Four element lens system

Claim 2

A lens system adapted for use on a camera comprising in a direction from the object to image side of the lens system, a first positive meniscus lens convex to the object side, a second negative meniscus lens convex to the object side, a third negative meniscus lens of the same shape as the second lens and convex to the image side, a fourth positive meniscus lens of the same shape as the first lens and convex to the image side, the optical axis of each lens being aligned, and means for setting the point of intersection for the principal rays defining the maximum field angle and the optical axis, between the second and third lens, so that the point of intersection is on the second lens side relative to the center of symmetry of the distance between the second and third lenses.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for setting the point of intersection is an aperture stop located at a point approaching the second lens from the center of symmetry of the second and third lenses whereby the point of intersection for the principal rays defining the maximum field angle and the optical axis is set approximately at the position where the plane of the aperture stop intersects the optical axis.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein the axial distance between the first and second lenses is equal to that between the third and fourth lenses.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein the axial distance between the first and second lenses is different from that between the third and fourth lenses.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 wherein the first and fourth lenses have the same refractive index and the same Abbe number and the second and third lenses have the same refractive index and the same Abbe number.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5 wherein each lens element is made from plastic.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1 wherein at least two of the lens surfaces are aspherical to correct aberrations.

Claim 9

A lens system adapted for use on a camera comprising in a direction from object to image a first positive meniscus lens element convex to the object side, a second negative meniscus lens element convex to the object isde, a third negative meniscus lens element of the same shape as the second lens element and convex to the image side, a fourth positive meniscus lens element of the same shape as the first lens element and convex to the image side and an aperture stopper element positioned between the negative lens elements, the optical axis of each element being aligned, the position of the effective plane of the aperture stopper element satisfying the following equation: ##EQU5## wherein S is a distance between elements along the optical axis and S 2 ' is the distance between a surface of the second negative meniscus lens adjacent the third negative lens element and the effective plane of the aperture stopper traverse to the optical axis and S 2 " is the distance between the effective plane of the aperture stopper and a surface of the third negative meniscus lens adjacent the second negative lens.

Claim 10

A lens system adapted for use on a camera comprising in a direction from object to image a first positive meniscus lens element convex to the object side, a second negative meniscus lens element convex to the object isde, a third negative meniscus lens element of the same shape as the second lens element and convex to the image side, a fourth positive meniscus lens element of the same shape as the first lens element and convex to the image side and an aperture stopper element positioned between the negative lens elements, the optical axis of each element being aligned, the position of the effective plane of the aperture stopper element satisfying the following equation: ##EQU5## wherein S is a distance between elements along the optical axis and S 2 ' is the distance between a surface of the second negative meniscus lens adjacent the third negative lens element and the effective plane of the aperture stopper traverse to the optical axis and S 2 " is the distance between the effective plane of the aperture stopper and a surface of the third negative meniscus lens adjacent the second negative lens.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 8 wherein each lens element is made from plastic.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 8 wherein the first and fourth positive meniscus lens elements are made from glass and the other meniscus lens elements are made from plastic.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 10 wherein each positive meniscus lens element has the same thickness and radii of curvature and each lens element is made from plastic.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 8 wherein the focal lengths of the positive meniscus lens element, f 1 is related to the focal length of the negative meniscus lens element, f 2 , as follows: 1.3f.sub.1 ≧ | f.sub.2 |

Claim 15

The invention of claim 8 wherein the thickness along the optical axis of the positive meniscus lens element, t 1 , is related to the thickness of the negative meniscus lens element, t 2 , as follows: t.sub.1 ≧ 2t.sub.2

Claim 16

The invention of claim 1 wherein each positive meniscus lens element has the same thickness and radii of curvature and the lesser radius of curvature on the positive meniscus lens element, r 1 , is related to the greater radius of curvature on the negative meniscus lens element, r 3 , as follows: r.sub.1 ≦ r.sub.3

Claim 17

The invention of claim 9 wherein the positive meniscus lens elements are made from methyl methacrylate.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 9 wherein the negative meniscus lens elements are made from a copolymer of polystyrene and methyl methacrylate.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 9 wherein the positive meniscus lens elements are made from methyl methacrylate and the negative meniscus lens elements have an index of refraction in the range of 1.5 to 1.6 and an Abbe value in the range of 30 to 35.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 12 wherein each lens element is made from plastic.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 13 wherein each lens element is made from plastic.

Claim 22

The invention of claim 14 wherein each lens element is made from plastic.

