Miniature microscope objective lens

• US 20040051957A1
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DMetrix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DMetrix, Inc.
• Inventors: Liang, Chen
• Granted Patent: US 7,023,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/656
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/02 Objectives

Abstract

A miniature microscope objective for a miniature microscope array (MMA) includes preferably at least three or four lenses including from object to image a first positive lens, a second positive lens and a third negative lens. The objective has a numerical aperture (NA) that provides diffraction limited performance, and is preferably between 0.4 and 0.9 for the four lens design. The magnification of the objective is below approximately the outer diameter (OD) divided by the field of view (FOV), and is preferably between approximately 1 and 12, and is further preferably greater than 4. The ratio of magnification (M) to numerical aperture (NA) for the objective thereby has a magnitude that is less than substantially 30.

Claims

1. A miniature microscope objective, comprising at least four lenses including from object to image a first positive lens, a second positive lens, a third negative lens and a fourth lens, and having a numerical aperture (NA) greater than 0.4 and no more than approximately 0.9, and having a magnification (M) between approximately 1 and 12, such that a ratio of M to NA has a magnitude that is greater than 1 and less than substantially 30.

2. The objective of claim 1, wherein the fourth lens is positive.

3. The objective of claim 2, the field of view (FOV) being substantially 220 μ

m or more.

4. The objective of claim 3, the outer diameter (OD) being substantially 2 mm or less, and the ratio of FOV to OD thereby being 0.11 or more.

5. The objective of claim 1, the outer diameter (OD) being substantially 2 mm or less.

6. The objective of claim 1, M being substantially 7 or less, such that the ratio of M to NA has a magnitude that is substantially 17.5 or less.

7. The objective of claim 6, NA being substantially 0.6 or more, and the ratio of M to NA thereby having a magnitude of 11.7 or less.

8. The objective of claim 6, NA being substantially 0.7 or more, and the ratio of M to NA thereby having a magnitude of 10 or less.

9. The objective of claim 6, NA being substantially 0.9, and the ratio of M to NA thereby having a magnitude of 7.8 or less.

10. The objective of claim 1, NA being substantially 0.6 or more, and the ratio of M to NA thereby having a magnitude of 18.3 or less.

11. The objective of claim 1, NA being substantially 0.7 or more, and the ratio of M to NA thereby having a magnitude of 15.7 or less.

12. The objective of claim 1, NA being substantially 0.9, and the ratio of M to NA thereby having a magnitude of 12.2 or less.

13. The objective of claim 1, the field of view (FOV) being substantially 220 μ

m or more.

14. The objective of claim 13, the outer diameter (OD) being substantially 2 mm or less, and the ratio of FOV to OD thereby being 0.11 or more.

15. The objective of claim 13, the outer diameter (OD) being substantially 1.6 mm or less, and the ratio of FOV to OD thereby being 0.1375 or more.

16. The objective of claim 1, the field of view (FOV) being substantially 240 μ

m or more.

17. The objective of claim 16, the outer diameter (OD) being substantially 2 mm or less, and the ratio of FOV to OD thereby being 0.12 or more.

18. The objective of claim 16, the outer diameter (OD) being substantially 1.6 mm or less, and the ratio of FOV to OD thereby being 0.15 or more.

19. The objective of claim 1, the outer diameter (OD) being substantially 1.6 mm or less.

20. The objective of claim 1, wherein the four lenses include at least five non-planar surfaces.

21. The objective of claim 1, the magnification (M) being greater than 4, and the ratio of M to NA being thereby greater than approximately 4.4.

30. The objective of any of claims 1, 22, 24 or 28, further comprising an aperture stop at a location selected from the group consisting of the back surface of the second positive lens, the front surface of the second positive lens and inside the second positive lens.

31. The objective of any of claims 1, 22, 24 or 28, wherein the first positive lens comprises a design selected from the group consisting of a plano-convex design and a meniscus design.

32. The objective of any of claims 1, 22, 24 or 28, wherein the second positive lens comprises a design selected from the group consisting of a bi-convex design and a piano-convex design.

33. The objective of any of claims 1, 22, 24 or 28, wherein the third negative lens comprises a meniscus design.

34. The objective of any of claims 1, 22, 24 or 28, wherein the third negative lens comprises a biconcave design.

35. The objective of any of claims 1, 22, 24 or 28, wherein the objective is corrected over a bandwidth of at least substantially 10 nm.

36. The objective of claim 1, 22, 24 or 28, further comprising a diffractive surface, and wherein the objective is corrected over a bandwidth of substantially 100 nm or more.

37. The objective of claim 36, wherein the diffractive surface is disposed on the front surface of the second positive lens.

38. The objective of any of claims 1, 22, 24 or 28, wherein each lens comprises a low-dispersion, crown-like material.

39. The objective of claim 38, wherein said crown-like material includes COC.

40. The objective of claim 38, wherein said crown-like material includes Zeonex™

.

41. The objective of any of claims 1, 22, 24 or 28, wherein the first and second positive lenses comprise a low-dispersion, crown-like material, and the third negative lens comprises a higher dispersion, flint-like material.

42. The objective of claim 41, wherein said crown-like material includes one of COC and Zeonex™

, and said flint-like material includes polystyrene.

