Download Porro Prism Binoculars

Idea of Binoculars and its insight:
Man has been experimenting with glass since its advent sometime around 3500 B.C. These
experiments soon became known for their ocular implications. The designs of early optical
instruments, like the telescope, were not recorded. It is assumed that these instruments were
studied and perfected by Galileo Galilei. Early binoculars were actually called binocular
telescopes, and are thought to be based on Galileo's discoveries and designs of prisms.
Early telescopic lenses were full of bubbles and other imperfections. They were also slightly
green due to the iron content in the glass. Polishing techniques were crude, and although lenses
were of good quality in the center, the peripheral shape was poor resulting in a restricted
aperture. As telescopes were improved, binoculars evolved. The first patent application for
binocular telescopes was filed early in the seventeenth century by Jan Lippershey in present day
Holland. Lippershey primarily used quartz crystal, which is hard to manipulate. The first handheld binocular originated in 1702 with Johann Zahn's small binocular of two tubes with a lithe
connection.
A patent application submitted in 1854 by Ignatio Porro began the use of the modern prism
binocular called the Porro prism erecting system. This optical system consisted of an objective
lens and ocular lens (eyepiece) with two facing, right angle prisms arranged to invert and correct
the orientation of the image. The two most commonly used prism systems are the porro prism
and the roof prism design. The roof system uses prisms positioned one over the other resulting in
a more compact design.
An other major breakthrough occurred in 1894 when Carl Zeiss, a German optical specialist,
developed binoculars with convex lenses and delta prisms to correct the inverted image. In a
porro design, the light is bent in a "Z" shape before reaching the eye, allowing the distance
between the eyepiece and the objective lens to be compacted. This enables the size and weight of
binoculars to be reduced.
Reductions in the weight of the binoculars occurred with the use of aluminum or polycarbonate
housings instead of the heavier metal alloys used in pre-civil war binoculars. Performance of
smaller and larger binoculars has improved with the introduction of coatings to render the lenses
non-reflective and reduce the amount of scattered light. The quality of prisms has also improved
over the years, resulting in a reduction of the bubbling effect of optical glass. In the early 1970s,
nitrogen filled, waterproof binoculars were developed. A decade later the arrival of infrared
transmitters capable of seeing in the dark further transformed binocular technology. Variable
magnification models were also developed allowing the user to adjust the level of magnification.
Raw Materials
Early binocular models had brass housing covers and were relatively heavy and expensive
to produce. Subsequent leather or hard rubber covers were replaced in Germany during the
World War I by a cover of black lacquered cardboard. Galvanized steel replaced the heavier
brass in the housing covers. In the 1930s, nearly all of the metal parts of the service glasses were
made of aluminum to save brass and reduce the weight.
Modern-day binocular tubes are primarily made out of aluminum coated with silicon or a leatherlike material called gutta-percha. The lenses and prisms are made from glass and coated with an
anti-reflective coating.
Design
With the exception of the optical glass and some rubber seals, the majority of binocular
component parts can be manufactured using a Computer Assisted Design and Manufacturing
(CAD/CAM) system that downloads the designs to a variety of Computer Numerically
Controlled (CNC) devices (multi-axis mill turn and milling machines as well as vertical and
horizontal machining centers, lathes, etc.). Using CAD software provides both drawing,
dimensioning, and visualization capabilities. These lead to improvements in the binoculars final
design.
The Manufacturing Process
The lens material is poured into a lens mold, which has a spherical curved bottom. This results in
a lens that is about 4 in (10.2 cm) in diameter and 1-1.5 in (2.4-3.8 cm) thick. The lenses are then
removed from the molds and cut into specific pieces using a diamond saw to create the optical
lenses. The lenses are placed into the grinding machine and polished. After they have been
carefully machined, the lenses are anodized to reduce reflections in vacuum tanks. The more
coatings applied, the less light absorbed.
The ocular lenses (nearest the eyes) are also molded and carefully polished by auto-polish
machines after which they are centered on diamond turning machines and finally cleaned by
running through several different solvents in automated machinery. The objective lenses, those
furthest from the eyes, are molded and then polished with polishing machines.
These components are then manually assembled into a die cast body, which is often made from
aluminum. Using a technique called physical vapor deposition, the optics are placed into a
"plasma machine" and coated with dielectric coatings. The coatings are essential for high
performance. The optics are then inspected and tested for clarity and defects using lasers in
specially designed particulate free rooms. Next, the rod shaped prisms are cut by lasers into
three-sided shapes depending on the type of prism being manufactured (i.e., roof prisms or porro
prisms).
The prisms are coated with dielectric materials (metal oxides) by physical vapor deposition
inside a vacuum chamber. When all these components are assembled on a belt assembly line, the
final assembly station collimates the binocular by hand, making the left side exactly parallel to
the right, so only one image will be seen at a time.
The binocular housing is then covered with a substance called gutta-percha, which looks like
leather but is more durable and flexible. This covering is applied by hand using an adhesive and
may be coated with a protective rubber covering. On the assembly line bare metal housing covers
are covered with plastic or rubber. The prisms are placed by hand inside the binocular casing and
manually screwed in place. The objective lenses are held in place by a metal or plastic ring and
the eyepiece is fitted with a rubber eye cap. The focusing lenses are placed in the housing with
screws mounted by hand.