Claim 23

A four element lens system adapted for use on a camera comprising sequentially from the object side to image side of the lens system, a first positive meniscus lens element convex to the object side, a second negative meniscus lens element convex to the object side, a third negative meniscus lens element of the same shape as the second lens element and convex to the image side, a fourth positive meniscus lens element of the same shape as the first lens element and convex to the image side, the optical axis of each element being aligned and means for positioning the principal rays defining the maximum field angle so that their junction with the optical axis satisfies the following equation: ##EQU6## the means for positioning being related to the respective adjacent surfaces of the negative lens elements by the distance, S 2 ', along the optical axis between the surface of the second negative lens element and the junction of the optical axis with the maximum field principal rays and the distance, S 2 ", between the surface of the third negative meniscus lens and the junction of the optical axis with the maximum field principal rays, the focal length of the first positive lens element, f 1 , being related to the focal length of the second negative lens element, f 2 , as follows:

Claim 24

A four element lens system adapted for use on a camera comprising sequentially from the object side to image side of the lens system, a first positive meniscus lens element convex to the object side, a second negative meniscus lens element convex to the object side, a third negative meniscus lens element of the same shape as the second lens element and convex to the image side, a fourth positive meniscus lens element of the same shape as the first lens element and convex to the image side, the optical axis of each element being aligned and means for positioning the principal rays defining the maximum field angle so that their junction with the optical axis satisfies the following equation: ##EQU6## the means for positioning being related to the respective adjacent surfaces of the negative lens elements by the distance, S 2 ', along the optical axis between the surface of the second negative lens element and the junction of the optical axis with the maximum field principal rays and the distance, S 2 ", between the surface of the third negative meniscus lens and the junction of the optical axis with the maximum field principal rays, the focal length of the first positive lens element, f 1 , being related to the focal length of the second negative lens element, f 2 , as follows:

Claim 25

3 f 1 ≧ |f 2 | and the thickness along the optical axis of the first positive lens element, t 1 , being related to the thickness of the second negative lens element, t 2 , as follows: t.sub.1 ≧ 2t.sub.2.

Claim 26

3 f 1 ≧ |f 2 | and the thickness along the optical axis of the first positive lens element, t 1 , being related to the thickness of the second negative lens element, t 2 , as follows: t.sub.1 ≧ 2t.sub.2.

Claim 27

The invention of claim 21 wherein the first and fourth positive lens elements are the same lens and the second and third negative lens elements are the same lens.

Claim 28

The invention of claim 21 wherein the first and fourth positive lens elements have an index of refraction about 1.491 and the second and third negative lens elements have an index of refraction in the range of 1.5 to 1.6.

Claim 29

The invention of claim 22 wherein all the lens elements are made from plastic.

Claim 30

The invention of claim 23 wherein the second and third negative lens elements have an Abbe value in the range of 30 to 35.

Claim 31

The invention of claim 23 wherein the first and fourth positive lens elements are the same shape and the same plastic material and the second and third negative lens elements are the same shape and the same plastic material.

Claim 32

The invention of claim 24 wherein the second and third negative lens elements have an Abbe value in the range of 30 to 35 and the first and fourth positive lens elements have an Abbe value of about 57.8.

Claim 33

The invention of claim 21 wherein at least two of the lens surfaces are aspherical.

Claim 34

A four element lens system having at least one spherical surface (AS) comprising a design parameter of approximate value within the following specification: ______________________________________ THICKNESS (t) AND LENS Nd V RADII SPACINGS (S) ______________________________________ L.sub.1 1.4914 57.8 r.sub.1 = 0.2291 t.sub.1 = 0.092 r.sub.2 = 1.3606 S.sub.1 = 0.011 L.sub.2 1.5679 34.6 r.sub.3 = AS.sub.2 t.sub.2 =0.036 r.sub.4 = 0.1590 S.sub.2 ' = 0.039 S.sub.2 " = 0.056 L.sub.3 1.5679 34.6 r.sub.5 = -0.1590 t.sub.3 = 0.036 r.sub.6 = -AS.sub.2 S.sub.3 = 0.005 L.sub.4 1.4914 57.8 r.sub.7 = -1.3606 t.sub.4 = 0.092 r.sub.8 = -0.2291 ______________________________________ wherein (Nd) is the index of refraction, V is the Abbe value and the aspheric surface is defined by an eccentricity ε, 1.053 and the following aspherical coefficients; (C x ); C o = 3.317 C 2 = -1.0446

