Abstract:
A distance measuring device including a polarizing element disposed on a plane conjugate with a pupil of an objective lens, an optical rotatory plate rotating a polarizing axis of light which has passed through the polarizing element, a polarization separation element separating light which has passed through the optical rotatory plate into a first light beam and a second light beam, a first imaging element forming a first image by the first light beam, a second imaging element forming a second image by the second light beam, and a focus detector detecting a focus state based on relative deviation between the first image and the second image which correspond to a same region of a subject.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a U.S. National Stage application claiming the benefit of prior filed International Application Number PCT/JP2010/003110, filed May 6, 2010, in which the International Application claims a priority date of May 15, 2009, based on prior filed Japanese Application Number 2009-118512, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates to a distance measuring device and an imaging device. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, there has been known an optical apparatus performing focus detection of an imaging optics by a pupil division method (see, for example, Patent Document 1). 
     In the above-described apparatus, an electro-optic element composed of the combination of a grating and liquid crystal is inserted on a pupil plane of the imaging optics, and lights that have passed through different regions in an exit pupil are polarized in different directions. Then, beams of the lights are imaged on different regions of an imaging element capturing images of the imaging optics, and phase difference AF is performed based on image data thereof.
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-106435   

     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved 
     However, in the above-described conventional apparatus, when pupil division is performed by polarization and phase difference detection is performed, a fixed pupil shielding member is used for the pupil division, which had a problem of a low degree of freedom because distance measurement according to an F-number and performance requirement of a lens is not possible. 
     The present application was made to solve the above conventional problem, and a proposition thereof is to provide a distance measuring device and an imaging device capable of enhancing a degree of freedom in setting pupil division regions. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     A distance measuring device including a polarizing element disposed on a plane conjugate with a pupil of an objective lens, an optical rotatory plate rotating a polarizing axis of light which has passed through the polarizing element, a polarization separation element separating light which has passed through the optical rotatory plate into a first light beam and a second light beam, a first imaging element forming a first image by the first light beam, a second imaging element forming a second image by the second light beam, and a focus detector detecting a focus state based on relative deviation between the first image and the second image which correspond to a same region of a subject. 
     Preferably, the optical rotatory plate is divided into at least four regions radially with respect to an optical axis, and each of the regions is independently drivable. 
     Preferably, the optical rotatory plate is four-divided crisscross with respect to the optical axis. 
     Further, a distance measuring device including a first and a second polarizing element which are disposed on planes conjugate with a pupil of an objective lens and whose polarizing axes are perpendicular to each other, a first optical rotatory plate disposed between the first polarizing element and the second polarizing element to rotate a polarizing axis of light which has passed through the first polarizing element, a second optical rotatory plate rotating a polarizing axis of light which has passed through the second polarizing element, a polarization separation element separating light which has passed through the second optical rotatory plate into a first light beam and a second light beam, a first imaging element forming a first image by the first light beam, a second imaging element forming a second image by the second light beam, and a focus detector detecting a focus state based on relative deviation between the first image and the second image which correspond to a same region of a subject. 
     In this case, preferably, the second optical rotatory plate adjusts an optical rotatory state so as to cause lights from two transmission regions of the first optical rotatory plate to have polarizing axes perpendicular to each other. 
     Preferably, the distance measuring device further includes a mode for complete light shielding without performing an optical rotation by the first optical rotatory plate. 
     Preferably, the distance measuring device further includes a mode to perform the optical rotation by an arbitrary angle on whole surfaces of the transmission regions. 
     Preferably, the first optical rotatory plate has transmission regions in a dot matrix form. 
     Further, an imaging device including any one of the distance measuring devices having the above-described structures. 
     Effect 
     In the present embodiment, it is possible to enhance a degree of freedom in setting pupil division regions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an explanatory view illustrating a first embodiment of an imaging device. 
         FIG. 2  are explanatory views illustrating details of a LC optical rotatory plate. 
         FIG. 3  are explanatory views illustrating a principle of distance measurement. 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory view illustrating a second embodiment of the imaging device. 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory view illustrating light shielding states of the imaging device in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  are explanatory views illustrating kinds of the light shielding states of the imaging device in  FIG. 4   
         FIG. 7  are explanatory views illustrating an imaging operation of the imaging device in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory view illustrating a state where a LC shutter and a pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate of the imaging device in  FIG. 4  are integrally formed. 
         FIG. 9  are explanatory views illustrating kinds of the operation of a pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate of a third embodiment of the imaging device. 
