Projection television lens systems having improved modulation transfer functions

• US 6,445,512 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: US Precision Lens, Inc.
• Inventors: Moskovich, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US09/720,538
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 359/757, 359/756, 359/752, 359/754, 359/713, 359/759, 359/649, 359/676, 359/682, 359/683, 348/781
• US Class Current: 359/757
• 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

Abstract

Six-component projection lens systems (13) for use in CRT projection televisions (10) are provided. To provide an improved overall modulation transfer function across the field of view of the lens, the system'"'"'s first lens element (L1) has an object side surface (S₂) which has a best fit spherical surface which is convex to the CRT (16). To provide partial axial color correction, the system'"'"'s second lens element (L2) is made of a high dispersion material, such as styrene.

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, an image side surface, and an object side surface, wherein;

(i) at least one of the image and object side surfaces is aspherical; and

(ii) the object side surface has a best fit spherical surface which is convex to the cathode ray tube;

(b) a second lens element which has a negative power, at least one aspheric surface, and is composed of a high dispersion material;

(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 and at least one aspheric surface; and

(f) a lens unit which has a strong negative power, is associated with the CRT during use of the lens system, and provides most of the correction for the field curvature of the lens system.

2. The projection lens system of claim 1 wherein the high dispersion material is styrene.

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

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

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

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

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

8. 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.

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

10. 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.

11. 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.