Endoscope objective lens system

• US 7,379,252 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2006
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Murayama, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, JORDAN MARC
• Application Number:
  US11/389,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20060221457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 359/793, 359/784, 359749-753, 359656-661
• US Class Current: 359/749
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/243 Objectives for endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 9/34 having four components only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 9/60 having five components only

Abstract

An endoscope objective lens system includes a negative front lens group, a diaphragm, and a positive rear lens group, in this order from the object. The negative front lens group includes one lens element, or a plurality of non-cemented lens elements; and the most object-side lens element is constituted by a negative lens element. The positive rear lens group includes a plurality of non-cemented lens elements; and at least one negative lens element is provided in the positive rear lens group.

Claims

1. A fixed focal length endoscope objective lens system comprising a negative front lens group, a diaphragm, and a positive rear lens group, in this order from an object;

wherein said negative front lens group comprises one lens element, or a plurality of non-cemented lens elements;

wherein the most object-side lens element of said negative front lens group is a negative lens element;

wherein said positive rear lens group comprises a plurality of non-cemented lens elements;

wherein at least one negative lens element is provided in said positive rear lens group;

wherein said endoscope objective lens system satisfies the following conditions;

−

1.45<

f₁/f<

−

0.6

0.7<

|f_F/f_R|<

1.35

−

2.3<

f<sub>(−

)</sub>/f<

−

1.5

wherein

f₁ designates the focal length of the most object-side negative lens element of said negative front lens group;

f designates the focal length of the entire endoscope objective lens system;

f_F designates the focal length of said negative front lens group with (f_F<

0);

f_R designates the focal length of said positive rear lens group with (f_R>

0); and

f<sub>(−

)</sub> designates the focal length of said negative lens element of said positive rear lens group.

2. The endoscope objective lens system according to claim 1, wherein said negative lens element of said positive rear lens group satisfies the following condition:

1.8<

n<sub>(−

)</sub>

wherein

n<sub>(−

)</sub> designates the refractive index of said negative lens element of said positive rear lens group.

3. The endoscope objective lens system according to claim 1, wherein said positive rear lens group comprises two positive lens elements and one negative lens element.

4. The endoscope objective lens system according to claim 1, wherein said positive lens element, said negative lens element and said positive lens element are arranged in this order from the object.

5. The endoscope objective lens system according to claim 3, wherein said negative lens element of said positive rear lens group satisfies the following condition:

1.95<

|R<sub>(−

)</sub>|/f<

3

wherein

R<sub>(−

)</sub> designates a smaller radius of curvature of one of the surfaces of said negative lens element.

6. The endoscope objective lens system according to claim 1, wherein said negative front lens group comprises a negative lens element and a positive lens element, in this order from the object;

wherein the image-side surface of said positive lens element is formed in a flat surface; and

wherein said positive lens element satisfies the following condition;

1.6<

f₂/f<

7

wherein

f2 designates the focal length of said positive lens element of said negative front lens group.

7. The endoscope objective lens system according to claim 1, wherein said negative front lens group comprises a negative lens element and a plane-parallel plate, in this order from the object.

8. The endoscope objective lens system according to claim 1, wherein said negative front lens group comprises a single negative lens element.