TV projection lens including a graded index element

• US 5,392,431 A
• Filed: 10/05/1992
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard N. Pfisterer
• Original Assignee: Lightwave technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Pfisterer, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERDIER, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US07/957,256
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 359/652, 359/653, 359/771, 359/772, 359/773, 359/764, 359/650, 358/250
• US Class Current: 359/653
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0087 with index gradient
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7408 Direct viewing projectors, e.g. an image displayed on a video CRT or LCD display being projected on a screen

Abstract

A projection TV lens (60) includes first (64), second (66), third (70), and fourth (72) element-groups counted in numerical order and arranged on a common optical axis (62). The first, third, and fourth groups each include at least one lens element. The first and third group has positive power and the fourth group has negative power. The second group includes a first lens element (67) having negative power and having a graded refractive index.

Claims

1. A lens, comprising:

first, second, third, and fourth element-groups, said element-groups counted from an object side of the lens, and arranged generally on a common optical axis;

said first and third element-groups each having positive power and each including at least one lens element;

said fourth element-group having negative power and including at least one lens element; and

said second element-group including first and second lens elements counted from the object side of the lens, said first lens element having first and second concave surfaces and having a graded refractive index, said graded refractive index axially graded and decreasing in an axial direction away from the object side of the lens, and said second lens element having positive power.

2. The lens of claim 1 wherein said first and second lens elements of said second group are bonded together to form a doublet.

3. The lens of claim 2 wherein said first third and fourth element-groups each include only one element.

4. The lens of claim 3 wherein said graded refractive index is substantially in accordance with a formula

5. A lens, comprising:

first, second, third, fourth, and fifth lens elements each having first and second surfaces, said elements and surfaces counted from an object side of the lens;

said first lens element including a first surface having a first positive radius of curvature, and a second surface having a second positive radius of curvature, said second radius of curvature greater than said first radius of curvature;

said fourth lens element including a first surface having a positive radius of curvature and a second surface having a negative radius of curvature;

said fifth lens element including a first surface having a negative radius of curvature and a second surface having an infinite radius of curvature;

said second lens element including a first surface having a negative radius of curvature and a second surface having a positive radius of curvature and having an axially graded refractive index;

said third lens element including a first surface having a positive radius curvature equal to the radius of curvature of said second surface of second element, and a second surface having a negative radius of curvature; and

said second surface of said second lens element and said first surface of said third lens element being bonded together.

6. The lens of claim 5 wherein said axially graded refractive index is substantially in accordance with a formula

7. The lens of claim 6 wherein said first, third and fourth elements each have a refractive index of about 1.713 and at a wavelength of about 0.5876 micrometers and a V-number of about 53.8, and said fifth element has a refractive index of about 1.620 at a wavelength of about 0.5876 micrometers and a V-value of about 36.4.