Internal Focusing Patents (Class 359/426)
  • Patent number: 11460296
    Abstract: The invention relates to a long range optical device with at least a first visual optical path and a focusing device for focusing the at least first visual optical path. The long range optical device may also include a laser distance meter with a laser transmitter and a laser receiver, wherein a part of an optical path of the laser receiver extends in the at least first visual optical path to the objective lens. A region of the deflection of the optical path of the laser receiver out of the at least first visual optical path may be disposed on at least one optical component. The focusing device may be disposed between the at least one optical component for deflecting of the optical path of the laser receiver and the objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventors: Gavin Lancaster, Konrad A. Roider
  • Publication number: 20150022885
    Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning apparatus, comprising a rotatable spindle, a sliding member, wherein a spindle counter segment of the sliding member is displaced along the spindle when the spindle rotates, a first guide for the sliding member, which interacts with a first guide counter segment of the sliding member and, in the process, leaves the sliding member with a linear mobility along the first guide axis and a pivotability about the first guide axis, and a second guide for the sliding member, which interacts with a second guide counter segment of the sliding member and, in the process, restricts the pivotability of the sliding member about the first guide axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Pascal HUTTER, Benjamin SEIFERT, Josef LAIS
  • Patent number: 8325415
    Abstract: A binocular telescope with internal focusing and two cylindrical barrel tubes, each fastened to a bridge and accommodating an objective lens, a focusing lens, a prism system for image inversion and an eyepiece. The prism system is configured so that the optical axis of the eyepieces is offset relative to the optical axis of the objective lenses. The bridge is provided with two cylindrical apertures in which the barrel tubes are mounted parallel to one another, each rotatable about the optical axis of its objective. Each barrel tube comprises a rotary sleeve, an objective tube and an eyepiece tube. The bridge is one piece and has a small length compared to the barrel tube length. The rotary sleeves are inserted into the apertures and the objective tubes and eyepiece tubes are connected to the rotary sleeves such that they lie rotatable on the upper and lower sides of the bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Minox GmbH Optische und Feinmechanische Werke
    Inventors: Alfred Hengst, Jens Kohlhase
  • Patent number: 8194314
    Abstract: Providing a pair of binoculars that is able to prevent diopter from being changed after adjusting diopter difference by pushing down the focus knob after adjusting diopter difference so as not to touch the operating knob, and able to prevent the focus position from being changed after adjusting focus position by pulling out the focus knob to create a focus lock state after adjusting focus position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Vision Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8054545
    Abstract: A lens hood for a camera lens has a mounting barrel and a holding ring. The mounting barrel is hollow, is movably mounted around the camera lens and has an internal surface, a front end, a rear end, a sliding recess and at least one detent. The sliding recess if formed in the internal surface of the mounting barrel and has two ends. The at least one detent is formed adjacent to, communicating with and deeper than the sliding recess; two detents may be formed respectively at the ends of the sliding recess. The holding ring is resilient, is mounted securely around the cameras lens, is mounted in and presses the sliding recess and is selectively mounted in the at least one detent to allow the holding ring to relax and prolong usage lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventor: Ming-Chung Cheng
  • Patent number: 7706063
    Abstract: An image capturing device with a focusing assembly comprises a case formed by an upper casing and a lower casing; a cover for sealing the lower casing; an lower side of the cover having an opening for capturing images of outside objects; a base installed at a connection between the upper casing and the lower casing; an image sensor installed at a lower side of the base for capturing images through an opening of the front cover; a focus adjusting unit including an object lens, an adjusting wheel, an inner tube and an outer adjusting tube; the outer adjusting tube being located within the lower casing and has a longitudinal retaining groove at an inner side thereof; the inner tube being received in the outer adjusting tube; the inner tube having a helical groove; an outer side of the adjusting wheel having a post for driving the adjusting wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Vast Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Backer Chou
  • Patent number: 7636210
    Abstract: An ocular focus device. An ocular lens tube is movably disposed in an ocular housing and includes a positioning groove. An ocular lens set is disposed in the ocular lens tube. A positioning member is connected to the ocular housing and is disposed in the positioning groove. When the ocular lens tube moves with respect to the ocular housing, the ocular lens set performs a focus operation, and the positioning member moves in the positioning groove, limiting a moving range of the ocular lens tube with respect to the ocular housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Shang-Yung Liang
