Optical element fixing component and imaging unit

• US 8,027,101 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Hanayama, Yukichi, Suda, Nobuyuki, Hijino, Masamichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrington; Alicia M
• Application Number:
  US12/777,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20100214676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 359/811, 359/813, 359/814, 359/815, 359/819, 359/818
• US Class Current: 359/811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/243 Objectives for endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/008 with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/02 for lenses supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical element fixing component having a hollow portion which includes an optical element. The optical element fixing component is made from a non-crystalline alloy, and a ratio of a linear expansion coefficient of the optical element fixing component toward a linear expansion coefficient of the optical element is 1.5 or less.

Claims

1. An optical element fixing component having a hollow portion in which an optical element is provided therein,

wherein the optical element fixing component is made from a metal glass non-crystalline alloy, and a ratio of a linear expansion coefficient of the optical element fixing component toward a linear expansion coefficient of the optical element is 1.5 or less.

2. The optical element fixing component according to claim 1, wherein the ratio is 1.0 or more.

3. The optical element fixing component according to claim 1, wherein the linear expansion coefficient of the metal glass non-crystalline alloy is 15×

10<sup>−

6</sup>/°

C. or less.

4. The optical element fixing component according to claim 1, wherein a glass transition area of the metal glass non-crystalline alloy is 20°

C. or more.

5. The optical element fixing component according to claim 1, wherein the metal glass non-crystalline alloy is a Zr-based alloy.

6. An imaging unit comprising:

the optical element fixing component according to claim 1; and

an optical element which is fixed to a hollow portion of the optical element fixing component.

7. The imaging unit according to claim 6, further comprising a protection cover which is made from a metal glass non-crystalline alloy.

8. The imaging unit according to claim 6, further comprising a bonding layer formed by a melted bonding material provided between the optical element fixing component and the optical element.

9. The imaging unit according to claim 8, wherein a melting temperature of the bonding material is lower than a glass transition temperature of the metal glass non-crystalline alloy.

10. An endoscope apparatus comprising the imaging unit according to claim 6.

11. A camera comprising the imaging unit according to claim 6.