Endoscope video adapter with zoom

• US 6,113,533 A
• Filed: 12/10/1997
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transamerican Technologies International
• Original Assignee: Transamerican Technologies International
• Inventors: Howes, Allen R., Li, Shifang
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/988,502
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 600/112, 600/160, 600/163, 600/167, 600/168, 600/172, 359/676, 359/677, 359/682, 359/684, 359/685, 359/704
• US Class Current: 600/112
• 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

Abstract

An adaptor for coupling a video camera to an endoscope, borescope, or the like includes a focusing mechanism and an independent zoom or magnification variation adjustment mechanism. The zoom mechanism will move two lens groups along an optical path simultaneously, but at different speeds. Each lens groups preferably includes a pair of lenses affixed together as a doublet. By controlling the position of the doublets relative to a pair of focusing lenses, the present adaptor provides an optically compensated zoom mechanism which allows changes in the magnification of the adaptor throughout a wide magnification range without having to refocus the adaptor.

Claims

1. A device for coupling a video camera to an endoscope or borescope for recording and displaying images, the device comprising:

a clamp adapted to attach the device to the endoscope or borescope;

a plurality of separate mounts adapted releasably to attach the device to different video cameras so that a suitable mount can be selected from the plurality of mounts to couple a mount receiver of the camera to the device;

a lens system disposed in an optical path between the clamp and the mount, the lens system comprising first and second positive lens groups which are movable along the optical path;

a zoom actuation handle;

a zoom mechanism coupling the zoom actuation handle to the first and second lens groups, the zoom mechanism adapted to move the first and second lens groups simultaneously and in the same direction along the optical path in particular relationship relative to each other when the zoom actuation handle moves throughout a handle movement range so that the images transmitted along the optical path vary in magnification within a zoom range, and so that an image position remains substantially constant when the zoom mechanism varies magnification throughout the zoom range; and

wherein the lens system further comprises a focusing lens group, comprising a movable and a fixed lens, and further comprising a focus mechanism which moves the movable lens along the optical path to vary the object distance, the focus mechanism being movable independently of the magnification of the images.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the zoom range extends from an effective focal length (EFL) of about 22.5 mm to about 50 mm.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the focusing lens group can focus the images throughout an object distance range from at least about 10 inches to infinity.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a centering mechanism coupled to at least one of the mount and the clamp, the centering mechanism adapted to displace the optical path laterally to center the image relative to an image sensor of the video camera.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and the second lens groups and the focusing lens group together define no more than six optical elements.

6. A device for coupling a video camera to an endoscope or borescope for recording and displaying images, the device comprising:

a clamp adapted to attach the device to the endoscope or borescope;

a plurality of separate mounts adapted releasably to attach the device to different video cameras so that a suitable mount can be selected from the plurality of mounts to couple a mount receiver of the camera to the device;

a lens system disposed in an optical path between the clamp and the mount, the lens system comprising first and second lens groups which are movable along the optical path;

a focusing lens group, comprising a movable lens and a fixed lens, and a focus mechanism, the focus mechanism moving the movable lens along the optical path to vary the object distance, the focus mechanism being movable independently of the magnification of the images; and

a zoom mechanism adapted to move the first and second lens groups along the optical path so that the images transmitted along the optical path vary in magnification within a zoom range, and so that an image position remains substantially constant when the zoom mechanism varies magnification throughout the zoom range;

the first and second lens groups being positive cemented doublets in the optical path from the focusing lens group, and wherein the zoom mechanism moves the first and second doublets simultaneously and in the same direction throughout the zoom range so that the doublets vary the magnification without varying the image position.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movable lens of the focusing lens group comprises a positive lens with an effective focal length of 16.93 mm, wherein the fixed lens of the focusing lens group comprises a negative lens with an effective focal length of -10.58 mm, wherein the first lens group has an effective focal length of 39.16 mm, and wherein the second lens group has an effective focal length of 50.42 mm.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the first and the second lens groups and the focusing lens group comprises no more than six optical elements.

9. An adapter for coupling a video camera with an endoscope to record images from within a patient body, the adapter comprising:

a clamp adapted to attach the adapter to the endoscope;

a mount adapted to attach the adapter to the video camera;

a focusing lens group including movable and fixed lenses disposed in an optical path from the clamp to the mount, at least one of the lenses being negative, and a focus mechanism coupled to the movable lens so as to move the movable lens to vary the object distance;

a first lens group disposed in the optical path from the focus system;

a second lens group disposed in the optical path from the first lens group;

a zoom mechanism coupled to the first and second lens groups and adapted to move the lens groups along the optical path simultaneously and in the same direction to vary magnification of the images without varying the object distance;

wherein the first and second lens groups comprise positive cemented doublets;

wherein the zoom mechanism comprises a tubular body disposed about the optical path, the body having first and seconds slots, a first pin coupled to the first lens group and engaging the first slot so that the first slot repositions the first lens group when the body rotates, and a second pin coupled to the second lens group and engaging the second slot so that the second slot repositions the second lens group when the body rotates; and

wherein the optical path between the clamp and the mount includes no more than six non-planer optical elements.

10. An adapter as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a centering mechanism coupled to at least one of the mount and the clamp, the centering mechanism adapted to displace the optical path laterally to center the image on a camera sensor.

11. An adapter as claimed in claim 9, wherein the optical path between the clamp and the mount is substantially composed of the positive doublets of the first and second lens groups, the fixed and movable lenses of the focusing lens group, and one or more windows.

12. An adapter for coupling a video camera to an endoscope, the adapter comprising:

a body defining two opposed ends and an optical path extending between the ends and through which an optical image can be passed;

a zoom lens group consisting of first and second positive lens groups mounted within the body to be displaceable so as to vary magnification of the image;

a focusing lens group consisting of a positivelens and a negative lens, the positive and the negative lens being mounted within the body so that one of the lenses is movable relative to the other so as to focus the image; and

wherein the negative lens of the focusing lens group is fixed, and wherein the positive lens is movable relative to the negative lens so as to focus the image.

13. The adapter of claim 12, wherein the first and the second positive lens groups each consist of a cemented doublets.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein each of the cemented doublets include a positive and a negative optical element cemented together.