Zoom lens system

• US 7,075,734 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Kenzaburo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HASAN, MOHAMMED A
• Application Number:
  US11/128,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20050207023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 359676-692
• US Class Current: 359/691
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 15/143507 arranged -++
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 15/177 having a negative front lens or group of lenses

Abstract

A zoom lens system having an exit pupil far away from the image plane, zoom ratio of about three, and in particular having compactness and high optical performance includes, in order from an object, a first lens group having negative refractive power, an aperture stop, a second lens group having positive refractive power, and a third lens group having positive refractive power. When zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, the first and second lens groups are moved and the third lens group is fixed such that a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group varies, and a distance between the second lens group and the third lens group increases. The second lens group is composed of four lenses or less and includes a diffractive optical surface formed on a lens surface except the most object side lens surface.

Claims

1. A zoom lens system comprising, in order from an object:

a first lens group; and

a second lens group;

wherein when the state of lens group positions varies from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state;

the first lens group and the second lens group are moved such that

a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group varies; and

wherein the second lens group is composed of four lenses or less;

the second lens group includes a diffractive optical surface formed on a lens surface except the most object side lens surface; and

the following conditional expression is satisfied;

0.2<

C/fw<

2.0

where C denotes the effective diameter of the diffractive optical surface, and fw denotes the focal length of the zoom lens system in the wide-angle end state.

2. The zoom lens system according to claim 1, wherein the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≦

L/L2<

1.0

where L denotes a distance along the optical axis between the most image side lens surface of the second lens group and the diffractive optical surface, and L2 denotes the total lens length of the second lens group.

3. The zoom lens system according to claim 2, wherein the diffractive optical surface is formed on a lens surface which faces the air, and the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≦

|fw/ra|<

0.4

where ra denotes a radius of curvature of the lens surface on which the diffractive optical surface is formed.

4. The zoom lens system according to claim 1, wherein the diffractive optical surface is formed on a lens surface which faces the air, and the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≦

|fw/ra|<

0.4

where ra denotes a radius of curvature of the lens surface on which the diffractive optical surface is formed.

5. The zoom lens system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first lens group has negative refractive power; and

the second lens group has positive refractive power.

6. The zoom lens system according to claim 5, wherein the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≦

L/L2<

1.0

where L denotes a distance along the optical axis between the most image side lens surface of the second lens group and the diffractive optical surface, and L2 denotes the total lens length of the second lens group.

7. The zoom lens system according to claim 6, wherein the diffractive optical surface is formed on a lens surface which faces the air, and the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≦

|fw/ra|<

0.4

where ra denotes a radius of curvature of the lens surface on which the diffractive optical surface is formed.

8. The zoom lens system according to claim 5, wherein the diffractive optical surface is formed on a lens surface which faces the air, and the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≦

|fw/ra|<

0.4

where ra denotes a radius of curvature of the lens surface on which the diffractive optical surface is formed.

9. The zoom lens system according to claim 5, further comprising an aperture stop between the first lens group and the second lens group.

10. The zoom lens system according to claim 9, wherein the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≦

L/L2<

1.0

where L denotes a distance along the optical axis between the most image side lens surface of the second lens group and the diffractive optical surface, and L2 denotes the total lens length of the second lens group.

11. The zoom lens system according to claim 10, wherein the diffractive optical surface is formed on a lens surface which faces the air, and the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≦

|fw/ra|<

0.4

where ra denotes a radius of curvature of the lens surface on which the diffractive optical surface is formed.

12. The zoom lens system according to claim 9, wherein the diffractive optical surface is formed on a lens surface which faces the air, and the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≦

|fw/ra|<

0.4

where ra denotes a radius of curvature of the lens surface on which the diffractive optical surface is formed.

13. The zoom lens system according to claim 1, wherein the zoom lens system comprising an aperture stop between the first lens group and the second lens group.

14. The zoom lens system according to claim 13, wherein the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≦

L/L2<

1.0

where L denotes a distance along the optical axis between the most image side lens surface of the second lens group and the diffractive optical surface, and L2 denotes the total lens length of the second lens group.

15. The zoom lens system according to claim 14, wherein the diffractive optical surface is formed on a lens surface which faces the air, and the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≦

|fw/ra|<

0.4

where ra denotes a radius of curvature of the lens surface on which the diffractive optical surface is formed.

16. The zoom lens system according to claim 13, wherein the diffractive optical surface is formed on a lens surface which faces the air, and the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≦

|fw/ra|<

0.4

where ra denotes a radius of curvature of the lens surface on which the diffractive optical surface is formed.

17. A method of forming an image of an object and varying zoom ratio by a lens system that comprises a first lens group and a second lens group in order from the object, comprising the steps of:

providing the second lens group that is composed of four lenses or less and includes a diffractive optical surface formed on a lens surface except the most object side lens surface to satisfy the following conditional expression;

0.2<

C/fw<

2.0

where C denotes the effective diameter of the diffractive optical surface, and fw denotes a focal length of the lens system in the wide-angle end state; and

varying zoom ratio by moving the first lens group and the second lens group and by varying a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group when the lens system moves from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state.