System for providing zoom, focus and aperture control in a video inspection device

• US 7,630,148 B1
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies LP (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies LP (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Yang, Dongmin, Karpen, Thomas, Chilek, Theodore A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARTINEZ, JOSEPH P
• Application Number:
  US12/136,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20090310229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 359/676, 359/684, 359/738, 359/740, 348/65, 348/72, 600/109, 600/168
• US Class Current: 359/740
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/243 Objectives for endoscopes
• 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: G02B 7/102 controlled by a microcomputer cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

An optical system for a remote video inspection device including an elongated probe for inspection of target objects, comprising: an imager located distally within the probe, wherein the imager receives an image of the target object; a focus lens group located within the probe, the focus lens group comprising a variable aperture and at least one focus lens; a zoom lens group located within the probe, the zoom lens group comprising at least one zoom lens, wherein the movement of the zoom lens group in relation to the imager changes the magnification of the image; a tip lens located further from the imager than the focus lens group and the zoom lens group, wherein the distance between the tip lens and the imager is fixed; wherein a first movement of the focus lens group proportional to the movement of the zoom lens group provides an initial image focus, and a second movement of the focus lens group independent of the movement of the zoom lens provides a final image focus and proportional changes to the size of the variable aperture.

Claims

1. An optical system for a remote video inspection device including an elongated probe for inspection of target objects, comprising:

an imager located distally within said probe, wherein said imager receives an image of said target object;

a focus lens group located within said probe, said focus lens group comprising a variable aperture and at least one focus lens;

a zoom lens group located within said probe, said zoom lens group comprising at least one zoom lens, wherein the movement of said zoom lens group in relation to said imager changes the magnification of said image;

a tip lens located further from said imager than said focus lens group and said zoom lens group, wherein the distance between said tip lens and said imager is fixed;

wherein said movement of said zoom lens group causes a first movement of said focus lens group proportional to said movement of said zoom lens group providing an initial image focus, and a second movement of said focus lens group independent of said movement of said zoom lens provides a final image focus and proportional changes to the size of said variable aperture.

2. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the size of said variable aperture increases when said second movement of said focus lens group is in a direction that increases the distance at which said target object is in focus.

3. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the size of said variable aperture decreases when said second movement of said focus lens group is in a direction that decreases the distance at which said target object is in focus.

4. The optical system of claim 1, wherein said focus lens group moves in only a single direction as said focus lens group moves from said initial image focus to said final image focus and increases the distance at which said target object is in focus.

5. The optical system of claim 1, wherein said focus lens group moves in only a single direction as said focus lens group moves from said initial image focus to said final image focus and decreases the distance at which said target object is in focus.

6. The optical system of claim 1, wherein said zoom lens group and said focus lens group move in only a single direction as said optical system moves from a first field of view to a narrower second field of view.

7. The optical system of claim 1, wherein said zoom lens group and said focus lens group move in only a single direction as said optical system moves from a first field of view to a wider second field of view.

8. The optical system of claim 1, wherein said zoom lens group is located between said focus lens group and said tip lens, and said variable aperture is located between said focus lens group and said zoom lens group.

9. The optical system of claim 1, further comprising a zoom lens group movement mechanism, wherein said zoom lens group movement mechanism causes said movement of said zoom lens group and said first movement of said focus lens group.

10. The optical system of claim 9, wherein said zoom lens group movement mechanism comprises at least one electrical actuator.

11. The optical system of claim 1, further comprising a focus lens group movement mechanism, wherein said focus lens group movement mechanism causes said second movement of said focus lens group and said proportional changes to said variable aperture.

12. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said focus lens group movement mechanism comprises at least one electrical actuator.

13. The optical system of claim 1, wherein said focus lens group consists of a first focus lens, a second focus lens, and said variable aperture.

14. The optical system of claim 1, wherein said focus lens group consists of a first focus lens, a second focus lens, a third focus lens, and said variable aperture.

15. The optical system of claim 1, wherein said zoom lens group consists of a single zoom lens.

16. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising a waveguide located between said tip lens and said imager.

17. The optical system of claim 16, wherein said waveguide comprises a prism.

18. The optical system of claim 1, wherein said tip lens is located in a detachable tip.

19. The optical system of claim 1, wherein said first movement of said focus lens group is in the same direction as said movement of said zoom lens group.

20. An optical system for a remote video inspection device including an elongated probe for inspection of target objects, comprising:

an imager located distally within said probe, wherein said imager receives an image of said target object;

a focus lens group located distally to said imager within said probe, said focus lens group comprising a variable aperture and at least one focus lens, wherein said at least one focus lens is located between said imager and said variable aperture;

a zoom lens group located distally to said focus lens group within said probe, said zoom lens group comprising at least one zoom lens, wherein the movement of said zoom lens group in relation to said imager changes the magnification of said image;

a tip lens located in a detachable tip further from said imager than said focus lens group and said zoom lens group, wherein the distance between said tip lens and said imager is fixed;

wherein said movement of said zoom lens group causes a first movement of said focus lens group and proportional to said movement of said zoom lens group providing an initial image focus, and a second movement of said focus lens group independent of said movement of said zoom lens provides a final image focus and proportional changes to the size of said variable aperture.