  • Patent number: 7626760
    Abstract: A rifle scope has a front end receiving light and a rear end passing light to the user eye. The rifle scope has an elevation adjustment; an inside body is hollow and tubular and fitting inside a middle body which is also hollow and tubular shaped and a top angle focus adjustment mounted on the inside body in front of the elevation windage. The top angle focus adjustment has a top angle focus knob, a focus shaft mounted to the focus knob, and a top angle gear mounted to the focus shaft. The top angle focus knob and the focus shaft and the top angle gear are fixed so that they rotate together on an axis of the focus shaft. The inside body focus gear housing has an inside body focus gear meshing with the top angle gear, and the top angle gear rotation rotates the inside body focus gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: John Wu
  • Publication number: 20090052024
    Abstract: A night viewer (10) is adaptable to generate an enhanced image suitable for viewing through an optical scope (16). An input end (18) of the viewer (10) receives the image to be enhanced through an objective lens (20). An image enhancing unit (22) enhances the image. The enhanced image is optically transmitted from a display (28) to the ocular lens (24) of the scope (16). The display (28) is operably connected with the image enhancing unit (22) to display the enhanced image. A Risley prism (30) located in an image path (32) is used to controllably adjust and to maintain boresight alignment (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. SAUTER, Rodney L. DOSTER, Roland M. MORLEY
  • Patent number: 7359114
    Abstract: A night viewer (10) is adaptable to generate an enhanced image suitable for viewing through an optical scope (16). An input end (18) of the viewer (10) receives the image to be enhanced through an objective lens (20). An image enhancing unit (22) enhances the image. The enhanced image is optically transmitted from a display (28) to the ocular lens (24) of the scope (16). The display (28) is operably connected with the image enhancing unit (22) to display the enhanced image. A Risley prism (30) located in an image path (32) is used to controllably adjust and to maintain boresight alignment (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Sauter, Rodney L. Doster, Roland M. Morley
  • Patent number: 7259910
    Abstract: A focal device for a telescope includes an eyepiece tube, a main body, a fixing washer, a direction restricting member, a focus adjusting ring, a focus adjusting tube, an eyepiece, an eyepiece clamping member and a tightening ring. The eyepiece-clamping member is fixed with the eyepiece and with the focus adjusting tube, having male threads at the other end. The focus adjusting tube and the eyepiece have the same axial line and are able to shift axially only for restricted by the direction-restricting member. The focus adjusting ring engages with the focus adjusting tube, having the same axial line as the focus adjusting tube does, limited to rotate at its site for activating the focus adjusting tube to shift axially. All the axial lines of the eyepiece and the telescope overlap with each other, enabling focusing absolutely precise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventor: Paul Kuo
  • Patent number: 7251073
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing a pair of binoculars making it possible to easily perform a focusing operation and a diopter adjustment, and efficiently perform an assembling operation. The present invention provides a pair of binoculars having a pair of supporters for supporting adjustment lenses provided between a pair of ocular optical systems and a pair of objective optical systems so as to be capable of moving forward and backward along the optical axis, a focusing gear for performing a focusing operation by moving said pair of supporters forward or backward at the same time in the direction of optical axis, a diopter adjuster for performing a diopter adjustment by moving one supporter forward or backward in the direction of optical axis as keeping the other supporter stationary, and a focusing and diopter adjusting unit having a changeover gear for changing over the focusing gear and the diopter adjuster to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Kamakura Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Kato, Hiroaki Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 6960749
    Abstract: An automatic focusing mechanism for mounting on a measuring device has a telescope for sighting a leveling rod with pattern marks marked thereon at an equal pitch between each mark, and a photoelectric device for converting an image sighted by the telescope into an electric signal to thereby automatically adjust a focus on the leveling rod. The mechanism is made up of: a stepping motor for moving a focusing lens of the telescope from one end toward an opposite end of a movable range of the focusing lens; a microcomputer for obtaining the pitch of the pattern marks of the leveling rod at that position on the photoelectric device which is capable of obtaining the pitch in a state before the focusing lens is focused on the leveling rod to obtain a distance to the leveling rod based on the pitch obtained by the microcomputer; and fine adjusting mechanism for moving the focusing lens to a position corresponding to the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sokkia Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6891141
