Lens device

• US 7,773,144 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujinon Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujinon Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peterson; Christopher K
• Application Number:
  US11/219,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 348/343, 348/344, 348345-357, 396322-340, 396354-359
• US Class Current: 348/344
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0095 Relay lenses or rod lenses in instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies G02B23/2446
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1013 for colour or multispectral image sensors, e.g. splitting an image into monochromatic image components on respective sensors spectral imaging systems G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths

Abstract

A lens device, in which object light is branched by a half mirror after passing through a photographic lens to allow photographing with two photographing means and in which the half mirror can be retracted from the optical axis to obtain a clear image using one of the photographing means, is provided. The half mirror in the lens device is provided between a front-side relay lens and a rear-side relay lens, and is provided such that the half mirror can be retracted away from an optical axis of the photographic lens and advanced toward from the optical axis. The rear-side relay lens is moved along the optical axis to a position in accordance with the retracting of advancing of the half mirror.

Claims

1. A lens device, comprising:

a photographic lens having an optical axis;

a half mirror on the optical axis, the photographic lens being on a light incident side of the half mirror;

wherein the lens device is connected to a first camera on a light transmitting side of the half mirror and connected to a second camera on a light reflecting side of the half mirror, and object light transmitted through the photographic lens is divided by the half mirror toward the first camera and the second camera; and

an optical system on the optical axis, the optical system being located on the light transmitting side of the half mirror;

a mirror moving unit that retracts the half mirror away from a position on the optical axis and advances the half mirror toward the position on the optical axis; and

an optical system moving unit that moves the optical system along the optical axis in accordance with a movement of the half mirror, the optical system moving unit correcting defocus attributable to both the retracting and the advancing of the half mirror.

2. The lens device according to claim 1, wherein the optical system is a first relay lens.

3. The lens device according to claim 1, further including:

a second relay lens located on the light reflecting side of the half mirror between the half mirror and the second camera.

4. The lens device according to claim 3, further including:

a third relay lens on the optical axis located on a light incident side of the half mirror, wherein the half mirror is between the optical system and the third relay lens.

5. The lens device according to claim 1, wherein the half mirror is retracted by rotating around an axis parallel to the optical axis.

6. The lens device according to claim 1, wherein the half mirror maintains a fixed angle to the optical axis before and after the retraction.

7. The lens device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a main casting;

a holding frame in the main casting, holding the half mirror;

a movable contact attached to the holding frame; and

a fixed contact attached to the main casting;

wherein

the movable contact contacts the fixed contact when the half mirror is on the optical axis; and

the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact when the half mirror is retracted away from the optical axis.

8. A lens device, comprising:

a photographic lens having an optical axis;

a half mirror on the optical axis, the photographic lens being on a light incident side of the half mirror;

wherein the lens device is connected to a first camera on a light transmitting side of the half mirror and connected to a second camera on a light reflecting side of the half mirror, and object light transmitted through the photographic lens is divided by the half mirror toward the first camera and the second camera; and

an optical system on the optical axis, the optical system being located on the light transmitting side of the half mirror;

a mirror moving unit that retracts the half mirror away from a position on the optical axis and advances the half mirror toward the position on the optical axis; and

an optical system moving unit that moves the optical system only along the optical axis in accordance with a movement of the half mirror.

9. A lens device, comprising:

a photographic lens having an optical axis;

a half mirror on the optical axis, the photographic lens being on a light incident side of the half mirror;

wherein the lens device is connected to a first camera on a light transmitting side of the half mirror and connected to a second camera on a light reflecting side of the half mirror, and object light transmitted through the photographic lens is divided by the half mirror toward the first camera and the second camera; and

an optical system on the optical axis, the optical system being located on the light transmitting side of the half mirror;

a mirror moving unit that retracts the half mirror away from a position on the optical axis and advances the half mirror toward the position on the optical axis; and

an optical system moving unit that moves the optical system along the optical axis in accordance with a movement of the half mirror, the optical system moving unit including at least two rotating gears.