Focus corrector for zoom projection lenses used with pixelized panels

• US 6,169,636 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1999
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Original Assignee: US Precision Lens, Inc.
• Inventors: Kreitzer, Melvyn H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, TIMOTHY J
• Application Number:
  US09/383,778
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 359/691, 359/651, 359/650, 359/649, 359/689, 359/684
• US Class Current: 359/691
• 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 13/22 Telecentric objectives or lens systems

Abstract

A zoom projection lens for use with pixelized panels is provided. The projection lens has a negative/positive (retrofocus) form, with the positive lens unit (U2) having two positive subunits (U2_S1, U2_S2). The image (screen) side subunit (U2_S1) serves as focus corrector for the lens, i.e., after zooming, this subunit is moved to adjust the focus of the lens. Compared to moving the negative unit (U1), this approach achieves better aberration correction and involves moving less mass through smaller distances.

Claims

1. A zoom projection lens for forming an image of an object, said lens consisting in order from its image end to its object end of:

(A) a first lens unit having a negative power;

(B) a second lens unit having a positive power, said second lens unit being separated from the first lens unit by a first axial space which is varied during zooming;

(C) an aperture stop located between the first lens unit and the second lens unit; and

(D) an optional field lens unit;

wherein;

(i) the second lens unit consists in order from its image end to its object end of;

(a) a first lens subunit having a positive power; and

(b) a second lens subunit having a positive power, said second lens subunit being separated from the first lens subunit by a second axial space; and

(ii) during focusing, the first lens subunit is moved to vary the second axial space.

2. The zoom projection lens of claim 1 wherein the first lens subunit has less lens elements than the first lens unit.

3. The zoom projection lens of claim 1 wherein the maximum clear aperture of the first lens subunit is smaller than the maximum clear aperture of the first lens unit.

4. The zoom projection lens of claim 1 wherein the vertex to vertex length of the first lens subunit is smaller than the vertex to vertex length of the first lens unit.

5. The zoom projection lens of claim 1 wherein the mass of the first lens subunit is less than the mass of the first lens unit.

6. The zoom projection lens of claim 1 wherein the first lens subunit has less lens elements than the second lens subunit.

7. The zoom projection lens of claim 1 wherein the first lens subunit is a singlet.

8. The zoom projection lens of claim 1 wherein the first lens subunit has less optical power than the second lens subunit.

9. A projection lens system for forming an image of an object, said system comprising:

(a) an illumination system comprising a light source and illumination optics which forms an image of the light source, said image of the light source being the output of the illumination system;

(b) a pixelized panel which comprises the object; and

(c) the zoom projection lens of claim 1.

10. The projection lens system of claim 9 wherein said projection lens has an entrance pupil whose location substantially corresponds to the location of the output of the illumination system.