    Abstract: A surveying instrument includes a sighting telescope optical system, a distance measuring system which outputs first data, a phase detection autofocus system which and outputs second data, and an AF driver which moves a focusing lens of the sighting telescope optical system to bring the sighting object into focus in accordance with one of the first data and the second data. A surveying instrument is also disclosed, which includes a sighting telescope and an AF drive unit which is provided separately from the sighting telescope, wherein the AF drive unit can be mounted to and dismounted from a body of the surveying instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kaneko, Shinichi Suzuki, Homu Takayama, Tadahisa Hoshino, Takanori Yachi, Masayuki Ueno
  • Publication number: 20040223216
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eiji Shirota
  • Patent number: 6734410
    Abstract: A surveying instrument includes a sighting telescope optical system, a distance measuring system which outputs first data, a phase detection autofocus system which and outputs second data, and an AF driver which moves a focusing lens of the sighting telescope optical system to bring the sighting object into focus in accordance with one of the first data and the second data. A surveying instrument is also disclosed, which includes a sighting telescope and an AF drive unit which is provided separately from the sighting telescope, wherein the AF drive unit can be mounted to and dismounted from a body of the surveying instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Precision Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kaneko, Shinichi Suzuki, Homu Takayama, Tadahisa Hoshino, Takanori Yachi, Masayuki Ueno
  • Patent number: 6580555
    Abstract: An adjustable eyepiece for a viewing device includes a diopter ring with at least one cam follower mounted to the diopter ring and a cam sleeve axially aligned with the diopter ring. The cam sleeve is positioned around a tubular portion of the diopter ring and has at least one cam pathway formed in the cam sleeve. Each cam follower that is mounted to the diopter ring is positioned in a cam pathway such that the cam sleeve may be secured in at least two axial positions relative to the diopter ring. In one embodiment of the invention, three cam pathways are formed in the cam sleeve as L-shaped slots, which may be used in combination with three cam followers to secure the cam sleeve in two axial positions relative to the diopter ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: Nicolas Crista
  • Patent number: 6556283
    Abstract: An electronic distance meter includes a sighting telescope having an objective lens for sighting an object; a reflection member positioned behind the objective lens; an optical distance meter which includes a light-transmitting optical system for transmitting a measuring light via the reflection member and the objective lens, and a light-receiving optical system for receiving light which is reflected by the object, subsequently passed through the objective lens and not interrupted by the reflection member; a beam-diameter varying device, provided in association with the light-transmitting optical system, for varying a beam diameter of the measuring light; and a controller which varies the beam diameter via the beam-diameter varying device in accordance with a distance from the object to the electronic distance meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignees: Pentax Corporation, Pentax Precision Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Shinichi Suzuki, Homu Takayama
  • Publication number: 20030063383
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are disclosed for producing enhanced three dimensional effects. The invention emulates physical processes of focusing wherein objects in the foreground and the background are in varying degrees out-of-focus and represented differently to each of a viewer's eyes. In particular, the invention divides out-of-focus light representations so that different partitions of such a division are viewed by a viewer's right eye as compared to what is viewed by the viewer's left eye, and so that the identical in-focus representation is viewed by both eyes. Thus, the invention interposes novel processing between a determination as to what to render in a synthetically produced three dimensional space and the actual rendering thereof, wherein the novel processing produces stereoscopic views from a two dimensional view by utilizing information about the relation of light sources in the three dimensional space to the in-focus plane in the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventor: Bryan L. Costales
  • Publication number: 20030025993
    Abstract: An adjustable eyepiece for a viewing device includes a diopter ring with at least one cam follower mounted to the diopter ring and a cam sleeve axially aligned with the diopter ring. The cam sleeve is positioned around a tubular portion of the diopter ring and has at least one cam pathway formed in the cam sleeve. Each cam follower that is mounted to the diopter ring is positioned in a cam pathway such that the cam sleeve may be secured in at least two axial positions relative to the diopter ring. In one embodiment of the invention, three cam pathways are formed in the cam sleeve as L-shaped slots, which may be used in combination with three cam followers to secure the cam sleeve in two axial positions relative to the diopter ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventor: Nicolas Crista
  • Publication number: 20030021023
    Abstract: Binoculars includes: a first focal adjustment lens system; a second focal adjustment lens system; a focal adjustment shaft that performs a focal adjustment by causing the first focal adjustment lens system and the second focal adjustment lens system to move along optical axes thereof; and a dioptric deviation adjustment shaft that performs a dioptric deviation adjustment by causing the first focal adjustment lens system to move along the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20030002149
