Optical path switch and method of using thereof

• Main Authors: Ziv, Ofer, Fiore, Jack, Uy, Philip, Filipovich, Danny
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.09.2002

An optical path switch and a method of using thereof, for creating two optical pathways for input light. The switch is composed of two polarizers that polarize the input light and two polarization rotators each having two positions. The polarization rotators position translate to one of two the optical pathways. Additionally, the optical path switch has an image enhancement device for producing an enhanced image of the light, and a beam splitter that directs the light to two channels. The optical path switch works by polarizing the light by one of the two polarizers producing an output, following, the output is then directed through the beam splitter where the output is directed towards the two channels. Next, the output is then filtered through the two polarization rotators and to the other of the two channels where the positions of the two polarization rotators switch the optical pathways. The method of using the present invention consists of a first step of directing light from scenery and through a polarizer. The next step is splitting the light with a beam splitter, followed by directing the light to an image enhancement device and toward the observer at the same time the light is transmitted from a display. The final step is allowing the light from either the scenery or the display, or both, to pass through the two polarization rotators that determine what will the camera and the observer will see.