PANORAMIC OPTICAL SYSTEM

• US 3,689,132 A
• Filed: 06/29/1970
• Issued: 09/05/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James G. Baker
• Original Assignee: James G. Baker
• Inventors: James, G. Baker
• Primary Examiner(s): John K. Corbin
• Application Number:
  US05/060,184
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 350/6,7,202,203,199,21,22,189,198 352/69 95/15 355/8
• US Class Current: 359/715
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/04 Reversed telephoto objectives
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/06 involving anamorphosis G03B37/02, G03B37/04 take precedence

Abstract

A corrected optical system is provided for a shallow camera that is characterized by an extremely short dimension between the forward position of the first refracting surface and the rearward position of the final image surface. In the compact hand-held camera illustrated herein as an example, the optical system is panoramic in operation, comprising: a pivotal scanning mirror (at one end of the camera); a slit (at the other end of the camera), past which the photosensitive film is moved at a rate, with which the scanning mirror rate is synchronized in order to synthesize a complete image from a continuous sequence of increments; and a lens array, including a stationary shell and an objective array that, in one form, is pivoted at a rate, with which the scanning mirror rate is synchronized, in order to impart to the complete image a high state of correction. The objective array, which is characterized by an unusually short distance between front and rear refracting surfaces, is useful in other applications.

Claims

1. A corrected panoramic optical system, for forming an image at the focal plane of a scanning camera, comprising:

an objective lens array, said objective lens array having an overall length less than one-fifth the focal length of said objective lens array;

a shell optical element, between said objective lens array and said focal plane, the centers of curvature of said shell optical element'"'"''"'"'s surfaces located at a common point toward said objective lens array; and

means for pivoting an optical element about said point so as to minimize optical aberrations otherwise introduced into said image by scanning.

2. A corrected optical system for forming an image at the focal plane of a scanning camera, said optical system comprising, in sequence:

a negative meniscus lens element;

a negative component including a negative bi-concave lens element and a positive meniscus lens element, said negative component separated from said negative meniscus lens element;

a positive component, including a bi-concave negative lens element and a bi-convex positive lens element, said positive component separated from said negative component, said positive component, said negative component, and said negative meniscus lens element forming an objective lens array adapted to pivot about a point located between the first and last refractive surfaces of said objective lens array;

a shell optical element, separated from said objective lens array and located between said objective lens array and said focal plane, having its radii of curvature located at said point.

3. The optical system described in claim 2, wherein said shell optical element is a lens.

4. The optical system described in claim 3, having design parameters for unit focal length, F, represented by the following table:

Lens or Thickness Index of Abbe Airspace Curvature or Spacing Refraction Nd Number VdC1 1.609 84 d1 0.006 1.501 56.4 C2 1.723 Airspace d2 0.030 C3 -0.963 86 d3 0.006 1.501 56.4 C4 4.966 88 d4 0.016 1.617 31.0 C5 2.432 Airspace d5 0.040 C6 -1.348 90 d6 0.006 1.617 31.0 C7 3.651 92 d7 0.020 1.691 54.7 C8 -4.024 Airspace d8 0.240 C9 -3.500 82 d9 0.016 1.501 56.4 C10 -3.314 wherein the numerals indicate the sequence of the lens elements in order from front to rear;

Nd is the refractive index for a light wavelength of 587.6 nanometers;

Vd is the Abbe ratio;

C1, C2, etc., represent the curvatures of successive surfaces from front to rear; and

d1, d2, etc., represent the air or glass separations between successive surfaces.

5. The optical system described in claim 3, having design parameters for unit focal length, F. represented in the following table:

Lens or Thickness Index of Abbe Airspace Curvature or Spacing Refraction Nd Number VdC1 5.142 106 d1 0.025 1.641 60.1 C2 0.292 Airspace d2 0.106 C3 -2.853 108 d3 0.005 C4 5.149 Airspace d4 0.013 C5 5.235 110 d5 0.025 1.501 56.4 C6 -0.245 Airspace d6 0.190 C7 -8.000 102 d7 0.042 1.501 56.4 C8 -6.000 Airspace d8 0.005 C9 plano 104 d9 0.385 1.640 60.1 C10 -2.597 wherein the numerals indicate the sequence of the lens elements in order from front to rear;

Nd is the refractive index for a light wavelength of 587.6 nanometers;

Vd is the Abbe ratio;

C1, C2, etc., represent the curvatures of successive surfaces from front to rear; and

d1, d2, etc., represent the air or glass separations between successive surfaces.

