Lens system for camera

• US 6,744,467 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pinotage LLC
• Original Assignee: Pinotage LLC
• Inventors: Leiner, Dennis C., Thompson, Robert Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen, VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US09/964,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 348/62, 348/65, 348/71-76, 348/207.99, 348/211.99, 348/211.14, 348/222.1, 348/240.1, 348/335, 348/340, 348/357, 348/360, 348/361, 348/373-376, 359/715, 359/716, 359/739, 359/740, 359/738, 359/771, 359/776-778, 600/176
• US Class Current: 348/340
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A lens system for a camera includes, in order from an object side, a distal lens having a convex surface and a concave surface, the convex surface being proximate the object side, a doublet lens in optical communication with the distal lens, and a bi-convex proximal lens in optical communication with the doublet lens. The doublet lens has a concave surface and a convex surface, with the convex surface of the doublet lens being proximate the convex surface of the distal lens.

Claims

1. A lens assembly for a camera, comprising, in order from an object side:

a distal lens having a convex surface and a concave surface, the convex surface being proximate the object side, the distal lens being a first lens in the lens assembly on the object side;

an aperture stop immediately adjacent to and in optical communication with the distal lens;

a doublet lens immediately adjacent to and in optical communication with the aperture stop, the doublet lens having a concave surface and a convex surface, the concave surface of the doublet lens being proximate the concave surface of the distal lens; and

a bi-convex proximal lens immediately adjacent to and in optical communication with the doublet lens.

2. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the lens assembly has an effective focal length of 3.53 mm in air and an F number of approximately 11.

3. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the distal lens has a thickness of approximately 0.53 mm, the convex surface of the distal lens has a radius of curvature of approximately 1.3 mm and the concave surface of the distal lens has a radius of curvature of approximately 2.38 mm;

the doublet lens has a thickness of approximately 1.58 mm, the concave surface of the doublet lens has a radius of curvature of approximately 0.95 mm and the convex surface of the doublet lens has a radius of curvature of approximately 1.72 mm; and

the bi-convex proximal lens has a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm, each convex surface of the bi-convex proximal lens having a radius of curvature of approximately 6.06 mm.

4. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein an interior surface of the doublet lens has a convex surface having a radius of curvature of approximately 1.05 mm, and the doublet lens includes a first doublet lens having a thickness of 0.92 mm and a second doublet lens having a thickness of 0.66 mm.

5. The lens assembly of claim 4, wherein the distal lens and the second doublet lens each has an index of refraction of approximately 1.785 and a V number of approximately 26.1 and the first doublet lens and the biconvex proximal lens each has an index of refraction of approximately 1.639 and a V number of approximately 55.4.

6. The lens assembly of claim 1, in combination with a lens system, the lens system comprising a charge coupled device, wherein light rays from the object side are directed by the lens assembly so that they are incident upon a surface of the charge coupled device at an angle that is approximately perpendicular to the surface of the charge coupled device.

7. A camera comprising a lens assembly according to claim 1.

8. The lens assembly of claim 1, in combination with a lens system, the lens system comprising an outer cover lens disposed between the object side and the distal lens, the outer cover lens having a concave surface proximate the convex surface of the distal lens.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the outer cover lens is formed from a polycarbonate material having a thickness of approximately 0.38 mm.

10. An optical imaging system comprising a lens assembly according to claim 1.

11. A videoscope comprising a system according to claim 10.

12. A surgical/diagnostic imaging device comprising a system according to claim 10.

13. An aircraft monitoring system comprising an optical imaging system according to claim 10, the monitoring system comprising at least one image receiving device, mounted to a surface of an airplane, and arranged to view a portion of the airplane.

14. The monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the at least one image receiving device is mounted to an interior surface of the airplane.

15. The monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the at least one image receiving device is mounted to an exterior surface of the airplane.

16. The monitoring system of claim 15, further comprising a camera compartment that mounts the at least one imaging device to the airplane and houses the at least one image receiving device to shield the at least one image receiving device from extremes in environmental conditions.

17. The monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the at least one image receiving device is movably mounted within the camera compartment.

18. The monitoring system of claim 13, wherein there is provided a plurality of image receiving devices, each of which is arranged for viewing a respective portion of the airplane.

19. The monitoring system of claim 13, further comprising:

a camera control unit, coupled to the at least one image receiving device, to form an image of the portion of the airplane viewed by the at least one image receiving device; and

a display, coupled to the camera control unit, to display the image formed by the camera control unit.

20. The monitoring system of claim 13, further comprising:

a camera control unit, coupled to the at least one image receiving device, to form an image of the portion of the airplane viewed by the at least one image receiving device; and

a storage medium, coupled to the camera control unit, to store the image formed by the camera control unit.

21. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the storage medium is disposed within a structurally rigid compartment of an airplane intended to retain its structural integrity in the event the airplane crashes.

22. The monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the at least one image receiving device is movably mounted to the surface of the airplane to view different portions of the airplane.

23. The monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the airplane includes a warning system to detect problems with the airplane, and wherein the monitoring system further comprises:

means, coupled to the at least one image receiving device and the warning system, for directing the at least one image receiving device to view the portion of the airplane where the problem is detected.

24. The monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the airplane includes a warning system to detect problems with the airplane, and wherein the monitoring system further comprises:

a processor, coupled to the at least one image receiving device and the warning system, for directing the at least one image receiving device to view the position of the airplane when the problem is detected.