Optical apparatus for use in image recognition

Claim 1

An image recognition apparatus comprising: a support for holding an inspection object, the object having a reference line, an image pickup unit, spaced from the support, for detecting an image of the inspection object, means for analyzing said image to derive information about the object, the analyzing means being connected to the image pickup unit, and means for alternating different image portions of the object, the alternating means being arranged in an optical path between the support and the image pickup unit, the alternating means including a quadratic prism having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the support and aligned with and parallel to the reference line, the quadratic prism having two incident surfaces directed toward the support for allowing separate entry of two different image portions of the inspection object, the two different image portions originating from opposite sides of the reference line, the quadratic prism further having two exit surfaces directed away from the support for allowing exit of the two different image portions which have been positionally alternated with each other within the quadratic prism, the quadratic prism comprising means for alternating both of said image portions with respect to the reference line, wherein the image pickup unit comprises means for detecting a composite image which comprises said two image portions which have been positionally alternated with respect to the reference line.