Objective lens for variable viewing depth endoscope

• US 6,327,101 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujinon Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyano, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lucas, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US09/519,861
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 359/656-661, 359/642, 359/691
• US Class Current: 359/691
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 15/142 having two groups only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 15/1421 the first group being positive
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2438 Zoom objectives
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 9/34 having four components only

Abstract

A variable viewing depth endoscope comprises, successively from the object side, a first lens group G₁ having positive refractive power and a second lens group G₂ which has positive refractive power and is movable along the optical axis are arranged. Focusing at the near point side is made possible by moving the second lens group G₂ to the object side, and focusing at a far point side is made possible by moving the second lens group G₂ to an image side. The composite focal length f_N during near point viewing is made shorter than a composite focal length f_F of a whole system during far point viewing.

Claims

1. An objective lens for a variable viewing depth endoscope comprising, successively from an object side, a first lens group having positive refractive power and a second lens group which has positive refractive power and is movable along an optical axis;

wherein near point focusing is made possible with the second lens group moved to the object side, and far point focusing is made possible with the second lens group moved to an image side; and

wherein the composite focal length f_N of the whole system at near point viewing is set to be shorter than a composite focal length f_F of the whole system at far point viewing.

2. The objective lens for the variable viewing depth endoscope of claim 1, satisfying the following conditional expression (1):

3. An endoscope comprising an objective lens for a variable viewing of depth in accordance with claim 2.

4. The objective lens for the variable viewing depth endoscope of claim 1, wherein a brightness diaphragm is disposed in the first lens group.

5. An endoscope comprising an objective lens for a variable viewing of depth in accordance with claim 4.

6. The objective lens for the variable viewing depth endoscope of claim 1, wherein the first lens group comprises, successively from the object side, a concave lens having a surface with strong curvature directed onto the image side, a convex lens having a surface with strong curvature directed onto the object side, a brightness diaphragm and a convex lens having a surface with strong curvature directed onto the image side.

7. The objective lens for the variable viewing depth endoscope of claim 6, wherein both of the image-side surface of the convex lens having a surface with strong curvature directed onto the object side and the object-side surface of the convex lens having a surface with strong curvature directed onto the image side are made flat.

8. An endoscope comprising an objective lens for a variable viewing of depth in accordance with claim 7.

9. An endoscope comprising an objective lens for a variable viewing of depth in accordance with claim 6.

10. The objective lens for the variable viewing depth endoscope of claim 1, wherein the mobility of the second lens group is set so as to be located at a location nearly identical to a near point of depth of field with the second lens group moved closest to the image side and a far point of depth of field with the second lens group moved closest to the object side.

11. An endoscope comprising an objective lens for a variable viewing of depth in accordance with claim 10.

12. An endoscope comprising an objective lens for a variable viewing of depth in accordance with claim 1.