Claim 35

A four element lens system having at least one spherical surface (AS) comprising a design parameter of approximate value within the following specification: ______________________________________ THICKNESS (t) AND LENS Nd V RADII SPACINGS (S) ______________________________________ L.sub.1 1.4914 57.8 r.sub.1 = 0.2291 t.sub.1 = 0.092 r.sub.2 = 1.3606 S.sub.1 = 0.011 L.sub.2 1.5679 34.6 r.sub.3 = AS.sub.2 t.sub.2 =0.036 r.sub.4 = 0.1590 S.sub.2 ' = 0.039 S.sub.2 " = 0.056 L.sub.3 1.5679 34.6 r.sub.5 = -0.1590 t.sub.3 = 0.036 r.sub.6 = -AS.sub.2 S.sub.3 = 0.005 L.sub.4 1.4914 57.8 r.sub.7 = -1.3606 t.sub.4 = 0.092 r.sub.8 = -0.2291 ______________________________________ wherein (Nd) is the index of refraction, V is the Abbe value and the aspheric surface is defined by an eccentricity ε, 1.053 and the following aspherical coefficients; (C x ); C o = 3.317 C 2 = -1.0446

Claim 36

a four element lens having at least some aspherical surface (AS) comprising a design parameter of approximate values within the following specification: ______________________________________ THICKNESS (t) AND LENS Nd V RADII SPACINGS (S) ______________________________________ L.sub.1 1.491 57.8 r.sub.1 = AS.sub.1 t.sub.1 = 0.092 r.sub.2 = 1.055 S.sub.1 = 0.009 L.sub.2 1.592 31.0 r.sub.3 = AS.sub.2 t.sub.2 = 0.040 r.sub.4 = AS.sub.3 S.sub.2 ' = 0.037 S.sub.2 " = 0.050 L.sub.3 1.592 31.0 r.sub.5 = -AS.sub.3 t.sub.3 = 0.040 r.sub.6 = -AS.sub.2 S.sub.3 = 0.005 L.sub.4 1.491 57.8 r.sub.7 = -1.055 t.sub.4 = 0.092 r.sub.8 = -AS.sub.1 ______________________________________ wherein (Nd) is the index of refraction, V is the Abbe value and the aspheric surfaces are defined respectively by their eccentricities (Σ) and aspherical coefficients (C x ) as follows: ______________________________________ C.sub.0 C.sub.1 C.sub.2 Σ ______________________________________ AS.sub.1 4.795 -0.064 0.514 1.074 AS.sub.2 3.086 -0.049 -1.885 0.875 AS.sub.3 6.141 -0.067 2.623 1.147 ______________________________________

Claim 37

a four element lens having at least some aspherical surface (AS) comprising a design parameter of approximate values within the following specification: ______________________________________ THICKNESS (t) AND LENS Nd V RADII SPACINGS (S) ______________________________________ L.sub.1 1.491 57.8 r.sub.1 = AS.sub.1 t.sub.1 = 0.092 r.sub.2 = 1.055 S.sub.1 = 0.009 L.sub.2 1.592 31.0 r.sub.3 = AS.sub.2 t.sub.2 = 0.040 r.sub.4 = AS.sub.3 S.sub.2 ' = 0.037 S.sub.2 " = 0.050 L.sub.3 1.592 31.0 r.sub.5 = -AS.sub.3 t.sub.3 = 0.040 r.sub.6 = -AS.sub.2 S.sub.3 = 0.005 L.sub.4 1.491 57.8 r.sub.7 = -1.055 t.sub.4 = 0.092 r.sub.8 = -AS.sub.1 ______________________________________ wherein (Nd) is the index of refraction, V is the Abbe value and the aspheric surfaces are defined respectively by their eccentricities (Σ) and aspherical coefficients (C x ) as follows: ______________________________________ C.sub.0 C.sub.1 C.sub.2 Σ ______________________________________ AS.sub.1 4.795 -0.064 0.514 1.074 AS.sub.2 3.086 -0.049 -1.885 0.875 AS.sub.3 6.141 -0.067 2.623 1.147 ______________________________________

Claim 38

A four element lens having at least some aspherical surfaces (AS) comprising a design parameter of approximate values within the following specification: ______________________________________ THICKNESS (t) AND LENS Nd V RADII SPACINGS (S) ______________________________________ L.sub.1 1.491 57.8 r.sub.1 = AS.sub.1 t.sub.1 = 0.094 r.sub.2 = 1.0009 S.sub.1 = 0.008 L.sub.2 1.584 31.0 r.sub.3 = AS.sub.2 t.sub.2 = 0.041 r.sub.4 = AS.sub.3 S.sub.2 ' = 0.036 S.sub.2 " = 0.053 L.sub.3 1.584 31.0 r.sub.5 = -AS.sub.3 t.sub.3 = 0.409 r.sub.6 = -AS.sub.2 S.sub.3 = 0.005 L.sub.4 1.491 57.8 r.sub.7 = -1.0009 t.sub.4 = 0.094 r.sub.8 = -AS.sub.1 ______________________________________ wherein (Nd) is the index of refraction, V is the Abbe value and the aspheric surfaces are defined respectively by their eccentricities ( Σ ) and aspherical coefficients (C x ) as follows: ______________________________________ C.sub.0 C.sub.1 C.sub.2 Σ ______________________________________ AS.sub.1 4.674 -0.068 0.393 1.070 AS.sub.2 3.077 0.019 -0.542 0.932 AS.sub.3 6.176 -0.090 1.643 1.143 ______________________________________

