Compound Lens System Patents (Class 359/362)
  • Publication number: 20070270062
    Abstract: A process for applying under pressure a coated or uncoated film onto a main surface of a lens substrate using a heat activable adhesive layer formed between a face of the coated or uncoated film and the main surface of the lens substrate, said process comprising a heating step to achieve adhesion of the coated or uncoated film to the lens substrate main surface which comprises applying a microwave energy to a microwave heatable material situated in the vicinity of the heat activable adhesive layer so that the heat activable adhesive layer is only heated by conduction of the heat generated by the microwave heatable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventor: Steven Weber
  • Patent number: 7268956
    Abstract: A dual viewpoint solid catadioptric lens has a first spherical refractive surface S1 having a center C1 located on an optical axis of the lens and having a radius r1, and a second spherical refractive surface S2 having a center C2 located on the optical axis of the lens and having a radius r2<r1. The lens also has a first ellipsoidal reflective surface E1 with foci F1 and F1? on the optical axis of the lens, and a second ellipsoidal partially reflective surface E2 having foci F2 and F2? on the optical axis of the lens. Focus F1 coincides with C1, focus F2 conincides with C2, and focus F1? coincides with F2?. The points C1 and C2 provide dual viewpoints for the lens, which may be used in a variety of imaging applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Electronic Scripting Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Mandella
  • Patent number: 7261420
    Abstract: A projection optical unit for enlarged projection of an image displayed by an image display element includes a first projection optical unit having positive refractive power, and a second projection optical unit having positive refractive power for further enlarging the first enlarged image obtained by the first projection optical unit. The first projection optical unit is in an almost telecentric relationship with respect to the image display element side and the first enlarged image side, and the first enlarged image is formed at the image display element side, rather than at the second projection optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Yatsu, Koji Hirata, Hidehiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7259918
    Abstract: A projection device includes an image source unit, a first projecting optical system, an intermediate optical system, and a second projecting optical system. The image displaying area of the image source unit is tilted with respect to a first virtual plane, and an intermediate image is tilted with respect at least the first virtual plane. A following relationship is satisfied: - 1 > tan ? ? ?2 tan ? ? ?1 > f ? ? 1 H 2 ? sin ? ? ?1 where, f1 denotes a focal length of the first projecting optical system, ?1 denotes a tilt angle of the image display surface of the image source unit with respect to the first virtual plane, H represents a length of the image source unit which corresponds to the image projected on the screen in the vertical direction, and ?2 denotes a tilt angle of the intermediate image with respect to the first imaginary surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei Matsuoka, Ken Agatsuma
  • Publication number: 20070183026
    Abstract: An adjustable lens device includes a fixing seat, an adjusting seat sleeved on the fixing seat, and first and second lens modules mounted to the fixing seat. The fixing seat is formed with a plurality of positioning projections, and a plurality of guide slots that extend parallel to an axis. The adjusting seat is formed with an annular groove for movably receiving the positioning projections, and a plurality of driving slots that extend spirally and that correspond to the guide slots. Guide components on the second lens module pass through the guide slots and the driving slots. By virtue of the guide slots, the driving slots and the guide components, rotation of the adjusting seat relative to the fixing seat can move the second lens module for zoom adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventor: Ming-Hsin Chang
  • Publication number: 20070165301
    Abstract: A variable focal length lens (12) includes a central transparent elastic portion (120) having a first wall (1200) and a second wall (1202) intersecting an optical axis and a peripheral portion (122) surrounding the body. The first wall and the second wall joined with the periphery form a container (124). The container is filled with magnetic fluid (126).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: GA-LANE CHEN
  • Patent number: 7245438
    Abstract: A system and method for inspection is disclosed. The design generally employs as many as four design principles, including employing at least one lens from a relatively low dispersion glass, at least one additional lens from an additional material different from the relatively low dispersion glass, generally matching the relatively low dispersion properties of the relatively low dispersion glass. The design also may include at least one further lens from a further material different from and exhibiting a significantly different dispersion power from the relatively low dispersion glass and the additional material. Finally, the design may include lenses positioned to insert a significant amount of color within the objective, a gap, and additional lenses, the gap and additional lenses serving to cancel the color inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Ho Chuang, David R. Shafer, J. Joseph Armstrong
  • Patent number: 7230756
