Peripheral filtering optical apparatus

Abstract

A filter or lens for common optical apparatus includes a clear center portion and an attenuating peripheral portion where the peripheral portion attenuates off-axis images and passes on-axis images with high signal to noise ratios yet not completely blocking the off-axis images, which lens is well suited for reducing off-axis glare in the optical apparatus that may be handheld optical apparatus such as binoculars, telescopes, cameras, and eyeglasses.

1 . An optical apparatus, the apparatus comprising,
 a filter comprising an outer portion for attenuating an off-axis image, the off-axis image being a peripheral image passing through the outer portion, the filter further comprising an inner portion for passing the on-axis image, the inner portion attenuating the on-axis image lesser than the attenuation of the off-axis image passing through the outer portion, and   a frame for supporting the filter.   
   
   
       2 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein,
 the filter is a lens for focusing the on-axis image and the off-axis to a focal point.   
   
   
       3 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein,
 the optical apparatus is selected from the group consisting of eyeglasses, binoculars, telescopes, and cameras.   
   
   
       4 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein,
 the filter comprises two lenses, and   the frame is adapted for use in a pair of eyeglasses for providing vision for a human being, the lenses having a focal point in eyeballs of the human being.   
   
   
       5 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein,
 the filter comprises two lenses, the lenses being corrective lenses, and   the frame is adapted for use in a pair of eyeglasses for providing vision for a human being, the lenses having a focal point in eyeballs of the human being.   
   
   
       6 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein,
 the filter comprises two lenses, the outer portion comprises two edge portions for reducing glare from the off-axis image, and   the frame is adapted for use in a pair of eyeglasses for providing vision for a human being, the lenses having a focal point in eyeballs of the human being.   
   
   
       7 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein,
 the optical apparatus is an electronic camera comprising an electronic sensor for generating an electronic image of the off-axis image.   
   
   
       8 . The filter of  claim 2  wherein,
 the outer portion provide nonidentical attenuation having a varying attenuation profile indicating varying amounts of attenuation at points along any radial line extending from the center of the filter and through the outer portion.   
   
   
       9 . The filter of  claim 1  wherein,
 the filter is a circular filter.   
   
   
       10 . The filter of  claim 1  wherein,
 the filter is a circular filter,   the inner portion is a circular portion, and   the outer portion is an annular portion.   
   
   
       11 . The filter of  claim 1  wherein,
 the inner portion is a transparent portion passing the on-axis image with zero attenuation.