    Abstract: This invention provides a pair of range binoculars that, when the pupil distance is adjusted, is free from a deviation of the optical axes and undesirable influences on the electronic parts resulting from vibration caused by the adjustment, is capable to show the measured distance in such a way as the user can see it easily without making the system complicated, and secures the brightness of the visual field where the measured distance is displayed. The range binoculars are characterized in that a main case and an attached case contain a pair of left and right observation optical systems and the pupil distance is adjusted by turning only the attached case, and that the main case accommodates laser range-finding means, and measured distance displaying means comprising LCD means for displaying a distance measured by said laser range-finding means and a displaying optical system for projecting the distance displayed by said LCD means on the reticle so that the distance is shown at a rim of the visual field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Naomi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6266911
    Abstract: An autofocusing apparatus of a telescope, includes: a telescopic optical system which includes a focusing lens group guided along an optical axis; a focus detector which detects a focus state of the telescopic optical system; a lens driver which drives the focusing lens group along the optical axis; an AF switch which is manually operated; and a controller which performs a first AF operation to control the lens driver to move the focusing lens group to an in-focus position on the optical axis in accordance with a result of detection of the focus detector each time the AF switch is operated; wherein the controller performs a second AF operation when the AF switch is operated more than once within a predetermined period of time, after the first AF operation is performed, the second AF operation including the movement of the focusing lens group by the lens driver to move the focusing lens group until the focusing lens group is moved to a second in-focus position other than the in-focus position, upon a later ope
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6108129
    Abstract: A secondary focuser which facilitates minute and measured incremental changes of the focal length within a limited travel distance is disclosed. The secondary focuser is used to micro focus telescopes for astro photography. A method of constructing the micro focuser comprises the following steps: constructing a housing having an open central axis therethrough; slidably disposing a travelling inner sleeve within the housing; and, mounting and arranging a micrometer head on the housing. When the micrometer head is turned the inner sleeve travels within the housing finely adjusting an axial length therethrough. In a preferred aspect of the invention the micrometer head is configured to turn about an axis generally perpendicular to the central axis through the housing, pivoting a rocker arm so that when one end portion of the rocker arm is moved in a radial direction, the other end moves in a direction generally parallel to the central axis, thereby longitudinally shifting the travelling sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Paul B. Van Slyke
  • Patent number: 6057960
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an infrared Kepler telescope which includes an objective defining an optical axis and including a positive front group and a negative rear group all arranged on the optical axis. The objective further includes an interchangeable optic interposed between the positive front group and the negative rear group with the interchangeable optic being configured to operate as a magnification changer. An ocular is mounted on the optical axis rearward of the negative rear group and the rear group and the ocular are fixedly pregiven. The positive front group is a first positive front group and is exchangeable with at least a second positive front group. The interchangeable optic is a first interchangeable optic and is exchangeable with at least a second interchangeable optic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventor: Wilhelm Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6014253
    Abstract: A binocular includes two telescope systems. Each telescope system includes an objective system, an erecting system, and an eyepiece system. The binocular also includes a focus adjusting actuator and a focus adjusting knob, as well as a diopter correction actuator and a diopter correction knob. A guide member guides the focus adjusting actuator and the diopter correction actuator to be aligned along an optical axis of one of the telescope systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Gouji Funatsu
  • Patent number: 5923468
    Abstract: A surveying instrument is provided having a sighting telescope and a distance measuring device. The sighting telescope has a focusing lens group which is moveable to focus an object to be measured. The distance measuring device measures a distance between the object and the surveying instrument. A focusing operation of the sighting telescope is carried out to move the focusing lens group to a focal position of the object in accordance with the distance between the object and the surveying instrument measured by the distance measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Tsuda, Shinichi Suzuki, Ryota Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5886815