         FIG. 10  are explanatory views illustrating a fourth embodiment of the imaging device. 
         FIG. 11  is an explanatory view illustrating a fifth embodiment of the imaging device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail by using the drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of a distance measuring device of the present invention. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an imaging device being a camera. 
     The imaging device includes an objective lens  11 , a polarizing element  13 , a LC optical rotatory plate  15 , a polarization separation element  17 , a first imaging element  19 , a second imaging element  21 , an image processing unit  23 , a camera control unit  25 , an AF driving mechanism  27 , a LC driving unit  29 , and an image memory  31 . 
     At a pupil position of the objective lens  11 , the polarizing element  13  is provided. The polarizing element  13  includes a polarizing filter and aligns lights from the objective lens  11  so that they have P-polarizing axes, for instance. 
     The LC optical rotatory plate  15  electrically changes the polarizing axes of the lights. As illustrated in  FIG. 2(   a ), a light transmission surface of the LC optical rotatory plate  15  is divided into regions R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  resulting from four-division along perpendicular lines with respect to an optical axis. Each of the regions R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  is independently drivable by the driving of the LC driving unit  29 . For example, when the P-polarized lights are incident from the polarizing element  13 , the driving is performed so that the P-polarized lights incident on the left regions R 1 , R 3  of the optical axis become S-polarized lights, and the P-polarized lights incident on the right regions R 2 , R 4  are transmitted as they are, as illustrated in  FIG. 2(   b ). Further, the driving is performed so that the P-polarized lights incident on the regions R 1 , R 2  on the upper side of the optical axis become S-polarized lights, and the P-polarized lights incident on the lower regions R 3 , R 4  are transmitted as they are, as illustrated in, for example,  FIG. 2(   c ). 
     The polarization separation element  17  transmits, for example, the P-polarized lights from the LC optical rotatory plate  15  via a polarization separation plane  17   a  so that they are imaged on the first imaging element  19 .  FIG. 2(   d ) illustrates an image on the first imaging element  19  when the LC optical rotatory plate  15  is controlled as in  FIG. 2(   b ). Only the right images being the P-polarized lights are imaged.  FIG. 2(   e ) illustrates an image on the first imaging element  19  when the LC optical rotatory plate  15  is controlled as in  FIG. 2(   c ). Only the lower images being the P-polarized lights are imaged. On the other hand, the polarization separation element  17  reflects the S-polarized lights on the polarization separation plane  17   a  so that the S-polarized lights are imaged on the second imaging element  21 . Therefore, the image on the second imaging element  21  is an image in a laterally reversed state from the image in  FIG. 2(   d ). Further, it is an image in a vertically reversed state from the image in  FIG. 2(   e ). 
     The first imaging element  19  and the second imaging element  21  are disposed at optically equivalent positions, and when an in-focus image is formed on the first imaging element  19 , an in-focus image is also formed on the second imaging element  21 . As the first imaging element  19  and the second imaging element  21 , CCDs each having two-dimensionally arranged light-receiving elements are used, for instance. 
     In the above-described imaging device, outputs of the first imaging element  19  and the second imaging element  21  are sent to the image processing unit  23  to undergo image processing such as A/D conversion and color processing. Further, in the image processing unit  23 , based on image data obtained from the outputs of the first imaging element  19  and the second imaging element  21 , calculation regarding focus detection is performed. The camera control unit  25  controls the driving of the AF driving mechanism  27  based on a focus detection calculation value calculated by the image processing unit  23  to adjust a focus of the objective lens  11 . Further, the camera control unit  25  controls the whole camera. The image data obtained in the image processing unit  23  are recorded in the image memory  31 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrate a principle of a focus detection method in the above-described imaging device. 
     Light beams emitted from an object surface M 1  are imaged by the objective lens  11 . When the light beams are incident on the polarizing element  13  via the objective lens  11 , they are aligned to, for example, P-polarized lights by the polarizing element  13 . The light beams that have passed through the polarizing element  13  are brought into a polarization state as illustrated in, for example,  FIG. 2(   b ) by the LC optical rotatory plate  15 . The P-polarized lights in  FIG. 2(   b ) are transmitted through the polarization separation plane  17   a  of the polarization separation element  17  to be imaged near an image plane M 2  of the first imaging element  19 . On the other hand, the S-polarized lights are reflected on the polarization separation plane  17   a  to be imaged near an image plane M 2  of the second imaging element  21 . 