Claim 39

A four element lens having at least some aspherical surfaces (AS) comprising a design parameter of approximate values within the following specification: ______________________________________ THICKNESS (t) AND LENS Nd V RADII SPACINGS (S) ______________________________________ L.sub.1 1.491 57.8 r.sub.1 = AS.sub.1 t.sub.1 = 0.094 r.sub.2 = 1.0009 S.sub.1 = 0.008 L.sub.2 1.584 31.0 r.sub.3 = AS.sub.2 t.sub.2 = 0.041 r.sub.4 = AS.sub.3 S.sub.2 ' = 0.036 S.sub.2 " = 0.053 L.sub.3 1.584 31.0 r.sub.5 = -AS.sub.3 t.sub.3 = 0.409 r.sub.6 = -AS.sub.2 S.sub.3 = 0.005 L.sub.4 1.491 57.8 r.sub.7 = -1.0009 t.sub.4 = 0.094 r.sub.8 = -AS.sub.1 ______________________________________ wherein (Nd) is the index of refraction, V is the Abbe value and the aspheric surfaces are defined respectively by their eccentricities ( Σ ) and aspherical coefficients (C x ) as follows: ______________________________________ C.sub.0 C.sub.1 C.sub.2 Σ ______________________________________ AS.sub.1 4.674 -0.068 0.393 1.070 AS.sub.2 3.077 0.019 -0.542 0.932 AS.sub.3 6.176 -0.090 1.643 1.143 ______________________________________

Claim 40

A four element lens system comprising a first lens having a focal length ( f) related to a second lens as follows: 1.3 f.sub.1 ≧ |f.sub.2 | and the design parameters of the lenses (L) being within the ranges of the following specification: ______________________________________ THICKNESS (t) AND LENS Nd V RADII SPACINGS (S) ______________________________________ L.sub.1 ˜1.49 57.8 r.sub.1 .22 - .25 t.sub.1 ˜.09 r.sub.2 1.2 - 1.7 S.sub.1 .002 - .015 L.sub.2 1.55 - 1.60 30 - 35 r.sub.3 .29 - .33 t.sub.2 .03 - .04 r.sub.4 .16 - .18 S.sub.2 ' .015 - .040 S.sub.2 " .04 - .08 L.sub.3 1.55 - 1.60 30 - 35 |r.sub.5 | .16 t.sub.3 .03 - .04 |r.sub.6 | .29 S.sub.3 .0005 - .01 L.sub.4 ˜ 1.49 57.8 |r.sub.7 | 1.2 t.sub.4 ˜.09 |r.sub.8 | .22 ______________________________________ - .25 wherein (Nd) is the index of refraction, (V) is the Abbe value, ( ˜ ) indicates an approximate value, (- ) between numbers indicates an approximate range of values for the appropriate parameter, and |r| indicates an absolute value.

Claim 41

A four element lens system comprising a first lens having a focal length ( f) related to a second lens as follows: 1.3 f.sub.1 ≧ |f.sub.2 | and the design parameters of the lenses (L) being within the ranges of the following specification: ______________________________________ THICKNESS (t) AND LENS Nd V RADII SPACINGS (S) ______________________________________ L.sub.1 ˜1.49 57.8 r.sub.1 .22 - .25 t.sub.1 ˜.09 r.sub.2 1.2 - 1.7 S.sub.1 .002 - .015 L.sub.2 1.55 - 1.60 30 - 35 r.sub.3 .29 - .33 t.sub.2 .03 - .04 r.sub.4 .16 - .18 S.sub.2 ' .015 - .040 S.sub.2 " .04 - .08 L.sub.3 1.55 - 1.60 30 - 35 |r.sub.5 | .16 t.sub.3 .03 - .04 |r.sub.6 | .29 S.sub.3 .0005 - .01 L.sub.4 ˜ 1.49 57.8 |r.sub.7 | 1.2 t.sub.4 ˜.09 |r.sub.8 | .22 ______________________________________ - .25 wherein (Nd) is the index of refraction, (V) is the Abbe value, ( ˜ ) indicates an approximate value, (- ) between numbers indicates an approximate range of values for the appropriate parameter, and |r| indicates an absolute value.