Image-forming optical system

• US 6,876,390 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Nagata, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Long, Heather R.
• Application Number:
  US09/541,090
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 348/335, 348/207.99, 348/337, 348/341, 348/338, 348/340, 359/637, 359/834, 359/833, 359/831, 359/835, 359/836, 359/837
• US Class Current: 348/335
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0848 off-axis or unobscured systems in which not all of the mirrors share a common axis of rotational symmetry, e.g. at least one of the mirrors is warped, tilted or decentered with respect to the other elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/086 wherein the system is made of a single block of optical material, e.g. solid catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• 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 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

A high-performance and low-cost image-forming optical system with a reduced number of constituent optical elements that is made compact and thin by folding an optical path using reflecting surfaces arranged to minimize the number of reflections. The image-forming optical system has a first prism and a second prism between a stop and an image plane. The first prism includes an entrance surface, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and an exit surface. The first reflecting surface and the exit surface are the identical surface. The second prism includes an entrance surface, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and an exit surface. In the second prism, the second reflecting surface and the entrance surface are the identical surface.

Claims

1. An image-forming optical system for forming an image of an object, said image-forming optical system comprising:

a stop;

a first prism; and

a second prism;

said first prism and said second prism being provided between said stop and an image plane;

said first prism including, in order from an object side thereof;

a first prism entrance surface through which a light beam passing through said stop enters said first prism;

a first prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said first prism;

a first prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said first prism first reflecting surface; and

a first prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said first prism second reflecting surface exits from said first prism;

wherein said first prism first reflecting surface and said first prism exit surface are an identical surface, and the light beam entering through said first prism entrance surface is incident on said first prism exit surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said first prism exit surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said first prism first reflecting surface;

said second prism including;

a second prism entrance surface through which the light beam exiting from said first prism exit surface enters said second prism;

a second prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said second prism;

a second prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said second prism first reflecting surface; and

a second prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said second prism second reflecting surface exits from said second prism;

wherein said second prism second reflecting surface and said second prism entrance surface are an identical surface, and the light beam reflected from said second prism first reflecting surface is incident on said second prism entrance surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said second prism entrance surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said second prism second reflecting surface, and

wherein said first prism and said second prism satisfy the following conditions (1) and (2);

P1x<

P2x 

 

(1)

P1y<

P2y 

 

(2)

where when a decentration direction of said imageforming optical system is a Y-axis direction, and a plane parallel to a light ray connecting a center of said stop and a center of said image plane is a YZ-plane, and further a direction perpendicularly intersecting the YZ-plane is an X-axis direction, P1x and P1y are powers in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction, respectively, of said first prism, and P2x and P2y are powers in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction, respectively, of said second prism, and further Px and Py are powers in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction, respectively, of said image-forming optical system.

6. An information processing apparatus comprising:

said image-forming optical system according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4 and an electronic image pickup device placed at a position where it receives an object image formed by said image-forming optical system;

a signal processor, said signal processor being constructed to process an electronic signal obtained through photoelectric conversion by said electronic image pickup device;

an input unit used by an operator to input a desired information signal to said signal processor;

a display device for displaying an output from said signal processor; and

a recording medium for recording the output from said signal processor;

wherein said signal processor is arranged to display the object image received with said electronic image pickup device on said display device.

7. An electronic camera apparatus comprising:

said image-forming optical system according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4 and an electronic image pickup device placed at a position where it receives an object image formed by said image-forming optical system;

a signal processor, said signal processor being constructed to process an electronic signal obtained through photoelectric conversion by said electronic image pickup device;

a display device for observably displaying the object image received with said electronic image pickup device; and

a recording member for recording image information concerning the object image received with said electronic image pickup device, said recording member being incorporated in said electronic camera apparatus or removably loaded thereinto;

wherein said signal processor has a display processing function to display the object image received with said electronic image pickup device on said display device and a recording processing function to record the object image received with said electronic image pickup device onto said recording medium.