       FIG. 3(   a ) illustrates an in-focus state, and an image by the P-polarized lights and an image by the S-polarized lights are both formed on the image plane M 2  and at the same position. That is, when the image on the first imaging element  19  and the image on the second imaging element  21  are stacked, their image locations are the same.  FIG. 3(   b ) illustrates a forward defocused state. Since the image location is located posterior to the image plane M 2 , an image on the image plane M 2  is blurred, and the positions of the images by the P-polarized lights and the S-polarized lights are deviated. The image by the P-polarized lights is deviated upward from the optical axis and the image by the S-polarized lights is deviated downward from the optical axis.  FIG. 3(   c ) illustrates a backward defocused state. The image by the P-polarized lights is deviated downward from the optical axis and the image by the S-polarized lights is deviated upward from the optical axis. 
     BY thus separating polarization components coming from the LC optical rotatory plate  15  in the polarization separation element  17 , obtaining images of the respective polarization components by imaging the polarization components on the first imaging element  19  and the second imaging element  21 , and comparing a phase difference between pictures in the two images, it is possible to calculate a defocus amount in the same manner as in normal phase difference AF. Further, by generating images based on the image data of the first imaging element  19  and the second imaging element  21 , it is possible to obtain a photographed image of a subject. 
     In the imaging device of this embodiment, the LC optical rotatory plate  15  is divided into the plural regions R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and the polarizing axes of the polarized lights passing through the respective regions R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  are freely settable, which can enhance a degree of freedom in setting pupil division regions. 
     Since the polarization state, that is, the shielding state of the LC optical rotatory plate  15  can be electrically changed, it is possible to instantaneously change a direction of a base length of the phase difference AF. This enables the distance measurement even when a subject has, for example, only vertical and lateral patterns, by the base lengths in two perpendicular directions, which enables the accurate distance measurement for subjects with various patterns. For example, when a pattern is a vertical stripe pattern, the right-left divided pattern illustrated in  FIG. 2(   d ) is selected. Further, when a pattern is a lateral stripe pattern, the up-down divided pattern illustrated in  FIG. 2(   e ) is selected. 
     In the first embodiment, the LC optical rotatory plate  15  is four-divided crisscross with respect to the optical axis, but also adoptable is a structure in which each of the regions resulting from the four-division may be two-divided with respect to the optical axis so that the whole region is eight-divided, and each of the regions is independently drivable by the driving of the LC driving unit  29 . This eight-divided structure makes it possible for the LC optical rotatory plate  15  to have an obliquely divided pattern, which enables the accurate distance measurement even when a subject has, for example, an oblique stripe pattern. Incidentally, the LC optical rotatory plate  15  may be structured to be divided by a division number other than four division and eight division. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a second embodiment of the distance measuring device of the present invention. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an imaging device being a camera. Note that, in this embodiment, the same elements as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and symbols, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     The imaging device includes an objective lens  11 , a LC shutter  33 , a pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate  35 , a polarization separation element  17 , a first imaging element  19 , a second imaging element  21 , an image processing unit  23 , a camera control unit  25 , an AF driving mechanism  27 , a LC driving unit  29 , and an image memory  31 . 
     At a pupil position of the objective lens  11 , the LC shutter  33  is provided. The LC shutter  33  includes a first polarizing element  37 , a pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39 , and a second polarizing element  41 . 
     The first polarizing element  37  aligns lights from the objective lens  11  so that they have P-polarizing axes, for instance. 
     The pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  electrically changes the polarizing axes of the lights. The pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  is divided into regions in four directions perpendicular to one another with respect to an optical axis, depending on the distance from the optical axis. More concretely, at a center portion, center regions C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4  each having a ¼ shape of a four-divided circle are formed. In an outer peripheral part, four outer regions T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4  are formed apart from one another by a 90-degree angle. Each of the regions C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4 , T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4  is independently drivable by the driving of the LC driving unit  29 . 
     The second polarizing element  41  aligns lights from the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  so that they have S-polarizing axes, for instance. 
     The pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate  35  is divided into four regions G 1 , G 2 , G 3 , G 4  in a manner corresponding to the region division directions of the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39 . More concretely, it is divided into four so that one of the center regions C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4  of the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  and one of the outer regions T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4  thereof exist in each of the regions G 1 , G 2 , G 3 , G 4 . 
     In the above-described imaging device, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , light that has passed through the LC shutter  33  divided into the regions in the pupil masking shape is symmetrical with respect to the optical axis and a pupil of the objective lens  11  is masked. 
