Projection television lens system

• US 5,808,804 A
• Filed: 09/17/1996
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: US Precision Lens, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Moskovich, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US08/715,028
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 359/648, 359/649, 359/708, 359/713, 359/714, 359/756, 359/757
• US Class Current: 359/649
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/16 for use in conjunction with image converters or intensifiers , or for use with projectors, e.g. objectives for projection TV
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 9/62 having six components only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor

Abstract

Six-component projection lens systems for use in projection televisions are provided. From the screen side, the systems preferably have a + - +++ - configuration. The use of a second lens element having a negative power results in improved sagittal modulation transfer functions (MTFs) at large field locations. The negative second lens element can be made of a low dispersion material, such as styrene, so as to provide partial correction of axial color.

Claims

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

(a) a first lens element which has a positive power, at least one aspheric surface, and an overall meniscus shape which is concave to the cathode ray tube;

(b) a second lens element which has a negative power and at least one aspheric surface;

(c) a third lens element which has a positive power and provides a substantial portion of the power of the lens system;

(d) a fourth lens element which has a weak power, at least one aspheric surface, and an overall meniscus shape which is concave to the cathode ray tube;

(e) a fifth lens element which has a positive power, at least one aspheric surface, and a cathode-ray-tube-facing surface the majority of which being convex to the cathode ray tube; and

(f) a lens unit which has a strong negative power, the lens unit being associated with the cathode ray tube during use of the lens system, and providing most of the correction for the field curvature of the lens system.

2. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein the second lens element is composed of a high dispersion material.

3. The projection lens system of claim 2 wherein the high dispersion material is styrene.

4. The projection lens system of claim 2 wherein the first lens element is composed of a high dispersion material.

5. 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 comprising the projection lens system of claim 2.

6. A projection television set comprising three cathode ray tubes, a screen, and three projection lens systems, one projection lens system being associated with each of the cathode ray tubes for projecting light from that tube onto the screen to form an image, each projection lens system comprising the projection lens system of claim 2.

7. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein the first lens element is composed of a high dispersion material.

8. The projection lens system of claim 7 wherein the high dispersion material is styrene.

9. 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 comprising the projection lens system of claim 7.

10. A projection television set comprising three cathode ray tubes, a screen, and three projection lens systems, one projection lens system being associated with each of the cathode ray tubes for projecting light from that tube onto the screen to form an image, each projection lens system comprising the projection lens system of claim 7.

11. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein each of the first, second, fourth, and fifth lens elements has two aspheric surfaces.

12. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein the third lens element is biconvex.

13. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein the third lens element provides the majority of the power of the lens system.

14. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein the third lens element is composed of a crown-type glass.

15. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein the fourth lens element has a positive power.

16. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein the lens system has a half angle field of view in the direction of the image of about 40 degrees.

17. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein the f-number of the lens system is about 1.0.

18. 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 comprising the projection lens system of claim 1.

19. A projection television set comprising three cathode ray tubes, a screen, and three projection lens systems, one projection lens system being associated with each of the cathode ray tubes for projecting light from that tube onto the screen to form an image, each projection lens system comprising the projection lens system of claim 1.