43. The objective of claim 41, wherein said crown-like material includes LAK-10, and said flint-like material includes polystyrene.

44. The objective of any of claims 1, 22, 24 or 28, wherein at least one of the lenses comprises a gradient index lens.

58. A miniature microscope array (MMA), comprising multiple rows of miniature microscope objectives as set forth at any of claims 1, 22, 24, 28, 45, 46, 51 or 56.

59. The array of claim 58, the multiple rows including 13 rows or less.

71. The objective of any of claims 1, 22, 24, 28, 45, 46, 51, 56, 60, 62, 64 or 69, wherein a final lens surface facing the image is convex.

22. A miniature microscope objective for a miniature microscope array (MMA), comprising at least three lenses including from object to image a first positive lens, a second positive lens and a third negative lens, and having a certain numerical aperture (NA), and a magnification (M) below approximately an outer diameter (OD) divided by a field of view (FOV) of the objective, such that a ratio of M to NA is less than the outer diameter OD divided by the product of field of view (FOV) and numerical aperture (NA).

23. The objective of claim 22, comprising at least four lenses.

26. The objective of any of claims 22-24, wherein the magnification (M) is less than approximately 12.

27. The objective of any of claims 22-24, wherein the numerical aperture is at least 0.4.

24. A miniature microscope objective, comprising at least four lenses including from object to image a first positive lens, a second positive lens, a third negative lens and a fourth lens, and the at least four lenses further including at least five non-planar surfaces.

25. The objective of claim 24, the negative lens including two non-planar surfaces.

28. A miniature microscope objective for a miniature microscope array (MMA), comprising at least three lenses including from object to image a first positive lens, a second positive lens, and a third negative lens, and having a numerical aperture (NA) greater than 0.4 and no more than approximately 0.8, and having a magnification (M) between approximately 1 and 12, such that a ratio of M to NA has a magnitude that is greater than 1 and less than substantially 30.

29. The objective of claim 28, the magnification (M) being greater than 4, and the ratio of M to NA being thereby greater than approximately 5.

45. A miniature microscope objective for a miniature microscope array (MMA), comprising at least two lenses including from object to image a first positive lens and a second lens, and having a numerical aperture (NA) no greater than around 0.4, and having a magnification (M) between approximately 1 and 12, such that a ratio of M to NA has a magnitude that is greater than 2.5 and less than substantially 30.

46. A miniature microscope objective for a miniature microscope array (MMA), comprising a plurality of three or fewer lenses including from object to image a first positive lens and at least a second lens, and having a magnification (M) between approximately 1 and 12.

47. The objective of claim 46, further comprising a third lens, wherein at least one of the second and third lenses is negative.

48. The objective of claim 47, wherein the second lens is positive.

49. The objective of claim 46, wherein the second lens is positive.

50. The objective of claim 46, wherein the magnification is greater than 4.

51. A miniature microscope objective, comprising a plurality of a least four lenses including from object to image a first positive lens, a second lens, a third negative lens and a fourth lens, and having a magnification (M) between approximately 1 and 12.

52. The objective of claim 51, wherein the second lens is positive.

53. The objective of claim 52, wherein the fourth lens is positive.

54. The objective of claim 52, wherein the fourth lens is negative.

55. The objective of claim 52, wherein the magnification is greater than 4.

56. A miniature microscope objective, comprising a plurality of a least four lenses including from object to image a first positive lens, a second lens, a third lens and a fourth lens, and having a magnification (M) greater than 4 and less than 12.

57. The objective of claim 56, wherein the second lens is positive.

60. A miniature microscope objective, comprising at least three lenses including from object to image a first positive lens, a second positive lens, and a third negative lens, and having a numerical aperture (NA) greater than 0.4 and no more than approximately 0.8, and having a magnification (M) between approximately 1 and 12, such that a ratio of M to NA has a magnitude that is greater than 1 and less than substantially 30.

61. The objective of claim 60, the magnification (M) being greater than 4, and the ratio of M to NA being thereby greater than approximately 5.

62. A miniature microscope objective, comprising at least three lenses including from object to image a first positive lens, a second positive lens and a third negative lens, and having a certain numerical aperture (NA), and a magnification (M) below approximately an outer diameter (OD) divided by a field of view (FOV) of the objective, such that a ratio of M to NA is less than the outer diameter OD divided by the product of field of view (FOV) and numerical aperture (NA).

63. The objective of claim 62, comprising at least four lenses.

64. A miniature microscope objective for a MMA, comprising a plurality of a least four lenses including from object to image a first positive lens, a second lens, a third negative lens and a fourth lens, and having a magnification (M) between approximately 1 and 12.

65. The objective of claim 64, wherein the second lens is positive.

66. The objective of claim 65, wherein the fourth lens is positive.

67. The objective of claim 65, wherein the fourth lens is negative.

68. The objective of claim 65, wherein the magnification is greater than 4.

70. The objective of claim 68, wherein the second lens is positive.

69. A miniature microscope objective for a MMA, comprising a plurality of a least four lenses including from object to image a first positive lens, a second lens, a third lens and a fourth lens, and having a magnification (M) greater than 4 and less than 12.