Hybrid, color-corrected, projection TV lens system

• US 5,309,283 A
• Filed: 03/30/1993
• Issued: 05/03/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Original Assignee: US Precision Lens, Inc.
• Inventors: Kreitzer, Melvyn H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Application Number:
  US08/040,109
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 358/60, 358/64, 358/231, 358/237, 359/648, 359/649, 359/757, 359/713
• US Class Current: 359/649
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/18 with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration G02B13/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/31 Projection devices for colour picture display , e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]

Abstract

A projection lens system for projecting an image from a cathode ray tube (CRT) onto a screen is provided which includes in order from the image end: a first lens unit (U1), a second positive lens unit (U2) which may include a color correcting doublet, a corrector lens unit (CR), and a third negative lens unit (U3) which is associated with the CRT during use. The first lens unit preferably has a hybrid construction and includes: a first lens element (L1) composed of glass and having spherical surfaces, a second lens element (L2) composed of plastic and having at least one aspherical surface, and a third lens element (L3) also composed of plastic and having at least one aspherical surface. L1 has substantially more optical power than either L2 or L3, e.g., |f_L2 |/f_L1 and |f_L3 |/f_L1 are each above 1.3. In this way, the lens system is easily fabricated and is relatively insensitive to changes in temperature of the lens elements. The lens system is applicable to both rear and front projection televisions.

Claims

1. A projection lens system for use with a cathode ray tube comprising in order from the system'"'"'s image side:

a first lens unit comprising a first lens element having spherical surfaces, a second lens element having at least one aspherical surface, and a third lens element having at least one aspherical surface, the second and third lens elements each having a focal length whose magnitude is greater than the focal length of the first lens element;

a second lens unit for supplying the majority of the lens system'"'"'s positive optical power;

a corrector lens unit having at least one aspherical surface; and

a third lens unit which is associated with the cathode ray tube during use of the lens system and which provides most of the correction for the field curvature of the lens system, said third lens unit having a negative optical power.

2. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein the first lens element has a focal length whose absolute value is f₁, the second lens element has a focal length whose absolute value is f₂, and the third lens element has a focal length whose absolute value is f₃, and each of f₂ /f₁ and f₃ /f₁ is greater than about 1.3.

6. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein the first lens element is composed of glass.

7. The projection lens system of claim 6 wherein the first lens element is composed of a flint glass.

8. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein the first lens element is a positive meniscus lens.

3. The projection lens system of claim wherein the lens system has a focal length whose absolute value is f₀, the second lens element has a focal length whose absolute value is f₂, and the third lens element has a focal length whose absolute value is f₃, and each of f₂ /f₀ and f₃ /f₀ is greater than about 3.0.

4. The projection lens system of claim wherein the second and third lens elements are made of plastic.

5. The projection lens system of claim 4 wherein the lens system has an optical axis and the second lens element has a maximum and a minimum thickness in a direction parallel to the optical axis and the third lens element has a maximum and a minimum thickness in a direction parallel to the optical axis and wherein the ratio of the maximum thickness to the minimum thickness for each of the second and third lens elements is less than about 2.0.

9. The projection lens system of claim wherein the second lens unit includes a color correcting doublet.

10. A projection lens system for use with a cathode ray tube comprising in order from the system'"'"'s image side:

a first lens unit for primarily correcting aperture dependent aberrations, said unit comprising a first lens element, a second lens element, and a third lens element, the first lens element being composed of glass and the second and third lens elements being composed of plastic;

a second lens unit for supplying the majority of the lens system'"'"'s positive optical power;

a corrector lens unit comprising at least one plastic lens element; and

a third lens unit which is associated with the cathode ray tube during use of the lens system and which provides most of the correction for the field curvature of the lens system, said third lens unit having a negative optical power.

11. The projection lens system of claim 10 wherein the lens system has an optical axis and the second lens element has a maximum and a minimum thickness in a direction parallel to the optical axis and the third lens element has a maximum and a minimum thickness in a direction parallel to the optical axis and wherein the ratio of the maximum thickness to the minimum thickness for each of the second and third lens elements is less than about 2.0.