    Abstract: Optical systems for endoscopes, borescopes, dental scopes, and the like which are characterized by having three groups of lenses of positive optical power and an external entrance pupil. Typically, all three groups of lenses are displaced from the pupil and focal planes. As a consequence, the displaced groups take part in the image transfer as well as in the pupil transfer. The optical power requirements can thus be shifted from one group to another, distributing as well as reducing the overall power requirement. Moreover, the aberration correction can also be shared between these groups. The first group, which conventionally has the highest optical power, and consequently a large amount of aberrations to be corrected, can in this way transfer some of the optical aberration correction to the other groups. The sharing of the optical functions and aberration correction results in a fully integrated optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Integrated Endoscopy, Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Hoogland
  • Patent number: 7220064
    Abstract: A coupling optical system for coupling light into an optical fiber of an optical communications system includes a liquid that includes a dispersion of microscopic particles and two transparent media that hold the liquid between them along an optical axis. The refractive power of the liquid is variable according to the electromagnetic field applied to the liquid to vary the migration of the microscopic particles of the dispersion within the liquid. The position of a light collecting point of the coupling optical system is adjustable based on the variation in the refractive power of the liquid so that light can be efficiently coupled into optical fibers at different distances along the optical axis from the coupling optical system. At the light collecting point, the end surface of an optical fiber collects light from a light source or another optical fiber. One or more collimator lenses may help converge the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Mori, Yu Kitahara, Makoto Oomura, Yoko Yamamoto, Toshiaki Katsuma
  • Patent number: 7221522
    Abstract: A optical system for a viewing instrument with a variable direction of view is disclosed generally comprising shaft, first and second reflectors located at the distal end of the shaft, where the first reflector rotates about an axis angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and an entrance pupil positioned in the optical path created by the reflectors and preceding the reflecting surface of the second reflector. In certain embodiments, the entrance pupil comprises an aperture stop positioned between the first and second reflectors. In some embodiments, the system includes negative and positive lenses located adjacent the entrance and exit faces of the first reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Karl Storz Development Corp.
    Inventors: John C. Tesar, Eric L. Hale, Nathan Jon Schara, Hans David Hoeg
  • Patent number: 7209293
    Abstract: An optical imaging system, for example, for a surgical microscope (100) has a beam deflecting unit in order to cast light rays out of an object region (112) into an image plane (104) with an optical beam path. An optical phase plate (107) is mounted in the optical beam path. In the optical imaging system, a unit for generating a geometric image of the image plane is provided, for example, an ocular unit (105). The optical phase plate (107) is arranged on the end of the objective lens (101) facing away from the object or is arranged in a region of the optical imaging system in which the beam path is parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gaida, Hans-Joachim Miesner
  • Patent number: 7209286
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a projection exposure apparatus includes an illuminating system to illuminate a drivable micromirror array and an objective which projects the drivable micromirror array onto the photosensitive substrate. The objective includes mirrors which are arranged coaxial with respect to a common optical axis. The objective can be a catoptric objective and can have a numerical aperture at the substrate greater than 0.1 and can have an imaging scale ratio of greater than 20:1. The objective can also include at least two partial objectives with an intermediate image plane between the at least two partial objectives and can consist of mirrors that are coated with reflecting layers which are adapted to reflect two mutually separated operating wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT AG
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Mann, Wilhelm Ulrich
  • Patent number: 7072124
    Abstract: A magnification loupe carried by spectacles has a Galilean lens system comprising a single-element eyepiece lens and a two-element objective lens. The loupes may be mounted to eyeglass frames by a flip-up mounting member, or they may be mounted through the eyeglass lenses of the spectacles. The loupes provide high magnification while minimizing weight to thereby reduce strain and discomfort to users. In an exemplary embodiment, the objective lens has a non-circular shape that provides a wide field of view while further minimizing the weight of the loupe. A correction lens may be interchangeably coupled to the loupe housing to permit selective replacement with another correction lens to vary the working distance of the loupe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Kerr Corporation
    Inventors: Brian L. Wilt, Patrick J. Shipley, Jeffrey M. Hoffman, Jasmin Côté
  • Patent number: 7061684