6. A corrected optical system, for forming an image at a focal plane, comprising:

a positive convex planar lens element;

a doublet having a bi-concave negative lens element and a convex planar lens element air spaced from said bi-concave negative lens element, said doublet being separated from said positive convex planar lens element; and

a shell lens element, separated from said doublet, having its centers of curvature at a common point between said shell lens element and said doublet.

7. The corrected optical system described in claim 6, further comprising:

a Schmidt type lens component between said shell lens element and said focal plane having an aspheric curvature on the surface closest to said shell lens and the center of curvature of its rearmost surface locaTed at said surface.

8. The corrected optical system described in claim 6, further comprising:

a Schmidt type lens component between said shell lens element and said focal plane, the center of curvature of its rearmost surface coinciding with the centers of curvature of said shell lens element.

9. A corrected optical system, for forming an image at a focal plane, comprising:

a positive meniscus lens element, concave toward said focal plane;

a doublet, separated from said positive meniscus, having a bi-concave negative lens element and a positive meniscus lens convex toward said focal plane, said positive meniscus lens element and said doublet serving as an objective lens array; and

a shell lens component having its centers of curvature at a common point located within said objective lens array and said objective lens array is adapted to pivot about said point.

10. The optical system described in claim 9, having design parameters for unit focal length, F, represented in the following table:

Lens or Thickness Index of Abbe Airspace Curvature or Spacing Refraction Nd Number VdC1 3.243 122 d1 0.025 1.640 60.1 C2 0.880 Airspace d2 0.037 C3 -1.671 124 d3 0.005 1.564 C4 3.129 Airspace d4 0.005 C5 32 -1.536 126 d5 0.025 1.640 60.1 C6 -5.844 Airspace d6 0.065 C7 -8.000 118 d7 0.042 1.501 56.4 C8 -6.000 wherein the numerals indicate the sequence of the lens elements in order from front to rear;

Nd is the refractive index for a light wavelength of 587.6 nanometers;

Vd is the Abbe ratio;

C1, C2, etc., represent the curvatures of successive surfaces from front to rear; and

d1, d2, etc., represent the air or glass separations between successive surfaces.

11. A corrected optical system having design parameters for unit focal length, F, as represented in the following table:

Lens or Thickness Index of Abbe Airspace Curvature or Spacing Refraction Nd Number VdC1 0.400 131 d1 0.010 1.501 56.4 C2 plano Airspace d2 0.013 C3 6.209 134 d3 0.033 1.658 57.3 C4 -0.147 136 d4 0.005 1.702 41.0 C5 4.924 Airspace d5 0.160 C6 1.564 138 d6 0.022 1.641 60.1 C7 1.001 140 d7 0.005 1.601 38.2 C8 0.618 Airspace d8 0.040 C9 -8.000 132 d9 0.042 1.569 56.1 C10 -6.000 wherein the numerals indicate the sequence of the lens elements in order from front to rear;

Nd is the refractive index for a light wavelength of 587.6 nanometers;

Vd is the Abbe ratio;

C1, C2, etc., represent the curvatures of successive surfaces from front to rear; and

d1, d2, etc., represent the air or glass separations between successive surfaces.

12. A corrected optical system having design parameters for unit focal length, F, as represented in the following table:

Lens or Thickness Index of Abbe Airspace Curvature or Spacing Refraction Nd Number VdC1 -1.228 142 d1 0.042 1.670 39.2 C2 0.039 Airspace d2 0.066 C3 +2.892 144 d3 0.066 1.588 68.2 C4 -0.907 Airspace d4 0.242 C5 -8.000 146 d5 0.042 1.699 30.1 C6 -6.000 wherein the numerals indicate the sequence of the lens elements in order from front to rear;

Nd is the refractive index for a light wavelength of 587.6 nanometers;

Vd is the Abbe ratio;

C1, C2, etc., represent the curvatures of successive surfaces from front to rear; and

d1, d2, etc., represent the air or glass separations between successive surfaces.

13. A corrected optical system having design parameters for unit focal length, F, as represented in the following table:

Lens or Thickness Index of Abbe Airspace Curvature or Spacing Refraction Nd Number VdC1 -2.607 151 d1 0.116 1.592 31.2 C2 -0.583 Airspace d2 0.011 C3 3.082 152 d3 0.002 1.492 56.0 C4 -2.083 Airspace d4 0.271 C5 -8.000 154 d5 0.042 1.592 31.2 C6 -6.000 wherein the numerals indicate the sequence of the lens elements in order from front to rear;

Nd is the refractive index for a light wavelength of 587.6 nanometers;

Vd is the Abbe ratio;

C1, C2, etc., represent the curvatures of successive surfaces from front to rear; and

d1, d2, etc., represent the air or glass separations between successive surfaces.