Quality Control
Binoculars that have been hermetically sealed (waterproof) and nitrogen charged (fogproof) are
tested underwater. Most binoculars will withstand water immersion at 16.4(5 m) for five
minutes. Both barrels of a binocular need to be optically parallel for the image to merge into one
perfect circle and are carefully checked for alignment.
Byproducts/Waste
Lenses and prisms that have defects such as scratches or cracks are either discarded and melted
down to be molded again, or they are recycled. If the casing is damaged during production, it is
also either remolded or recycled.
Types of Binoculars:
Galilean Binoculars
The earliest binoculars which were created used the Galilean optics which means they used a
convex lens and a concave eyepiece lens together.
Though this design provided an erect image of the subject, but a main disadvantage of such a
design was that it provided a narrow field of view. The invention of the first proper Galilean
binoculars is credited to Johann Voigtlander from Vienna, during the 1820s. He was the one who
also added the eye tubes to the binoculars, that was used for proper focusing.
During the 1840s and 1850s, the Gallilean binoculars became a famous piece of accessory
among the people and subsequently these started to sport some elegant glasses and used
coverings such as pearls, enamel, silver, gold, bone and colored leather.
Porro Prism Binoculars
This type of binoculars was invented by the Italian optician Ignazio Porro and hence it is named
after him. He patented this technology in the year 1854; this was the technology that was further
refined by makers like Carl Zeiss in the 1890s. The Porro Prism binoculars use, as the name
suggests, Porro prism in a double prism Z-shaped configuration to show a proper image of the
subject. The use of Porro prism also resulted in the production of binoculars that are wide, with
objective lenses that are well separated from each other. .
Since the Prism binoculars were better than the Gallilean ones in every sense, the Gallilean
binoculars started to lose their popularity. Some makers even tried to fool the public by
disguising some of their Gallilean binoculars as Prism binoculars.
Roof Prism Binoculars
The next type of binoculars to emerge was the roof prism binoculars. These appeared during the
1880s. The design of the Roof Prism binoculars is credited to Achille Victor Emile Daubresse.
This type of binoculars either uses the Abbe-Koenig prism which is named after Ernst Karl Abbe
and Albert Koenig or the Schmidt-Pechan Prism which was invented in 1899.
Today, there are many forms of binoculars available worldwide. Various advances in technology
have made it very easy for the average man to get one and use it to his heart's content. These can
be used for various purposes like bird watching, viewing distant objects, etc. There are some
even more complicated binoculars available with night vision technology, digital display readOuts and even a digital camera.
The Future
Binoculars continue to advance with new technology. Their ability to see further with better
focusing techniques enables the consumer to use the product for a wider variety of tasks.
Binoculars are now tending to use the same stabilizing method used in video cameras that
automatically stabilizes the prism system so that the image remains steady to the viewer. Some
binoculars are also coming equipped with night scope vision. This would enable the consumer to
see objects that are far away even at night. Technological advancements are continually made on
these specialty binoculars, which are primarily used by the military or for surveillance.
A further timeline into the idea of glasses:
Virginia based company Pixel-Optics have developed some hi-tech glasses that could make
bifocals a thing of the past. The glasses are able to switch from normal glasses to reading glasses
in an instant via a flick of a switch. In my opinion this is a revolution to binocular concept and
vision of far-off objects.
The technology does sound pretty interesting. The first commercial dynamic glasses will only be
able to switch between a person’s normal vision and their “reading” prescription. However, by
applying different voltages and by changing the number of current-carrying rings within each
lens it should be possible to produce different magnifications using the same lens, researchers
say.
I think with this idea one can produce “dynamically refocusing gadget” to focus on a particular
object based on the wearer.
An interesting research to wearable computers:
Inside the glass lens there will be a heads up display (HUD) which is located in front of one eye
and provides relevant information at your current location. The source also suggests that the I/O
on the glasses will also include voice input and output, and hardware is near the equivalent of a
generation-old Android smartphone, with CPU, Memory and storage provided onboard the
glasses.
“They are in late prototype stages of wearable glasses that look similar to thick-rimmed glasses
that “normal people” wear. However, these provide a display with a heads up computer
interface. There are a few buttons on the arms of the glasses, but otherwise, they could be
mistaken for normal glasses.
Additionally, we are not sure of the technology being employed here, but it is likely a transparent
LCD or AMOLED display such as the one demonstrated below: In addition, we have heard that
this device is not an “Android peripheral” as the NYT stated.
According to our source, it communicates directly with the Cloud over IP. Although, the
“Google Goggles” could use a phone’s Internet connection, through Wi-Fi or a low power
Bluetooth 4.0. The use-case is augmented reality that would tie into Google’s location services.
A user can walk around with information popping up and into display based on preferences,
location and Google’s information. Therefore, these things likely connect to the Internet and
have GPS. They also likely run a version of Android.”
