Objective lens system for endoscopes

• US 6,134,056 A
• Filed: 02/01/2000
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamuka, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spector, David N.
• Application Number:
  US09/495,291
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• Field of Search: 359/784, 359/753, 359/660, 359/661, 359/781, 359/782, 359/783, 600/176, 600/181, 600/101
• US Class Current: 359/784
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/243 Objectives for endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 9/04 having two components only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 9/06 two + components
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 9/12 having three components only

Abstract

An objective lens system for endoscopes comprising a first lens component (L₁) which has no or a negative refractive power, a second lens component (L₂) which has a convex image side surface and a third lens component (L₃) which has a convex object side surface, wherein a radius of curvature r_3F on the object side surface of the third lens component and a thickness of the third lens component satisfy the following condition:

3<r.sub.3F /D.sub.3 <10.

Claims

1. An objective lens system for endoscopes comprising in order from the object side:

a first lens component which has no refractive power;

a second lens component having an image side surface which is convex toward the image side; and

a third lens component having an object side surface which is convex toward the object side, wherein the third lens component satisfies the following condition (1);

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">3<

r.sub.3F /D.sub.3 <

10 (1)

wherein the reference symbol r_3F represents a radius of curvature on the object side surface of the third lens component and the reference symbol D₃ designates a thickness of the third lens component.

5. The objective lens system for endoscopes according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an infrared absorption filter is disposed on the image side of said third lens component.

6. The objective lens system for endoscopes according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a material of an optical member disposed on the most object side is sapphire.

2. An objective lens system for endoscopes comprising in order from the object side:

a first negative lens component;

a second lens component having an image side surface which is convex toward the image side; and

a third lens component having an object side surface which is convex toward the object side, wherein the third lens component satisfies the following condition (1-1);

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">4.37<

r.sub.3F /D.sub.3 <

10 (1-1)

wherein the reference symbol r_3F represents a radius of curvature on the object side surface of the third lens component and the reference symbol D₃ designates a thickness of the third lens component.

3. An objective lens system for endosocopes comprising in order from the object side:

a first lens component which has no refractive power;

a second lens component having a planar object side surface and a spherical image side surface which is convex toward the image side; and

a third lens component having an object side spherical surface which is convex toward the object side, wherein the objective lens system satisfies the following condition (5);

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">ν

>

45 (5)

wherein the reference symbol ν

represents an Abbe'"'"'s number of the second lens component or the third lens component.

4. An objective lens system for endoscopes comprising in order from the object side:

a first lens component which has no or a negative refractive power;

a second positive lens component; and

a third positive lens component, wherein said second lens component has an object side surface which is concave toward the object side and an image side surface which is convex toward the image side, and satisfies the following condition (5-1);

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">ν

>

53 (5-1)

wherein the reference symbol ν

represents an Abbe'"'"'s number of the second lens component or the third lens component.

7. An objective lens system for endoscopes comprising in order from the object side;

a first lens component which has no or a negative refractive power;

a second positive lens component; and

a third positive lens component, wherein a material of said first lens component is sapphire.

8. An objective lens system for endoscopes comprising in order from the object side:

a first lens component which has no or a negative refractive power;

a second positive lens component; and

a third positive lens component, wherein an infrared absorption filter is disposed on the object side of said second lens component.