    Abstract: An observation optical system of the present invention comprises an image erect optical system and an eyepiece optical system for observing an object image. The eyepiece optical system comprises a positive single lens having double convex surfaces and a negative meniscus lens having a concave surface directed toward eye point side, and the following condition is satisfied: 0<S<0.3 0.05<d1/f<0.15 where S=(r1?r2)/(r1+r2), r1 is a curvature radius of the object image side surface of the negative meniscus lens, r2 is a curvature radius of the eye point side surface of the negative meniscus lens, d1 is a distance of air space between the positive single lens and the negative meniscus lens, which represents a distance of air space when diopter of the observation optical system is adjusted to be ?0.8 (m?1) if the air space is changed, and f is a focal length of the eyepiece optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Shirota
  • Patent number: 7002741
    Abstract: The invention relates to an image transmission system for endoscopes and similar viewing tubes with at least one rod lens and at least one additional lens system. In order to produce an image transmission system of simple and economical construction, it is proposed in accordance with the invention that the minimum of one rod lens should be constructed as a plano-convex lens whose length corresponds to the curvature radius of its convex terminal surface. In addition, the invention relates to a process for producing a rod lens for an image transmission system as well as an endoscope equipped with such an image transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: KarlStorz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Fang Lei
  • Patent number: 6891668
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens frame for supporting a photographing lens group, the lens frame including a guide bore which extends in a direction parallel to the optical axis; a support barrel, wherein the lens frame can be inserted into and removed from a front opening of the support barrel; a rod receiving portion formed inside the support barrel; a bracket detachably attached to a front end of the support barrel; and a guide rod provided on the bracket for guiding the lens frame to move relative to the support barrel in the optical axis direction, the guide rod engaging with the rod receiving portion when the bracket is attached to the support barrel. The lens group frame can be taken out of the support barrel through the front opening when the bracket having the guide rods is removed from the support barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Takamitsu Sasaki, Kazunori Ishizuka, Maiko Takashima
  • Patent number: 6867916
    Abstract: A compact magnification-varying viewfinder optical system includes an objective lens unit for forming a primary image, the objective lens unit having at least one curved reflection surface arranged to reflect a light flux and a lens surface, and an eyepiece lens unit for observing the primary image, wherein an optical power is imparted to the curved reflection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Koyama, Yasunori Murata
  • Patent number: 6861641
    Abstract: An optical subassembly includes a high speed ceramic substrate having cavity containing an array of photodetectors, and a glass or silicon window for covering the cavity and forming a hermetic seal. A retainer is attached to the window for direct or indirect attachment to a fiber. The hermetic seal protects the device from moisture and other environmental conditions. The window has an index of refraction higher than air that effectively increases the optical pathlength sufficient while maintaining an acceptable coupling efficiency between the optoelectronic device and a fiber. This provides increased spacing within which to place and interconnect components within the cavity on the substrate. In alternate embodiments, the window is decoupled from direct contact with the retainer via a metal frame or ring. Decoupling the window from direct contact with the retainer helps prevent cracking of the window due to mismatches in the coefficients of thermal expansion between the window and the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Optical Communication Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Rich Adams
  • Patent number: 6842280
    Abstract: An optical element comprising an object-side imaging element for imaging an object on an intermediate image plane in an optical path before a final image plane and an image-side imaging element for reimaging an object image formed on the intermediate image plane, on the final image plane, wherein at least one of the object-side imaging element and the image-side imaging element comprises an off-axial curved surface, and wherein aberration is generated by both of the object-side imaging element and the image-side imaging element, thereby flattening (disturbance of) a light intensity distribution caused on the final image plane by a noise source at or near the intermediate image plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Araki, Tsunefumi Tanaka, Makoto Sekita, Kenichi Kimura, Takeshi Akiyama, Toshihiro Sunaga
  • Publication number: 20040263954
    Abstract: A magnification loupe carried by spectacles has a Galilean lens system comprising a single-element eyepiece lens and a two-element objective lens. The loupes may be mounted to eyeglass frames by a flip-up mounting member, or they may be mounted through the eyeglass lenses of the spectacles. The loupes provide high magnification while minimizing weight to thereby reduce strain and discomfort to users. In an exemplary embodiment, the objective lens has a non-circular shape that provides a wide field of view while further minimizing the weight of the loupe. A correction lens may be interchangeably coupled to the loupe housing to permit selective replacement with another correction lens to vary the working distance of the loupe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: Kerr Corporation
    Inventors: Brian L. Wilt, Patrick J. Shipley, Jeffrey M. Hoffman, Jasmin Cote
  • Publication number: 20040257644
    Abstract: A projection zoom lens comprises a first lens group having a negative refracting power and including a single meniscus lens having an aspherical surface facing an object surface, a second lens group having positive refracting power and including a single second-group lens, a third lens group having negative refracting power and including a compound lens, a fourth lens group including a single fourth-group lens, and a fifth lens group having positive refracting power and including a single fifth-group lens. The fifth lens group is kept stationary, and the first, the second, the third and the fourth lens group are shifted on the optical axis toward the screen to increase the magnification of the projection zoom lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Nishida
  • Patent number: 6814901
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microlens array comprising forming microlenses by dropping or injecting to a plurality of through holes formed on a substrate a liquefied lens material so as to dispose the lens material at each of the through holes, the lens material being curable and has a predetermined transmittivity and a predetermined viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuki Itoh
  • Patent number: 6801688
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a compact and stable fiber optic collimator that takes light from one or more optical fibers and generates one or more beams of collimated light at an increased specified diameter. The collimator is configured for easy assembly and for simple and precise adjustment. In one embodiment, a fiber optic collimator comprises a shuttle plug including a cavity for receiving an optical fiber having an optical fiber tip to emit a light through the shuttle plug. A collimator body has a collimator bore to receive the shuttle plug and constrain the shuttle plug in the collimator bore to be movable in an axial direction along an axis of the collimator bore. A collimating lens is mounted to the collimator body and disposed generally opposite from the optical fiber tip to receive a light beam from the optical fiber tip expanding in size toward the collimating lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Stubbs, Raymond M. Bell, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040179261
    Abstract: The vision assisting apparatus of the present invention includes a casing for forming an inversely U-shaped optical path, a light entry, provided at one end of the optical path, through which light enters, a light exit, provided at another end of the optical path, through which light exits in an opposite direction to the light entry, an optical system for processing an image entered via the light entry by using the optical pass and outputting a processed image via the light exit, and means for attaching the casing to a wearer so that the light exit is positioned close to an eye of the wearer. By forming the inversely U-shaped optical path with the casing, it is possible to provide a sufficiently long optical path in a compact form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Hideo Hara, Kazunaga Shimizu, Fumiaki Koizumi, Yasuhiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 6788454
    Abstract: A viewing apparatus with a photographing function, includes a viewing optical system by which an image of an object, formed by a positive objective optical system, is viewed though a positive eyepiece optical system, and a photographing optical system which is provided independently from the viewing optical system. The photographing optical system covers substantially the same field of view as that of the viewing optical system. The viewing apparatus satisfies the following condition: 0.1<ft/fo<0.7  (1) wherein ft designates the focal length of the photographing optical system, and fo designates the focal length of the objective optical system of the viewing optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Abe
  • Patent number: 6744557
    Abstract: A compound lens arrangement for use in an array of such lens arrangements comprising at least two lens elements including a front lens element having a front lens surface which is the largest diameter lens surface in the compound lens arrangement, wherein the exit pupil of the compound lens is bounded by and lies in the plane of the edge of said front lens surface. This enables the compound lens arrangements in an array to abut. The invention particularly relates to compound lens arrangements for use in projectors which projectors are used in an array in an autostereo projection system and allows adjacent projectors to abut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventor: Cheng-Huan Chen
  • Publication number: 20040070821
    Abstract: A critical dimension measuring instrument includes a light source, a beam-shaping optical system, a condenser having a condenser pupil, a first microlens array arrangement, a first auxiliary optical element having positive refractive power, a second auxiliary optical element having positive refractive power, and a second microlens array arrangement. The first microlens array arrangement, the first auxiliary optical element, the second auxiliary optical element and the second microlens array arrangement are arranged in successive fashion between the beam-shaping optical system and the condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Cemic, Lambert Danner
  • Publication number: 20040061931
    Abstract: In a night vision arrangement for a motor vehicle a camera (1) is provided which captures an image which is subsequently displayed on a display arrangement (3) which may be a head-up display arrangement. The camera (1) has a lens (4) which is aligned with a beam deflector (6) which may be constituted by a mirror (7) which deflects the beam so that is passes along a neck (8) on to a sensor (11). The camera may relatively easily be mounted in position in a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Jan-Erik Kallhammer, Dick Eriksson, Lars Karlsson, Staffan Straat
  • Patent number: 6704142
    Abstract: A housing for a magnification loupe is provided having a body portion for an eyepiece lens and a nose portion for an objective lens. The body portion for the eyepiece lens includes outer circumferential threads over which the objective nose portion fits. The objective nose portion includes a pin slot defining an arc across the body of the nose. The arc is configured such that a pin may be secured through the holes in the nose piece to co-act with the threads of the eyepiece body such that radial movement is prohibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Kerr Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Howard Caplan, Richard Alfred Buchroeder, Frederick Nicholas Bushroe, Anthony Ralph Ford
  • Publication number: 20040017605
    Abstract: A telephoto lens includes, in order from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive refracting power, a second lens unit having a negative refracting power, a third lens unit having a positive refracting power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative refracting power. The second lens unit has a cemented lens composed of a positive lens and a negative lens, and a negative lens. The fourth lens unit has a cemented lens composed of a negative lens and a positive lens, and a negative lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kasahara, Masahiro Imamura
  • Publication number: 20040008408
    Abstract: A relay lens is provided in an illumination system for use in microlithography. The relay lens can be used to uniformly illuminate a field at a reticle by telecentric light beams with variable aperture size. The relay lens can include first, second, and third lens groups. At least one of the second and third lens groups can include a single lens. This can reduce costs and increase transmission by requiring less CaF2 because fewer optical elements are used compared to prior systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Lev Ryzhikov, Stanislav Smirnov
  • Publication number: 20040008407
    Abstract: A method for designing a lens system that allows one design tolerance to be relaxed to enhance other lens characteristics where the aberration(s) resulting from the relaxed design tolerance can be corrected by image processing subsequent to the acquisition of the raw image containing the aberration(s). In addition, wide-angle and/or catadioptric lenses so designed can be used with cameras or other image sensors. Further, the raw image can be corrected by an image correction processor within or external to a camera system, comprised of specialized circuitry and/or an appropriately configured general-purpose computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Be Here Corporation
    Inventors: Edward P. Wallerstein, John L. W. Furlan, Edward C. Driscoll, Robert G. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20040001250
    Abstract: There is disclosed a data presentation apparatus including: a data laying table on which data such as a written/drawn draft and solid material are to be laid; an aspheric reflection mirror, disposed above the vicinity of a side part of the data laying table, for obliquely taking an image light of the data laid on the data laying table and reflecting the image light of the data; an image forming optical system which cooperates with the aspheric reflection mirror to form the image light of the data reflected by the aspheric reflection mirror into an image; and an image pickup element for receiving the image light of the data formed into the image by the image forming optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Tatsuru Kobayashi, Keiichi Maeno, Manabu Kobayashi, Yoshinori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6667796
    Abstract: A pattern of a reticle is irradiated with excimer laser light to expose an image of the pattern of the reticle onto a wafer through a projection optical system. Driving elements for driving optical elements in the projection optical system and a transfer mechanism for transferring a pupil filter into the projection optical system are covered by covers to isolate the inside of the projection optical system from its outside. During exposure, helium gas is supplied to the inside of the projection optical system with a purity and a temperature of the helium gas being continuously monitored and the purity and the temperature of the helium gas in the projection optical system being maintained within a predetermined tolerance range based upon the monitored results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Nishi
  • Publication number: 20030197931
    Abstract: A viewing apparatus in which an object image formed by an objective lens system is viewed through an eyepiece system includes a beam splitter which is located closer to an object than a focal plane of the objective lens system in a light path of the objective lens system, a negative lens provided in an optical path of light split by the beam splitter, and a photographing optical system attachment/detachment portion provided on a light emission side of the negative lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Yano
  • Publication number: 20030197911
    Abstract: An optical scanner that may assemble the lens design for varying the focus and resolution, having a light source, a reflection compound mirror, a charge coupled device, a basic objective lens and a compound lens. The basic objective lens is designed by simulation software. According to the lens design theory, the compound lens is designed. By incorporating the basic objective lens and the compound lens, different resolutions such as 1200 dpi, 1600 dpi and 2400 dpi of the optical scanner are obtained without redesigning the lens device, the current specification of the optical scanner is also varied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: Chih-Wen Huang
  • Publication number: 20030180563
    Abstract: When a light beam is incident on a diffraction optical element at a large incidence angle, the light beam is shaded to generate flare or ghost, thereby increasing chromatic aberration. To solve this, polyvinylcarbazole is used as an optical element material to form a diffraction optical element in a mold by means of heat molding, solvent evaporation, thermal polymerization, photopolymerization, and the like. In particular, for the thermal polymerization and the photopolymerization, N-vinylcarbazole, i.e., fluid monomer, is supplied into a mold and is then polymerized. Even if the diffractive structure is complicated and fine, it can be easily shaped. An optical material to be used comprises polyvinylcarbazole added with a thermal initiator, a photoinitiator, a compound having two or more unsaturated ethylene groups with a photoinitiator, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Ukuda, Masanobu Ohgane
  • Publication number: 20030179448
    Abstract: A remote imaging apparatus such as a borescope or endoscope. The apparatus has an image relay means (4) for relaying an image along the main axis (3) from the distal end of the scope and an annular light pipe (1) for transmitting light to the distal end of the scope to illuminate the object to be viewed. At least the inner or outer surface of annular light pipe (1) is surrounded by air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Andrew Ramsbottom
  • Publication number: 20030174395
    Abstract: The relay optical system comprises, in order from the intermediate image position I toward the the exit pupil EXP side, a first unit G1 having a negative refracting power and a second unit G2 having a positive refracting power, wherein the distance from the rearmost surface of the second unit to the exit pupil position is at least 30 mm. The relay optical system allows a photographing apparatus to be mounted on a microscope without the microscope and the photographing apparatus excluding each other from their predetermined positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Atsushi Yonetani, Yasushi Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20030137727
    Abstract: An optical magnification device for varying the distance between an observer's eye (1) and an object (7), e.g., for a binocular magnifier or a microscope, in which focusing onto the object (7) is accomplished by means of progressive and/or multifocal lenses (3) displaceable perpendicular to the observation beam(s) (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Publication number: 20030107801
    Abstract: An image-erecting viewing optical system includes a first prism having an incident surface and at least two reflection surfaces, a front lens group of an objective optical system, a second prism having an incident surface and at least two reflection surfaces, a-rear lens group of the objective optical system, a field stop, and an eyepiece optical system, in this order from the object. One reflection surface of the first or second prism includes a roof-mirror surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Ishii, Satoru Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20030086164
    Abstract: A viewing apparatus with a photographing function, includes a viewing optical system by which an image of an object, formed by a positive objective optical system, is viewed though a positive eyepiece optical system, and a photographing optical system which is provided independently from the viewing optical system. The photographing optical system covers substantially the same field of view as that of the viewing optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Abe
  • Patent number: 6560013
    Abstract: An endoscope includes an optical train or image-to-video conversion device, defining a longitudinal axis, for receiving an image for transmission to a viewing device. A first prism having a reflective surface at 45° to the longitudinal axis and laterally offset from is mounted for rotation about an axis that is perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal axis and the axis intersecting the center of the reflective surface. A second prism with a reflective surface at 45° to and intersecting the longitudinal axis is also provided. The field of view is illuminated by light transmitted to a third prism with a reflective surface mounted symmetrically about the longitudinal axis with respect to the first reflector and rotatable synchronously with the first reflector. In this way, the direction of view and of illumination can an be varied synchronously over a range of about 120°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Keymed (Medical & Industrial Equipment) Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Paul Ramsbottom
  • Publication number: 20030076584
