surface of the screen of iPhone  8 . By positioning bar  12  parallel with the screen of iPhone  8 , viewing lens  10  is parallel with the screen of iPhone  8 . Setscrew  133  sets the position of the hexangular bar on that side to align lens  9  ( FIG. 6 ) parallel with the screen of iPhone  7 . In addition spring  121  exerts tension of lens bar  12 , which provides resistance to movement of bar  12  prior to immobilizing bar  12  by tightening knurled nut  125 . Handgrip  21  provides means for grasping embodiment 1. 
         [0006]    In  FIGS. 6-11  is embodiment 2 of my invention viewed from the top. This embodiment attaches to a slit lamp bio-microscope or other binocular microscopes by way of oculars  87   a  and  87   b  and the housings of oculars  87   a  and  87   b . In  FIG. 1  is illustrated housing  93  of ocular  87   a . Baseplate  41  and  42  have countersink  85  ( FIG. 7 ), a recess just large enough to fit around the circumference of ocular  87   a  and  87   b  where baseplate  41  makes contact with ocular  87   a  and baseplate  42  makes contact with ocular  87   b . This recess provides an anchor for the adaptor to align with the microscope. Brackets  81  and  82  attach to baseplates  41  and  42  by braces  84   a - 84   d , which are secured by nuts  88   a - 88   d . Similarly, clamps  140  and  143  are secured by finger bolts  141   a - 141   d . Brackets  81  and  82  fit against the inferior of the housings of ocular  87   a  and  87   b  while clamps  140  and  143  fit against the superior of oculars  87   a  and  87   b , an arrangement that provides rigid support using counter-force. Embodiment 2 is held firmly in place by both upward support by bracket  81  and  82  and downward support by clamps  140  and  143 . Since bracket  81  and  82  are slotted, the adaptor can be quickly and easily positioned and removed from the microscope by sliding. Once aligned, clamps  140  and  143  are placed over ocular  87   a  and  87   b  and secured by finger bolts  141   a - 141   d.    
         [0007]    Since microscope oculars converge to provide optical alignment, baseplates  40  and  41  are connected by one or more hinge  62 , which allows the necessary movement for the oculars to align with ocular housings of the microscope  91 . Depending upon the specific microscope, spacer  89  may need to be positioned beneath hinge  62  on the side of either baseplate  41  or  40  to allows both oculars  87   a  and  87   b  to slide completely into the microscope housing. 
         [0008]    As seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , iPhone  8  is mounted horizontally within embodiment 1 or 2 for the purpose of also utilizing the adaptor as a stereo-viewer. For example stereo image pairs can be presented side-by-side in a Keynote or PowerPoint program and viewed stereoscopically. Insert  150  is rectangular and fits into notch  155  of each bracket rod of couplers  33  and  34 , such as rods  26  and  28  illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Insert  150  may support iPhone  8  or other digital display device by housing magnets or by retainer wall  152 . For stereo viewing, the subjects views through lenses  9  and  10  and stereo-divider  151  isolates the view of each eye. A linear opening is stereo-viewer  151  allows stereo-divider to slide over iPhone  8  and under insert  150  to maintain vertical and horizontal stability of stereo-divider  151 . 
         [0009]    In  FIG. 10  are examiner  90  and subject  91  facing each other with slit lamp bio-microscope  92  between them. Examiner  90  is viewing the screens of iPhones  7  and  8  housed in embodiment 2, which attaches to microscope by brackets  81  and  82  and clamps  140  and  143 . Subject  91  is looking straight ahead with his forehead pressed against headrest  95 . Slit light  98  illuminates the eye of subject  91 . In  FIG. 11  is a frontal view of embodiment 2 attached to slit lamp microscope  92 . 
         [0010]    Embodiment 3 is seen in  FIGS. 12-15 , which is my adaptor connecting iPhones  7  and  8  with slit light  160 , microscope  100  and  102 , and headband  105  to provide a portable slit lamp microscope. Headband  105  attaches to baseplate  5  by bracket  104 . Flexible bands  107  traverse the head and attaches to band  105  while knob  106  tightens and loosens band  105 . Spectacles  141  support lenses  140  which provide clear focus of the displays of iPhone  7  and  8  or other digital display devices. Battery  150  connects by cable  151  to slit light  160 . Slit light  160  slides on curved bar  161 , which is attached to baseplate  5  by brackets  162  and  163  ( FIG. 13 ). Rotatable rod  164  with sprockets  165  and  166  that travel in a curved path in the cogs of brackets  167  and  168  having the same shaped path as curved bar  161  supporting slit light  160 . By rotating knob  170 , rod  164  rotates and causes sprockets  165  and  166  to mesh with cogs of brackets  167  and  168 , which in turn moves slit light  160  alone curved rod  161  in small increments. The radius of curved rod  161  is such that at any point along the path of rod  161 , the beam of slit light  160  is parfocal with the focal points of microscopes  101  and  103  as seen by ray tracings  200 ,  201 , and  202  in  FIG. 14 . Microscopes  100  and  102  may be magnifying lenses or compound microscopes, which are parfocal with each other and with the beam of slit light  160 . Optical conduits  101  and  103  contain prisms or mirrors to deviate the light rays transmitted from microscopes  100  and  102  to the cameras of iPhones  7  and  8  to the extent to make microscopes  100  and  102  parfocal at a desired working distance. Cushions  110  and  111  supported by adjustable braces  112  and  113  provide means to rest embodiment 3 against the face of a subject to steady the examination at a suitable distance. 
       Method for Video Recording and Playback 
       [0011]    Stereoscopic video recordings require synchronous exposure and playback of paired image files. My method of recording is to simultaneously trigger iPhone  7  and iPhone  8  by triggering switch  52  having two connecting cables, one to the audio outlet iPhone  7  and the other to the audio outlet of iPhone  8 . iPhones and other devices can be setup to capture a photograph by selecting the volume control to trigger exposure. Triggering momentary switch  52  closes an electrical circuit that simultaneously activates both imaging devices. Alternatively, iPhones  7  and  8  can be programmed to trigger by sound. Once the images are stored on iPhones  7  and  8  and B, the files are transferred electronically by AirDrop or other means to a presentation program, such as, Keynote Apple or PowerPoint Microsoft programs. A slide in the presentation program is created for each pair of stereo video files. The video file from the right camera is positioned on the right side of the slide and the video file from left camera is positioned on the left side of the slide. These paired video files begin playback synchronously by selecting “start upon opening” command for each of the video files. Images from the right and left iPhones are seen simultaneously when such as presentation is viewed in a stereo-viewer. 
         [0012]    The process for displaying stereo images and playing back stereo video files is as follows: 
         [0000]    1. Transfer recorded right and left image pairs to a presentation program slide in Keynote Apple program, PowerPoint Microsoft program, or another vender&#39;s program.
 
