Lens assembly

• US 20040218083A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pinotage LLC
• Original Assignee: Pinotage LLC
• Inventors: Leiner, Dennis, Thompson, Robert Lee
• Application Number:
  US10/856,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20040218083A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/335
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A lens assembly for producing an image of an object includes a plurality of lenses constructed and arranged to provide a high resolution image, without requiring focusing, of any object within the lens assembly'"'"'s field of view that is greater than approximately one inch away from the lens assembly, thus providing a constant focus lens assembly. In one embodiment, the plurality of lenses cooperate to provide an effective focal length of approximately 3.53 mm in air, an F number of 11.2 and an angle of view of approximately 34 degrees.

Claims

1. A lens assembly for producing an image of an object, the lens assembly comprising:

a plurality of lenses constructed and arranged to produce an optically suitable image of any object, within a field of view of the lens assembly, that is greater than approximately one inch away from the lens assembly without requiring focusing, thereby providing a constant focusing lens assembly.

2. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lenses cooperate to provide an effective focal length of 3.53 mm in air, an F number of 11.2 and an angle of view of 34 degrees.

3. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lenses cooperate to provide an effective focal length of 3.53 mm in air.

4. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lenses cooperate to provide an F number of 11.2.

5. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lenses cooperate to provide an angle of view of 34 degrees.

6. The lens assembly of claim 1 having both a diameter and a length of less than 5 mm.

7. The lens assembly of claim 1 having a diameter of less than 5 mm.

8. The lens assembly of claim 1 having a length of less than 5 mm.

9. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the optically suitable image is a high resolution image.

10. The lens assembly of claim 1, comprising, in order from an object side:

a distal lens having a convex surface and a concave surface, the convex surface being proximate the object side;

a doublet lens in optical communication with the distal lens, the doublet lens having a concave surface and a convex surface, the concave surface of the doublet lens being proximate the concave surface of the distal lens; and

a bi-convex proximal lens in optical communication with the doublet lens.

11. The lens assembly of claim 10, wherein the distal lens is a first distal lens, and wherein the lens assembly further comprises a second distal lens in optical communication with the first distal lens between the object side and the first distal lens, the second distal lens having a concave surface proximate the convex surface of the first distal lens.

12. The lens assembly of claim 10, wherein the second distal lens is formed from a polycarbonate material having a thickness of approximately 0.38 mm.

13. The lens assembly of claim 10, wherein:

the distal lens has a thickness of approximately 0.53 mm, the convex surface of the distal lens has a radius of curvature of approximately 1.3 mm and the concave surface of the distal lens has a radius of curvature of approximately 2.38 mm;

the doublet lens has a thickness of approximately 1.58 mm, the concave surface of the doublet lens has a radius of curvature of approximately 0.95 mm and the convex surface of the doublet lens has a radius of curvature of approximately 1.72 mm; and

the bi-convex proximal lens has a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm, each convex surface of the bi-convex proximal lens having a radius of curvature of approximately 6.06 mm.

14. The lens assembly of claim 10, wherein an interior surface of the doublet lens has a convex surface having a radius of curvature of approximately 1.05 mm, and the doublet lens includes a first doublet lens having a thickness of 0.92 mm and a second doublet lens having a thickness of 0.66 mm.

15. The lens assembly of claim 14, wherein the distal lens and the second doublet lens each has an index of refraction of approximately 1.785 and a V number of approximately 26.1 and the first doublet lens and the biconvex proximal lens each has an index of refraction of approximately 1.639 and a V number of approximately 55.4.

16. The lens assembly of claim 1, in combination with a charge coupled device, wherein light rays from the object side are directed by the lens assembly so that they are incident upon a surface of the charge coupled device at an angle that is approximately perpendicular to the surface of the charge coupled device.

17. A camera comprising a lens assembly according to claim 1.

18. An optical imaging system comprising a lens assembly according to claim 1.

19. A videoscope comprising a lens assembly according to claim 18.

20. A surgical/diagnostic imaging device comprising a lens assembly according to claim 18.

21. An aircraft monitoring system comprising an optical imaging system according to claim 18, wherein at least the lens assembly is mounted to a surface of an airplane and arranged to view a portion of the airplane.