    Abstract: In an imaging lens made of three lens sheets, the second and third lenses from the object side are shaped substantially similar to each other, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost while improving resolution. The first lens L1 is a biconcave lens having a surface with a stronger curvature directed onto the object side. Each of the second lens L2 and third lens L3 is a biconvex lens having a surface with a stronger curvature directed onto the imaging surface side, while the second lens L2 and third lens L3 have the same form. As the second lens L2 and third lens L3 have the same form, the cost of manufacturing the imaging lens can be reduced, though being constituted by three sheets of lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akiko Nagahara
  • Patent number: 6545802
    Abstract: Optical systems for endoscopes, borescopes, dental scopes, and the like which are characterized by having three groups of lenses of positive optical power and an external entrance pupil. Typically, all three groups of lenses are displaced from the pupil and focal planes. As a consequence, the displaced groups take part in the image transfer as well as in the pupil transfer. The optical power requirements can thus be shifted from one group to another, distributing as well as reducing the overall power requirement. Moreover, the aberration correction can also be shared between these groups. The first group, which conventionally has the highest optical power, and consequently a large amount of aberrations to be corrected, can in this way transfer some of the optical aberration correction to the other groups. The sharing of the optical functions and aberration correction results in a fully integrated optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Jan Hoogland
  • Patent number: 6542179
    Abstract: A film scanner illuminant system with a light integrator module for creating an homogenous light illuminant from a light source. Temporal variations in light beam profiles from the light source which introduce low level temporal variations in the spatial homogeneity of light from the integrator are reduced below level of perceptibility by use of a light shaping diffuser to diffuse the beam of input light at the light input port of the light integrator. Preferably asymmetric light diffusers are used although some additional advantage is obtainable by use of spherical diffusers. The diffuser may be used with a variety of known light integrator configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew F. Kurtz, Allen D. Bellinger, Gregory O. Moberg
  • Publication number: 20030059616
    Abstract: A method for optically coupling a thermoplastic material to an outer surface layer of an organic, dielectric, optical film and the resulting optical filter. Initially, a dielectric film is selected that includes (i) repeating optical layers of at least two polymers having different refractive indexes from each other, (ii) an exterior film surface, (iii) a refractive boundary along the exterior film surface, and (iv) a delamination threshold based on total thermal energy delivered to the film. A thermoplastic material which is miscible with the exterior film surface is fused to the refractive boundary with thermal energy below the delamination threshold to form a polydisperse region having a higher optical transmission than the refractive boundary. Add-on filters in the form of hardcoat layers, anti-reflection layers, holograms, metal dielectric stacks and combinations of these may be combined with the thermoplastic-film construct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Scott M. Hartley, Robert A. Sallavanti
  • Patent number: 6538811
    Abstract: An optical device (10) is disclosed which is mountable to a scope (S) having an objective lens OL and an eyepiece EP. The optical device (10) has a light intensifying module (11), an eyepiece (12), an objective lens unit (14), and an elastic, tubular collar (21). The collar (21) has a first end (22) adapted to be stretchably coupled with the scope eyepiece and second end (23) adapted to be stretchably coupled to the optical device objective lens unit (14) to provide air tight seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventor: Herbert Franklin Meier
  • Publication number: 20030048531
    Abstract: An optical system is capable of enhancing vision of low vision individuals using a simple adjustment mechanism that requires a minimum length of travel to effect a desired adjustment. First and second substantially perpendicular mirrors are mounted in a cluster for pivotable movement. An entrance mirror is pivoted in response to pivoting movement of the mirror cluster so as to ensure proper convergence when the object to be viewed is close to the objective lens or lenses in a binocular system. The system also includes an objective lens and an eyepiece lens and is readily mounted to a conventional eyeglasses frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: Ocutech, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis S. Luecke, Jaroslaw Pekar, Henry A. Greene
  • Patent number: RE39643
    Abstract: A wide FOV imaging system (10) includes an objective lens (14), a convergent reflective element (18) positioned proximate an intermediate image (16) formed by the objective lens, and a re-imaging lens (20) for re-imaging the intermediate image. The present invention significantly improves image fidelity while minimizing optical components by utilizing a convergent reflective element proximate the intermediate image to reverse the propagation of aberrations produced by the objective lens (14) to, as a result, significantly cancel or reduce the aberrations contributed by the re-imaging lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventor: Shawn L. Kelly