Lens assembly and optical imaging using same

• US 7,050,245 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2004
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pinotage LLC
• Original Assignee: Pinotage LLC
• Inventors: Thompson, Robert Lee, Tesar, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Jack
• Application Number:
  US10/809,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 359/754, 359/763, 359/771, 359/772, 359/764
• US Class Current: 359/771
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/004 having four lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/006 at least one element being a compound optical element, e.g. cemented elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/22 Telecentric objectives or lens systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0025 for optical correction, e.g. distorsion, aberration
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 9/34 having four components only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 9/62 having six components only

Abstract

A lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens; a first meniscus lens in optical communication with the first lens; a second meniscus lens in optical communication with the first meniscus lens; an aperture stop in optical communication with the second meniscus lens; a fourth lens in optical communication with the aperture stop; and a bi-convex lens in optical communication with the fourth lens. The lens assembly is a four group, five element, lens assembly that is constructed so that at least one of the lenses may be replaced without also requiring the other lenses in the assembly to be significantly changed, resulting in a “flexible” construction. The lens assembly may be adapted to provide a field of view of approximately 15 degrees; approximately 0% vignetting within the field of view; and a distortion of the image of less than approximately 1%. Multiple lens assemblies and detectors may be provided in a single housing.

Claims

1. A lens assembly comprising:

a plurality of lenses for producing an image of an object, the plurality of lenses adapted to provide;

a field of view of approximately 15 degrees;

approximately 0% vignetting within the field of view;

a distortion of the image of less than approximately 1%;

wherein the plurality of lenses includes five lenses, wherein the five lenses include, in order from an object side to an image side;

a first lens;

a first meniscus lens;

a second meniscus lens;

a fourth lens; and

a bi-convex lens.

2. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lenses are configured to define a focal length, and wherein a length of the plurality of lenses is approximately equal to the focal length.

3. The lens assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an aperture stop in optical communication with the plurality of lenses.

4. The lens assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of lenses is non-symmetrical about the aperture stop.

5. The lens assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one planar plate in optical communication with the plurality of lenses.

6. The lens assembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of lenses is further adapted to provide:

offsetting aberrations to compensate for aberrations introduce by the at least one planar plate.

7. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the first lens is a plano-convex lens.

8. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the first lens is a meniscus lens.

9. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the fourth lens is a meniscus lens.

10. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the fourth lens is a bi-concave lens.