    Abstract: Binoculars equipped with focus adjustment nut 53 to which left object lens holder 42 of the left optical system is linked, dioptric adjustment nut 61 to which right object lens holder 41 is linked and which is attached such that it may move relative to focus adjustment nut 53, and focus adjustment dial 51 and dioptric adjustment dial 63 to move said nuts, respectively. When dioptric adjustment dial 63 is operated, dioptric adjustment nut 61 moves along the optical axis, together with which movement right object lens holder 41 linked to dioptric adjustment nut 61 moves, whereby dioptric adjustment is carried out. Focus adjustment dial 51 is located on either the top or bottom surface of the binoculars, and dioptric adjustment dial 63 is located on the other surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Nishitani
  • Patent number: 5877892
    Abstract: An automatic focus detecting telescope which offers easy maintenance and which, when applied to a surveying instrument such as an auto-level, provides easy detachment and attachment of an optical horizontal compensation system. Even if the optical horizontal compensation system is detached, no readjustments are required for the automatic focusing apparatus and the eyepiece optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignees: Asahi Seimitsu Kabushiki Kaisha, Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Nakamura, Shinichi Suzuki, Takayuki Sensui, Takayuki Ito, Hirofumi Matsuo, deceased, Tatsuo Gotoh, Yasuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5838492
    Abstract: An optical system which is telecentric to an image, having an objective optical system for forming a model image based on rays from the model magnified by a predetermined ratio to an actual object. An eyepiece lens is included for observing the model image formed through the objective optical system. The distance between the objective optical system and the eyepiece lens is varied so that a visual impression obtained by observing the model image through the eyepiece lens becomes substantially equal to a visual impression obtained by observing the actual object directly with the eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Katsunuma, Kazuaki Sato
  • Patent number: 5796517
    Abstract: An inner focus type telescope includes a sighting objective lens, a focusing lens, a horizon compensating optical system, a focal plane, and an eyepiece through which an object image formed on the focal plane can be viewed, arranged in this order from the object side. The position of the focusing lens is adjustable to form the object image on the focal plane in accordance with the distance of an object to be viewed. The telescope further includes a beam splitting optical system provided in the optical path between the objective lens and the focal plane to split the optical path, a surface equivalent to the focal plane, provided in the beam splitting optical system, and a focus detecting system which detects the state of the focus at the equivalent surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignees: Asahi Seimitsu Kabushiki Kaisha, Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Sensui, Takayuki Ito, Hirofumi Matsuo, Satoru Nakamura, Tatsuo Goto, Yasuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5572361
    Abstract: In a telescope, the adjustment order is limited so that dioptric power adjustment is made after adjustment of a distance between a pair of optical systems is completed. A pupil distance and a dioptric power correction amount are stored in a memory for every user. When a user uses the telescope, his or her pupil distance and dioptric power correction amount are read out from the memory to automatically make adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Kamiya, Katsuhito Akagi, Yukio Maekawa, Kazuo Kimura, Yoshiharu Ohta, Haruyuki Nagano, Ichiro Yoshiyama, Masataka Hamada, Kohtaro Hayashi, Keiji Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5329347
    Abstract: There is provided a multifunction coaxial objective system (16) for a laser rangefinder (10). The transmitter, receiver, and viewing optical systems have a common, coaxial optical axis (48). The multifunction coaxial objective system (16) includes lenses (28), (30) and mirror (32) each having a central obscuration therein. The multifunction coaxial objective system (16) further includes a lens (34) having a dichroic coating on one surface (50). The dichroic coated lens (34) transmits visible and near infrared light and reflects light of the wavelength transmitted by a laser emitter (18). The viewing optical system includes a pair of focusing wedges (42), (44) for adjusting the focus of the viewing optical system. Each focusing wedge (42), (44) is a wedge-shaped optical flat. The pair of focusing wedges (42), (44) are disposed against one another along a plane inclined with respect to the coaxial optical axis (48) of the multifunction coaxial objective system (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Varo Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Wallace, Wayne E. Isbell
  • Patent number: 5311354
    Abstract: In a telescope according to the present invention, defocus amount of an optical system constituting the telescope is calculated; whether or not the defocus amount is within a predetermined in-focus range obtained from a focal point adjusting ability of human eye is discriminated; and when the defocus amount exceeds the in-focus range as a result of the above discrimination, the optical system is driven. The optical system is driven in a shorter time than a time required for removing a defocus by human eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Kamiya, Haruyuki Nagano, Katsuhito Akagi, Masatoshi Yoneyama, Yoshiharu Ohta