10. A personal computer system comprising:

said information processing apparatus according to claim 6;

wherein said input unit is a keyboard, and said image-forming optical system and said electronic image pickup device are incorporated in a peripheral portion of said display device or in a peripheral portion of said keyboard.

2. An image-forming optical system for forming an image of an object, said image-forming optical system comprising:

a stop;

a first prism; and

a second prism;

said first prism and said second prism being provided between said stop and an image plane;

said first prism including, in order from an object side thereof;

a first prism entrance surface through which a light beam passing through said stop enters said first prism;

a first prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said first prism;

a first prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said first prism first reflecting surface; and

a first prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said first prism second reflecting surface exits from said first prism;

wherein said first prism first reflecting surface and said first prism exit surface are an identical surface, and the light beam entering through said first prism entrance surface is incident on said first prism exit surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said first prism exit surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said first prism first reflecting surface;

said second prism including;

a second prism entrance surface through which the light beam exiting from said first prism exit surface enters said second prism;

a second prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said second prism;

a second prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said second prism first reflecting surface; and

a second prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said second prism second reflecting surface exits from said second prism;

wherein said second prism second reflecting surface and said second prism entrance surface are an identical surface, and the light beam reflected from said second prism first reflecting surface is incident on said second prism entrance surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said second prism entrance surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said second prism second reflecting surface, and

wherein said first prism satisfies the following conditions (9) and (10);

−

1.0<

P1x/Px<

1.0 

 

(9)

−

1.0<

P1yPy<

1.0 

 

(10)

where when a decentration direction of said image-forming optical system is a Y-axis direction, and a plane parallel to a light ray connecting a center of said stop and a center of said image plane is a YZ-plane, and further a direction perpendicularly intersecting the YZ-plane is an X-axis direction, P1x and P1y are powers in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction, respectively, of said first prism, and P2x and P2y are powers in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction, respectively, of said second prism, and further Px and Py are powers in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction, respectively, of said image-forming optical system.

3. An image-forming optical system for forming an image of an object, said image-forming optical system comprising:

a stop;

a first prism; and

a second prism;

said first prism and said second prism being provided between said stop and an image plane;

said first prism including, in order from an object side thereof;

a first prism entrance surface through which a light beam passing through said stop enters said first prism;

a first prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said first prism;

a first prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said first prism first reflecting surface; and

a first prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said first prism second reflecting surface exits from said first prism;

wherein said first prism first reflecting surface and said first prism exit surface are an identical surface, and the light beam entering through said first prism entrance surface is incident on said first prism exit surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said first prism exit surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said first prism first reflecting surface;

said second prism including;

a second prism entrance surface through which the light beam exiting from said first prism exit surface enters said second prism;

a second prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said second prism;

a second prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said second prism first reflecting surface; and

a second prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said second prism second reflecting surface exits from said second prism;

wherein said second prism second reflecting surface and said second prism entrance surface are an identical surface, and the light beam reflected from said second prism first reflecting surface is incident on said second prism entrance surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said second prism entrance surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said second prism second reflecting surface, and

wherein said second prism satisfies the following conditions (11) and (12);

0<

P2x/Px<

3.0 

 

(11)

0<

P2y/Py<

3.0 

 

(12)

where when a decentration direction of said image-forming optical system is a Y-axis direction, and a plane parallel to a light ray connecting a center of said stop and a center of said image plane is a YZ-plane, and further a direction perpendicularly intersecting the YZ-plane is an X-axis direction, P1x and P1y are powers in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction, respectively, of said first prism, and P2x and P2y are powers in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction, respectively, of said second prism, and further Px and Py are powers in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction, respectively, of said image-forming optical system.