     In  FIG. 5 , as the first polarizing element  37 , a polarizing element  13  for P-polarization is used, for instance. As the second polarizing element  41 , a polarizing element  13  for S-polarization is used, for instance. Further, the control is performed so that P-polarized lights incident only on the left and right regions T 2 , T 4  in the outer periphery of the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  become S-polarized lights. Therefore, light beams from the objective lens  11  become as illustrated in  FIG. 5(   a ) after passing through the LC shutter  33 . That is, only lights in the left and right regions T 2 , T 4  in the outer periphery of the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  are transmitted through the second polarizing element  41 . 
     Further, the control is performed so that S-polarized light incident only on the left region G 2  of the pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate  35  becomes P-polarized Therefore, an image of the P-polarized light transmitted through the polarization separation plane  17   a  of the polarization separation element  17  to be imaged on the first imaging element  19  becomes as illustrated in  FIG. 5(   b ). Only an image of the left region T 2  being the P-polarized light is imaged. On the other hand, an image of the S-polarized light reflected on the polarization separation plane  17   a  of the polarization separation element  17  to be imaged on the second imaging element  21  becomes as illustrated in  FIG. 5(   c ). Only an image of the right region T 4  being the S-polarized light is imaged. 
     In the imaging device of this embodiment, the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  and the pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate  35  are each divided into the plural regions and the polarizing axis of the polarized light passing through each of the regions is freely settable, which enhances a degree of freedom in setting the pupil division regions. 
     That is, in this embodiment, by combining driving patterns of the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  and the pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate  35 , it is possible to select a transmission region of the pupil in any of the patterns illustrated in  FIGS. 6(   a ) to ( d ), for instance. 
     Since the up, down, left, and right of the arrangement of the pupil and the distance of the transmission region from the optical axis can be selected, it is possible to select a more suitable state depending on a vertical or lateral pattern of a subject, an F-number of the objective lens  11 , and the like. For example, when the objective lens  11  with a large aperture is used, the regions T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4  distant from the optical axis are used for the distance measurement as illustrated in  FIGS. 6(   a ), ( b ). On the other hand, when the objective lens  11  with a small aperture is used, the regions C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4  close to the optical axis are used for the distance measurement as illustrated in  FIGS. 6(   c ), ( d ). 
     Further, in the imaging device of this embodiment, the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  operates as the LC shutter  33  and an aperture as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , which eliminates a need to separately provide a mechanical shutter and an aperture mechanism. Specifically, being disposed at an aperture position of an optical system, the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  interferes with the arrangement of the mechanical shutter and the aperture mechanism which are usually necessary. They can be provided substantially at the same position, but this necessitates providing a space around the aperture position, so that the position of the objective lens  11  is restricted and optical performance and the size of the optical system are restricted. In this embodiment, on the other hand, when the optical rotation on the whole surface of the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  is set to 0, there is no light transmitted through the first polarizing element  37  and the second polarizing element  41 , which makes it possible to produce a complete shield state, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7(   b ), ( d ). 
     The flow during the photographing will be described by using  FIG. 7  as follows. 
     Step S 1 : First, as illustrated in  FIG. 7(   a ), the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  is set to a partial optical rotatory state to form a pupil mask, and the distance measurement is performed in a distance measurement state. 
     Step S 2 : Next, as illustrated in  FIG. 7(   b ), the complete light shield state where the optical rotation by the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  is set to 0 is produced, to reset the imaging elements. 
     Step S 3 : Next, the optical rotation is performed on the whole surface of the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  and exposure is performed in the whole-surface transmission state. At this time, by selecting the optical rotation by the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  within a range of 0 to 90 degrees, it is possible to select a transmitted light amount. 
     Step S 4 : After the transmission according to the exposure time, the optical rotation on the whole surface of the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  is again set to 0 to produce the complete shield state. In this state, the reading of the image elements is performed. 
     Step S 5 : After the reading of the imaging elements, the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  is again brought into the partial optical rotatory state, and the distance measurement is performed. 
     In the imaging device of this embodiment, the LC shutter  33  and the pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate  35  are integrated as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  and the pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate  35  are each composed of two substrates K and liquid crystal E housed therebetween. A portion between a polarizing film  37   a  of the first polarizing element  37  and the substrate K of the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  is coated with an antireflection film H. A portion between the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39  and a polarizing film  41   a  of the second polarizing element  41  and a portion between the pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate  35  and the polarizing film  41   a  are coated with the antireflection films H. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the attenuation of a transmitted light amount due to the reflection on interfaces and reduce ghost flare. Further, since the entire structure is integrated, assembly performance can be improved. 
     Third Embodiment 
       FIG. 9  illustrate a third embodiment of the imaging device of the present invention. 