2. Arrange the right image of the image pair on the right half of the slide and the left image on the left side of the slide and align the image pair horizontally.
 
3. To synchronize two video files to start simultaneously, select in the movie menu “start on opening” for both paired video files.
 
4. Once the presentation file is created as 1-3 above the file is opened on a computer screen, iPod screen, iPhone screen, etc. and viewed while observing through an appropriate stereo-viewer.
 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a frontal view of the baseplate of embodiment 1 of my adaptor without smartphones mounted. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a frontal view of the baseplate of embodiment 1 of my adaptor with smartphones mounted. 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a view of the back of the baseplate of embodiment 1. 
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view of baseplate of embodiment 1. 
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the baseplate of embodiment 1 of my adaptor detailing coupler  33 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top view of embodiment 2 with microscope oculars. 
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a back view of embodiment 2. 
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a frontal view of embodiment 1 or 2 with stereo-dividing insert mounted. 
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a top view of embodiment 2 with stereo-dividing insert mounted. 
         [0022]      FIG. 10  depicts a slit lamp bio-microscopic examination with embodiment 2 attached. 
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a frontal view of embodiment 2 attached to a slit lamp bio-microscope. 
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a side view of an examiner-wearing embodiment 3. 
         [0025]      FIG. 13  is a top view of embodiment 3. 
         [0026]      FIG. 14  is a top view of embodiment 3 showing ray tracings. 
         [0027]      FIG. 15  is the rear view of embodiment 3.