4. An image-forming optical system for forming an image of an object, said image-forming optical system comprising:

a stop;

a first prism; and

a second prism;

said first prism and said second prism being provided between said stop and an image plane;

said first prism including, in order from an object side thereof;

a first prism entrance surface through which a light beam passing through said stop enters said first prism;

a first prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said first prism;

a first prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said first prism first reflecting surface; and

a first prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said first prism second reflecting surface exits from said first prism;

wherein said first prism first reflecting surface and said first prism exit surface are an identical surface, and the light beam entering through said first prism entrance surface is incident on said first prism exit surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said first prism exit surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said first prism first reflecting surface;

said second prism including;

a second prism entrance surface through which the light beam exiting from said first prism exit surface enters said second prism;

a second prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said second prism;

a second prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said second prism first reflecting surface; and

a second prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said second prism second reflecting surface exits from said second prism;

wherein said second prism second reflecting surface and said second prism entrance surface are an identical surface, and the light beam reflected from said second prism first reflecting surface is incident on said second prism entrance surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said second prism entrance surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said second prism second reflecting surface

wherein said first prism and said second prism satisfy the following conditions (3) and (4);

0≦

θ

1≦

25 

 

(3)

0≦

θ

2≦

25 

 

(3)

where when a light ray connecting a center of said stop and a center of said image plane is defined as an optical axis, θ

1 is an angle formed between the optical axis and a line normal to the exit surface of said first prism at a point where the optical axis exits from said first prism, and θ

2 is an angle formed between the optical axis and a line normal to the entrance surface of said second prism at a point where the optical axis enters said second prism.

5. An image-forming optical system for forming an image of an object, said image-forming optical system comprising:

a stop;

a first prism; and

a second prism;

said first prism and said second prism being provided between said stop and an image plane;

said first prism including, in order from an object side thereof;

a first prism entrance surface through which a light beam passing through said stop enters said first prism;

a first prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said first prism;

a first prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said first prism first reflecting surface; and

a first prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said first prism second reflecting surface exits from said first prism;

wherein said first prism first reflecting surface and said first prism exit surface are an identical surface, and the light beam entering through said first prism entrance surface is incident on said first prism exit surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said first prism exit surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said first prism first reflecting surface;

said second prism including;

a second prism entrance surface through which the light beam exiting from said first prism exit surface enters said second prism;

a second prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said second prism;

a second prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said second prism first reflecting surface; and

a second prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said second prism second reflecting surface exits from said second prism;

wherein said second prism second reflecting surface and said second prism entrance surface are an identical surface, and the light beam reflected from said second prism first reflecting surface is incident on said second prism entrance surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said second prism entrance surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said second prism second reflecting surface

wherein when a light ray connecting a center of said stop and a center of said image plane is defined as an optical axis, a configuration of said first prism entrance surface in a plane containing the optical axis folded by passing through said first prism and said second prism from said stop has a convex surface directed toward the object side to give a positive power to the light beam, and said second prism exit surface has an approximately flat surface configuration.

8. A compact photographic apparatus comprising:

an image-forming optical system for forming an image of an object, image-forming optical system comprising;

a stop;

a first prism; and

a second prism;

said first prism and said second prism being provided between said stop and an image plane;

said first prism including, in order from an object side thereof;

a first prism entrance surface through which a light beam passing through said stop enters said first prism;

a first prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said first prism;

wherein said first prism first reflecting surface and said first prism exit surface are an identical surface, and the light beam entering through said first prism entrance surface is incident on said first prism exit surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said first prism exit surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said first prism first reflecting surface;

said second prism including;

a second prism entrance surface through which the light beam exiting from said first prism exit surface enters said second prism;

a second prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said second prism;

a second prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said second prism first reflecting surface; and

a second prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said second prism second reflecting surface exits from said second prism;

wherein said second prism second reflecting surface and said second prism entrance surface are an identical surface, and the light beam reflected from said second prism first reflecting surface is incident on said second prism entrance surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said second prism entrance surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said second prism second reflecting surface, and

a first prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said first prism first reflecting surface;

an electronic image pickup device placed at a position where it receives an object image formed by said image-forming optical system; and

a signal processor, said signal processor being constructed to process an electronic signal obtained through photoelectric conversion by said electronic image pickup device;

wherein an optical path is folded in said first prism and said second prism and said first prism and said second prism are placed close to each other in a direction (Z-axis direction) in which a distance (D) from the stop of said image-forming optical system to said electronic image pickup device is reduced so that said distance (D) is not more than 25 millimeters (D≦

25 millimeters), and further said first prism and said second prism are arranged so that said distance D is not less than 3 millimeters (D≧

3 millimeters) to lead a light beam having a field angle of at least 10°

(ω

>

10°

) to said electronic image pickup device by folding said light beam in said first prism and said second prism.