22. The lens assembly according to claim 10, further comprising an outer lens formed from a polycarbonate material having a radius of curvature of 5 mm, a thickness of 0.381 mm, and a diameter of 10 mm.

23. The lens assembly of claim 10, wherein the outer lens is formed as part of a housing for the lens assembly.

24. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the lens assembly is adapted to cooperate with an imaging device.

25. The lens assembly of claim 24, wherein the imaging device is a charge coupled device.

26. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lenses comprises only four lenses.

27. The lens assembly of claim 26, wherein two of the four lenses are coupled to form a doublet lens.

28. A lens assembly for producing an image of an object, the lens assembly comprising:

a plurality of lenses cooperating to provide an effective focal length of approximately 3.53 mm in air, an F number of approximately 11.2 and an angle of view of approximately 34 degrees.

29. The lens assembly of claim 28 having both a diameter and a length of less than 5 mm.

30. The lens assembly of claim 28 having a diameter of less than 5 mm.

31. The lens assembly of claim 28 having a length of less than 5 mm.

32. The lens assembly of claim 28, comprising, in order from an object side:

a distal lens having a convex surface and a concave surface, the convex surface being proximate the object side;

a doublet lens in optical communication with the distal lens, the doublet lens having a concave surface and a convex surface, the concave surface of the doublet lens being proximate the concave surface of the distal lens; and

a bi-convex proximal lens in optical communication with the doublet lens.

33. The lens assembly of claim 32, wherein the distal lens is a first distal lens, and wherein the lens assembly further comprises a second distal lens in optical communication with the first distal lens between the object side and the first distal lens, the second distal lens having a concave surface proximate the convex surface of the first distal lens.

34. The lens assembly of claim 32, wherein the second distal lens is formed from a polycarbonate material having a thickness of approximately 0.38 mm.

35. The lens assembly of claim 32, wherein:

the distal lens has a thickness of approximately 0.53 mm, the convex surface of the distal lens has a radius of curvature of approximately 1.3 mm and the concave surface of the distal lens has a radius of curvature of approximately 2.38 mm;

the doublet lens has a thickness of approximately 1.58 mm, the concave surface of the doublet lens has a radius of curvature of approximately 0.95 mm and the convex surface of the doublet lens has a radius of curvature of approximately 1.72 mm; and

the bi-convex proximal lens has a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm, each convex surface of the bi-convex proximal lens having a radius of curvature of approximately 6.06 mm.

36. The lens assembly of claim 32, wherein an interior surface of the doublet lens has a convex surface having a radius of curvature of approximately 1.05 mm, and the doublet lens includes a first doublet lens having a thickness of 0.92 mm and a second doublet lens having a thickness of 0.66 mm.

37. The lens assembly of claim 32, wherein the distal lens and the second doublet lens each has an index of refraction of approximately 1.785 and a V number of approximately 26.1 and the first doublet lens and the biconvex proximal lens each has an index of refraction of approximately 1.639 and a V number of approximately 55.4.

38. The lens assembly of claim 28, in combination with a charge coupled device, wherein light rays from the object side are directed by the lens assembly so that they are incident upon a surface of the charge coupled device at an angle that is approximately perpendicular to the surface of the charge coupled device.

39. A camera comprising a lens assembly according to claim 28.

40. An optical imaging system comprising a lens assembly according to claim 28.

41. A videoscope comprising a lens assembly according to claim 40.

42. A surgical/diagnostic imaging device comprising a lens assembly according to claim 40.

43. An aircraft monitoring system comprising an optical imaging system according to claim 40, wherein at least the lens assembly is mounted to a surface of an airplane and arranged to view a portion of the airplane.

44. The lens assembly according to claim 32, further comprising an outer lens formed from a polycarbonate material having a radius of curvature of 5 mm, a thickness of 0.381 mm, and a diameter of 10 mm.

45. The lens assembly of claim 32, wherein the outer lens is formed as part of a housing for the lens assembly.

46. The lens assembly of claim 28, wherein the lens assembly is adapted to cooperate with an imaging device.

47. The lens assembly of claim 46, wherein the imaging device is a charge coupled device.

48. The lens assembly of claim 28, wherein the plurality of lenses comprises only four lenses.

49. The lens assembly of claim 48, wherein two of the four lenses are coupled to form a doublet lens.