12. The projection lens system of claim 10 wherein the first lens element is composed of a flint glass.

13. The projection lens system of claim 10 wherein the second lens unit includes a color correcting doublet.

14. A projection television set comprising a cathode ray tube, a screen, and a projection lens system for projecting light from the cathode ray tube onto the screen to form an image, said projection lens system having a long conjugate in the direction of the screen and a short conjugate in the direction of the cathode ray tube, said projection lens system comprising from the long conjugate:

a first lens unit comprising a first lens element having spherical surfaces, a second lens element having at least one aspherical surface, and a third lens element having at least one aspherical surface, the second and third lens elements each having a focal length whose magnitude is greater than the focal length of the first lens element;

a second lens unit for supplying the majority of the projection lens system'"'"'s positive optical power;

a corrector lens unit having at least one aspherical surface; and

a third lens unit which is associated with the cathode ray tube and provides most of the correction for the field curvature of the projection lens system, said third lens unit having a negative optical power.

15. The projection television set of claim 14 wherein the first lens element has a focal length whose absolute value is f₁, the second lens element has a focal length whose absolute value is f₂, and the third lens element has a focal length whose absolute value is f₃, and each of f₂ /f₁ and f₃ /f₁ is greater than about 1.3.

16. The projection television set of claim 14 wherein the projection lens system has a focal length whose absolute value is f₀, the second lens element has a focal length whose absolute value is f₂, and the third lens element has a focal length whose absolute value is f₃, and each of f₂ /f₀ and f₃ /f₀ is greater than about 3.0.

17. The projection television set of claim 14 wherein the second and third lens elements are made of plastic.

18. The projection television set of claim 17 wherein the projection lens system has an optical axis and the second lens element has a maximum and a minimum thickness in a direction parallel to the optical axis and the third lens element has a maximum and a minimum thickness in a direction parallel to the optical axis and wherein the ratio of the maximum thickness to the minimum thickness for each of the second and third lens elements is less than about 2.0.

19. The projection television set of claim 14 wherein the first lens element is composed of glass.

20. The projection television set of claim 19 wherein the first lens element is composed of a flint glass.

21. The projection television set of claim 14 wherein the first lens element is a positive meniscus lens.

22. The projection television set of claim 14 wherein the second lens unit includes a color correcting doublet.

23. The projection television set of claim 14 comprising two additional cathode ray tubes and two additional projection lens systems, one associated with each of the additional cathode ray tubes, each additional projection lens system having the same components and structure as the projection lens system of claim 14.

24. A projection television set comprising a cathode ray tube, a screen, and a projection lens system for projecting light from the cathode ray tube onto the screen to form an image, said projection lens system having a long conjugate in the direction of the screen, and a short conjugate in the direction of the cathode ray tube, said projection lens system comprising from the long conjugate:

a first lens unit for primarily correcting aperture dependent aberrations, said unit comprising a first lens element, a second lens element, and a third lens element, the first lens element being composed of glass and the second and third lens elements being composed of plastic;

a second lens unit for supplying the majority of the projection lens system'"'"'s positive optical power;

a corrector lens unit comprising at least one plastic lens element; and

a third lens unit which is associated with the cathode ray tube and provides most of the correction for the field curvature of the projection lens system, said third lens unit having a negative optical power.

25. The projection television set of claim 24 wherein the projection lens system has an optical axis and the second lens element has a maximum and a minimum thickness in a direction parallel to the optical axis and the third lens element has a maximum and a minimum thickness in a direction parallel to the optical axis and wherein the ratio of the maximum thickness to the minimum thickness for each of the second and third lens elements is less than about 2.0.

26. The projection television set of claim 24 wherein the first lens element is composed of a flint glass.

27. The projection television set of claim 24 wherein the second lens unit includes a color correcting doublet.

28. The projection television set of claim 24 comprising two additional cathode ray tubes and two additional projection lens systems, one associated with each of the additional cathode ray tubes, each additional projection lens system having the same components and structure as the projection lens system of claim 24.