Miniaturized parallel plate rotation for stereoscopic imaging module

Abstract

Since the booming atmosphere of the 3D movies, 3D imaging is widely used for various areas including not just for entertainment industries but even also in the medical industries. Endoscopy is an efficient diagnostic and surgical tools for internal organs. Surgeon uses visual feedback to control their endoscopic tools. However conventional 2D endoscope gives incomplete visual information due to lack of depth cues. Previous researches show that using 3D endoscope improves to precision of volumetric perception and effectiveness and precision of endoscopic surgery. Conventional 3D endoscopy uses dual camera system to create stereopsis however using two cameras increase size of endoscope and in order to reduce its size, various single detector based stereoscopic techniques has been emerged. There are two different methods, spatial division technique, and temporal division technique. Spatial division technique divides single detector in half, and each of its half obtains each of stereoscopic image using by-prism, microlens arrays, planar and curved mirrors. This technique reduces resolution of images in half due to division of the detector. On the other hand temporal division technique divides imaging obtaining time. Each time detector obtains each stereoscopic image. Most temporal division techniques use split apertures using mechanical shutter, LCD, Complimentary Multi-band Band-pass filters (CMBFs). Due to split apertures field of view of the stereoscopy reduces. Parallel Plate Rotation (PPR) technique however uses rotation of glass plate to create stereopsis without decrease of field of view. Rotated glass moves optical axis of the detector and its movement is correlated with rotational angle. In this research we present high resolution, high field of view, actively adjustable baseline distance, and miniaturized PPR stereoscopic system using bimorph thermal MEMS actuator. Low stress silicon nitride/aluminum cantilever supports parallel plate (NOA 63) with over...