An interesting gadget idea which came into my mind initially:
Essentially, the gadget is a personal entertainment center plus a wearable computer interface that
you wear as if they were glasses. You get great video and audio quality, too. The video is at a
higher pixel resolution and the audio is surround sound. Imagine playing your games or watching
your DVDs on a 50 inch screen. The only downside about the gadget is how weird you’d look in
public using these, even on an airplane.
My radical idea of a gadget to combine several of the above researches:
Now assume a product where we can see not only a Far off object, by using a camera, also see a
screen where we can view a video or use it like a normal Television or a monitor. Adding to this,
add 2D to 3D Codec, where any 2D video can be converted to 3D. And finally a projector that
can project what’s on the screen on the gadget we have on hand.
Now elaborating the idea. My idea is to not only a gadget that can view far off objects that we
already have, but this idea to capture all that is required using a switching mode.
To elucidate, we have the features as follows:
This product can be:
1) Used as a television, where this can directly be connected to any channel, the internet.
This can with the use of the 3G or the Wi-Fi network.
2) Used as a PC where using the technology of the Blue tooth we can connect to the PC. Or
thinking ahead, make a PC that can be embedded within the gadget.
3) Used as a gadget that can see the normal surroundings as much as the normal eye, where
we can capture all that we need on a switch of a mode. High resolutions cameras to be
used all over the gadget that makes a person see 180 degrees of panoramic view, and
choose the best pictures, videos using a built in algorithm of the gadget.
4) Used to convert 2D to 3D to get a personal 3D experience. Adding to that I believe, get to
the 4th Dimension by feeling what we see is truly real. Just like it happens in the IMAX.
Get to see end to end of the screen to get the IMAX effect. Maybe add another sensor to
the nose, where the smell is sent as data, the smell can be reproduced using the small add
on.
5) Used as a Night vision camera and an IR Camera, with the switch of a mode. And the
ability of this gadget to capture the video or the photograph taking the data from all the
cameras used on the gadget.
6) Used as a projector with a wireless interface, where the whole video on the gadget can be
put on a big screen/projector without compromising on the resolution of the video.
7) Used as a phone, since we can use a 3G, we could easily dial number to connect to
people.
8) Used as a videogame.
9) Used to switch such that just in case we have a robot, see what the robot sees and
instructing it to do what the user needs to do.
10) Used to connect to another user say User B where the user say User A can see what the
User B sees.
A few more features that this would have:
1) A built in speaker which can be attached beside the ear.
2) A material used as the screen would no way harm the eye for its continuous usage.
3) The whole gadget would be waterproof, heat proof and weather proof, as this can be
envisaged to be used for any under - water activities, activities at high temperature
and may be used in Space related activities.
4) Good memory space to capture the data and a codec that compress it.
5) No battery and can be charged using any light or even the body heat, surface heat etc.
6) It would have a mouth piece to talk on the phone for video conference or chat.
7) This can be customized to one user as this can be protected using Iris detection.
8) Also as it can detect Iris data, when used by any user, it can detect the user’s iris and
provide data of the user in case where an identity needs to be established.
Advantages:
1) Good to market as this can be a used to compete with the monitors or televisions.
Please note every user needs one.
2) Since this has an in built phone, can be used to perform video conference when
required.
3) Considering that we need to capture a very scenic view that you see. This gadget has
already captured what you are seeing with a switch of a mode. Nothing will be missed
if you have already seen it, using this gadget, as this captures it. The algorithm gives
you a panoramic view of all the cameras in synch and the user can choose the image
of choice. This can be updated on any social networking site immediately since this
would already have a 3G on it.
4) Considering if this can be used in Space, with a Robot using this gadget, the data is
transferred directly from space and so all that the Robot sees can be seen here in
Earth.
5) This can be used anywhere due to the portability. An example will be up in the air
when in flight.
6) A switch mode to see the normal surroundings through the eyes of the cameras that
are attached to the gadget.
7) Finally can be used as a binocular/telescope to see far off objects (as per dynamically
focusing mode)
8) Capture smell and reproduce smell that can be used to transmit and receive.
9) Can see things from the eyes, nose of the gadget without being there at the given
moment.
10) Good for the eye as it is customized for everyone and main idea is not to be harmful
to the eyes.
11) Consider a scenario where the user wants to explore a city, the gadget connects to the
map and the user can easily explore the city. In an instance where a car, fighter
aircraft is command operated, this gadget would command the car/aircraft to get to
the desired location without the user having to drive it on his own. The gadget would
have a codec to command the specific car/aircraft that he is on and connected by the
blue tooth of the car.
12) Voice commands to switch modes, features.
13) Better marketable since all would add-ons will be added on the choice of the
customer.
14) Use of Night Vision, IR can be used in Defense if required.
15) Water Proofing, Heat Proofing and Weather Proofing makes its use anywhere
required.
16) 2D to 3D Codec helps to watch videos that are aired in 2D.
Finally the product to be called “I-Opt” must be very flexible in terms of the weight and usage so
that it can be customized as per consumer’s vision and other requirements.