     In this embodiment, a drive region of a pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39 A is minutely divided. 
     In the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39 A, the drive region is minutely divided as in an ordinary dot-matrix liquid crystal display, as illustrated in  FIG. 9(   a ). By driving the minute drive regions according to the situation, it is possible to realize more functions. 
     (1) Transmission regions similar to simple fixed patterns as illustrated in  FIG. 9(   b ) make it possible to realize a function as a pupil mask. 
     (2) At the time of the exposure, transmission regions concentric with respect to the optical axis as illustrated in  FIG. 9(   c ) make it possible to realize a function as an aperture. 
     (3) By adjusting a transmission amount of the transmission region in parallel to aperture driving as illustrated in  FIG. 9(   d ), it is possible to adjust a light amount as well as the aperture at the same time. 
     Since the three functions of the pupil mask, the shutter, and the aperture can be achieved, it is possible to eliminate a need for a mechanical shutter and an aperture mechanism, prevent mechanical interference, reduce the number of components, maintain a degree of design freedom, and reduce operation sound. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
       FIG. 10  illustrate a fourth embodiment of the imaging device of the present invention. 
     In this embodiment, the distance measuring device presented in the first embodiment is applied to re-imaging phase difference AF. 
       FIG. 10(   a ) illustrates a basic structure of the distance measuring device in the fourth embodiment. A polarizing element  13  and a LC optical rotatory plate  15  are disposed via a field lens  43  on planes optically equivalent to (conjugate with) a pupil position of an objective lens  11  in a re-imaging optics. In  FIG. 10(   a ), the polarizing element  13  and the LC optical rotatory plate  15  are disposed between re-imaging lenses  45 ,  47 . In this case, it is possible to obtain a pupil division effect equivalent to that obtained when the polarizing element  13  is inserted at the pupil position of the objective lens  11 . 
       FIG. 10(   b ) illustrates a case where the distance measuring device illustrated in  FIG. 10(   a ) is built in a single-lens reflex digital cameral. Light beams of a subject from the objective lens  11  are reflected to a lower part of a camera body  53  by a sub mirror  51  provided behind a main mirror  49 , and pass through the field lens  43 , the re-imaging lens  45 , the polarizing element  13 , and the LC optical rotatory plate  15  in the order mentioned. The light beams that have exited from the LC optical rotatory plate  15  are folded by a mirror  55  by 90 degrees, and after passing through the re-imaging lens  47 , are incident on a polarization separation element  17 . Polarization components separated in the polarization separation element  17  are incident on imaging elements  19 ,  21  respectively. The imaging is performed by a specialized imaging element  57 . Note that the reference  59  denotes a pentaprism. 
     Fifth Embodiment 
       FIG. 11  illustrate a fifth embodiment of the imaging device of the present invention. 
     In this embodiment, the distance measuring device presented in the second embodiment is applied to re-imaging phase difference AF. 
       FIG. 11(   a ) is a view illustrating a basic structure of the distance measuring device in the fifth embodiment, and a first polarizing element  37 , a pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39 , a second polarizing element  41 , and a pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate  35  are disposed on planes optically equivalent to (conjugate with) a pupil position of an objective lens  11  in a re-imaging optics. In  FIG. 11(   a ), between re-imaging lenses  45 ,  47 , the first polarizing element  37 , the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39 , the second polarizing element  41 , and the pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate  35  are disposed. In this case, it is possible to obtain a pupil division effect equivalent to that obtained when the polarizing element  37  and so on are inserted at the pupil position of the objective lens  11 . 
       FIG. 11(   b ) illustrates a case where the distance measuring device illustrated in  FIG. 11(   a ) is built in a single-lens reflex digital camera. Light beams of a subject from the objective lens  11  are reflected to a lower part of a camera body  53  by a sub mirror  51  provided behind a main mirror  49  and pass through a field lens  43 , the re-imaging lens  45 , the first polarizing element  37 , the pupil-masking LC optical rotatory plate  39 , the second polarizing element  41 , and the pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate  35  in the order mentioned. The light beams that have exited from the pupil-dividing LC optical rotatory plate  35  are folded by a mirror  55  by 90 degrees, and after passing through the re-imaging lens  47 , are incident on a polarization separation element  17 . Polarization components separated in the polarization separation element  17  are incident on imaging elements  19 ,  21  respectively. The imaging is performed by a specialized imaging element  57 . 
     The many features and advantages of the embodiments are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the embodiments that fall within the true spirit and scope thereof. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the inventive embodiments to exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope thereof.