9. A compact photographic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the optical path is folded in said first prism and said second prism and said first prism and said second prism are placed close to each other in the direction (Z-axis direction) in which the distance D from the stop of said image-forming optical system to said electronic image pickup device is reduced so that said distance (D) is not more than 15 millimeters (D≦

15 millimeters).

11. A telephone apparatus comprising:

an image-forming optical system for forming an image of an object, said image-forming optical system comprising;

a stop;

a first prism; and

a second prism;

said first prism and said second prism being provided between said stop and an image plane;

said first prism including, in order from an object side thereof;

a first prism entrance surface through which a light beam passing through said stop enters said first prism;

a first prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said first prism;

a first prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said first prism first reflecting surface; and

a first prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said first prism second reflecting surface exits from said first prism;

wherein said first prism first reflecting surface and said first prism exit surface are an identical surface, and the light beam entering through said first prism entrance surface is incident on said first prism exit surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said first prism exit surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said first prism first reflecting surface;

said second prism including;

a second prism entrance surface through which the light beam exiting from said first prism exit surface enters said second prism;

a second prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said second prism;

a second prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said second prism first reflecting surface; and

a second prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said second prism second reflecting surface exits from said second prism;

wherein said second prism second reflecting surface and said second prism entrance surface are an identical surface, and the light beam reflected from said second prism first reflecting surface is incident on said second prism entrance surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said second prism entrance surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said second prism second reflecting surface,

an electronic image pickup device placed at a position where it receives an object image formed by said image-forming optical system;

an antenna for transmitting and receiving telephone signals;

an input unit for inputting signals, e.g. a telephone number; and

a signal processing unit for converting the object image received with said electronic image pickup device into a transmittable signal.

12. An information reproducing apparatus comprising:

an image-forming optical system for forming an image of an object, said image-forming optical system comprising;

a stop;

a first prism; and

a second prism;

said first prism and said second prism being provided between said stop and an image plane;

said first prism including, in order from an object side thereof;

a first prism entrance surface through which a light beam passing through said stop enters said first prism;

a first prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said first prism;

a first prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said first prism first reflecting surface; and

a first prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said first prism second reflecting surface exits from said first prism;

wherein said first prism first reflecting surface and said first prism exit surface are an identical surface, and the light beam entering through said first prism entrance surface is incident on said first prism exit surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said first prism exit surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said first prism first reflecting surface;

said second prism including;

a second prism entrance surface through which the light beam exiting from said first prism exit surface enters said second prism;

a second prism first reflecting surface that reflects the light beam entering said second prism;

a second prism second reflecting surface that reflects the light beam reflected by said second prism first reflecting surface; and

a second prism exit surface through which the light beam reflected by said second prism second reflecting surface exits from said second prism;

wherein said second prism second reflecting surface and said second prism entrance surface are an identical surface, and the light beam reflected from said second prism first reflecting surface is incident on said second prism entrance surface at an angle exceeding a total reflection critical angle, thereby allowing said second prism entrance surface to produce a reflecting action so as to function as said second prism second reflecting surface,

an electronic image pickup device placed at a position where it receives an object image formed by said image-forming optical system;

an illuminating member for illuminating an object having a sound signal recorded in a form of one of a bar code and a dot pattern;

a signal processor constructed to provide speech recognition of the sound signal received in a form of the object image by said electronic image pickup device from said object; and

a sound generating member for transmitting the recognized sound signal to an operator'"'"'s ear as a sound.