US3610733A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Varifocal lens system and actuating mechanism
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-08-31
•
Granted: 1971-10-05
•
Expires: 1990-08-31
Abstract
Abstract The movable elements of a completely color-corrected varifocal lens system are carried upon elongated rods within a combined lens support and actuating mechanism whereby problems of internal reflections and vignetting are eliminated while reducing the overall dimensions of the assembly. The shape of the lenscontrolling cams is such that the cam followers do not change direction throughout the entire range thereby eliminating ''''jump'''' of the image.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank G Back
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:54
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B7/10; G02B15/00; G02B15/14; G02B15/144
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A powered varifocal lens assembly comprising an elongated hollow outer cylindrical housing, a ring-shaped motor chassis at one end of the outer housing, a plurality of motors carried by said chassis, a front lens assembly carried at the opposite end of said outer housing, an inner housing within the outer housing, spaced from and concentric with the outer housing a first and a second set of spaced longitudinal elongated rods carried by the inner housing parallel with each other and the walls of the inner housing, a variation assembly slideably carried upon the first set of rods, a compensator assembly slideably cried upon the second set of rods, a cam barrel between the inner and outer housings, cam grooves within the cam barrel, cam followers carried by the variator assembly and the compensator assembly and received within the cam grooves, a relay assembly carried within the central opening of the ring-shaped motor chassis, an iris assembly between the compensator assembly and the relay, mans including one of the motors and the cam barrel to move the variator assembly and compensator assembly along the rods to vary the focal length, means including a second of the motors to operate the iris assembly, and means including third motor to Move the front lens assembly axially within the outer housing to focus the varifocal ls assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A powered varifocal lens assembly comprising an elongated hollow outer cylindrical housing, a ring-shaped motor chassis at one end of the outer housing, a plurality of motors carried by said chassis, a front lens assembly carried at the opposite end of said outer housing, an inner housing within the outer housing, spaced from and concentric with the outer housing a first and a second set of spaced longitudinal elongated rods carried by the inner housing parallel with each other and the walls of the inner housing, a variation assembly slideably carried upon the first set of rods, a compensator assembly slideably cried upon the second set of rods, a cam barrel between the inner and outer housings, cam grooves within the cam barrel, cam followers carried by the variator assembly and the compensator assembly and received within the cam grooves, a relay assembly carried within the central opening of the ring-shaped motor chassis, an iris assembly between the compensator assembly and the relay, mans including one of the motors and the cam barrel to move the variator assembly and compensator assembly along the rods to vary the focal length, means including a second of the motors to operate the iris assembly, and means including third motor to Move the front lens assembly axially within the outer housing to focus the varifocal ls assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device according to claim 1 in which the variator and compensator assemblies each include a spider within which the variator and compensator lenses are respectively carried, at last three outwardly extending spaced arms on each of said spiders, two of said arms being bored to receive the elongated rods therethrough and the third arm having the cam follower therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device according to claim 1 in which a focusing barrel is disposed between the inner and outer housing, at least one pin is carried by the said focusing barrel coupled to the front lens assembly and the third motor is driveably coupled to the focusing barrel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 2 in which a coil spring under compression is disposed around each of the elongated rods passing through the compensator assembly spider to eliminate play between the follower and the cam groove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device according to claim 2 in which the inner housing is provided with opposed centrally bored end walls adjacent to front lens and motor chassis respectively within which the elongated rods are secured and the relay lens assembly is carried within an elongated barrel secured to the end wall opening adjacent the motor chassis extending through said chassis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device according to claim 2 in which the cam barrel moving means comprises a reversible motor, an output shaft on said motor, a gear carried upon said output shaft, an internal gear secured to the cam barrel in mesh with the output shaft gear and a clutch between the output shaft and the said output shaft gear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1 in which the lenses have the following optical characteristics:
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 2 in which the cam grooves are helical and to cam followers bear against only one side of said grooves throughout the travel of the spiders.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2720817A
Cited
US3533344A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |