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US4070098A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fisheye projection lens system for 35mm motion pictures

Assignee: University of Arizona Foundation
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Filing: 1976-04-28
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Granted: 1978-01-24
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Expires: 1996-04-28
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Abstract

Abstract A 180 DEG high resolution fisheye projection lens suitable for projecting images onto a hemispherical dome, such as a planetarium dome, includes a nine-element projection lens and a six-element relay lens. The relay lens serves to increase the distance between the film plane and the lens and eliminates the need for modifying the projector to provide clearance between the lens and the projector shutter mechanism. In addition, the relay lens may be modified to make the fisheye lens compatible with various film sizes without modifying the fisheye lens. A focused iris is used to mask portions of the projected image, and a nonuniformly acting fader is used to reduce back scatter and to stop down the lens to adjust the brightness of the projected image.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard A. Buchroeder

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 12:37
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B13/00; G02B13/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 260 words
A fisheye lens system having the design parameters, normalized for an 8mm focal length, F 8 , represented in the following table: ______________________________________ ELE- THICK- SEPAR- MENT n.sub.d ν RADIUS NESS ATION ______________________________________ I 1.607 56.7 R.sub.1 = 8.853 t.sub.1 = .220 S.sub.1 = 1.037 R.sub.2 = 1.181 II 1.607 56.7 R.sub.3 = 4.463 t.sub.2 = .150 S.sub.2 = 1.486 R.sub.4 = 1.181 III 1.620 36.4 R.sub.5 = 5.798 t.sub.3 = .300 S.sub.3 = 1.062 R.sub.6 = 3.308 IV 1.620 36.4 R.sub.7 = 6.869 t.sub.4 = .150 S.sub.4 = .100 R.sub.8 = 2.536 V 1.607 56.7 R.sub.9 = 2.018 t.sub.5 = .500 S.sub.5 = .100 R.sub.10 = 2.638 VI 1.607 56.7 R.sub.11 = 6.440 t.sub.6 = .550 S.sub.6 = .100 R.sub.12 = 1.309 VII 1.755 27.6 R.sub.13 = 1.113 t.sub.7 = .150 R.sub.14 = 4.728 ______________________________________ wherein the Roman numerals I-VII identify the respective lens element from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, n d is the refractive index; ν d is the dispersion number, R 1 -R 14 represent the radii of successive surfaces from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, and t 1 -t 7 and S 1 -S 6 represent the thicknesses of lens element and air spaces, respectively, from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, with all dimensions being expressed in inches, and wherein the design parameters may be renormalized to any other focal length, F n , by multiplying each of the surface radii, thicknesses and air spaces by the ratio F n /F 8 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 260 words
A fisheye lens system having the design parameters, normalized for an 8mm focal length, F 8 , represented in the following table: ______________________________________ ELE- THICK- SEPAR- MENT n.sub.d ν RADIUS NESS ATION ______________________________________ I 1.607 56.7 R.sub.1 = 8.853 t.sub.1 = .220 S.sub.1 = 1.037 R.sub.2 = 1.181 II 1.607 56.7 R.sub.3 = 4.463 t.sub.2 = .150 S.sub.2 = 1.486 R.sub.4 = 1.181 III 1.620 36.4 R.sub.5 = 5.798 t.sub.3 = .300 S.sub.3 = 1.062 R.sub.6 = 3.308 IV 1.620 36.4 R.sub.7 = 6.869 t.sub.4 = .150 S.sub.4 = .100 R.sub.8 = 2.536 V 1.607 56.7 R.sub.9 = 2.018 t.sub.5 = .500 S.sub.5 = .100 R.sub.10 = 2.638 VI 1.607 56.7 R.sub.11 = 6.440 t.sub.6 = .550 S.sub.6 = .100 R.sub.12 = 1.309 VII 1.755 27.6 R.sub.13 = 1.113 t.sub.7 = .150 R.sub.14 = 4.728 ______________________________________ wherein the Roman numerals I-VII identify the respective lens element from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, n d is the refractive index; ν d is the dispersion number, R 1 -R 14 represent the radii of successive surfaces from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, and t 1 -t 7 and S 1 -S 6 represent the thicknesses of lens element and air spaces, respectively, from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, with all dimensions being expressed in inches, and wherein the design parameters may be renormalized to any other focal length, F n , by multiplying each of the surface radii, thicknesses and air spaces by the ratio F n /F 8 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 177 words
A fisheye lens system as recited in claim 1 further including lens elements having the design parameters represented in the following table: ______________________________________ Element n.sub.d ν Radius Thickness Separation ______________________________________ VIII 1.607 56.7 R.sub.15 = PLANO t.sub.8 = .750 S.sub.7 = 2.409 R.sub.16 = 5.002 K = - 7.32 IX 1.620 36.4 R.sub.17 = 5.002 t.sub.9 = .750 S.sub.8 = 1.253 R.sub.18 = PLANO ______________________________________ wherein VII-IX identify two additional lens elements added in sequence from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, R 15 -R 18 represent the radii of successive surfaces of the additional lens elements from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, t 8 -t 9 and S 7 -S 8 represent the thicknesses of the additional lens elements and air spaces, respectively from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, and K represents the asphericity constant with which the surface shape is defined by the equation ##EQU2## where R = radius of curvature Y = zonal radius of the surface Z = axial departure from flatness
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
A fisheye lens system as recited in claim 2 further including a focused iris disposed between elements VIII and IX.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 206 words
A fisheye lens system as recited in claim 2 further including lens elements having the design parameters represented in the following table: ______________________________________ Element n.sub.d ν Radius Thickness Separation ______________________________________ X 1.607 56.7 R.sub.19 = 2.127 t.sub.10 = .6450 S.sub.9 = 20.087 R.sub.20 = 35.712 NOM- INAL XI 1.607 56.7 R.sub.21 = 1.909 t.sub.11 = .6648 S.sub.10 = .008 R.sub.22 = 4.288 XII 1.755 27.6 R.sub.23 = 13.018 t.sub.12 = .1400 S.sub.11 = .140 R.sub.24 = 1.212 XIII 1.620 36.4 R.sub.25 = 1.212 t.sub.13 = .1400 S.sub.12 = 1.066 R.sub.26 = 2.071 XIV 1.607 56.7 R.sub.27 = 4.809 t.sub.14 = .6066 S.sub.13 = .070 R.sub.28 = 1.997 XV 1.607 56.7 R.sub.29 = 5.718 t.sub.15 = .5450 S.sub.14 = .144 R.sub.30 = 5.718 ______________________________________ wherein X-XV identify six additional respective lens elements forming a relay lens system added in sequence from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, R 19 -R 30 represent the radii of successive surfaces of the additional lens elements from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, and t 10 -t 15 and S 9 -S 14 represent the thicknesses of the additional lens elements and air spaces, respectively, from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
A fisheye lens system as recited in claim 4 further including a pivotably mounted fader leaf disposed between elements IX and X.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 51 words
A fisheye lens system as recited in claim 5 wherein said fader leaf is movable over a limited range of rotation from a first position substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lens system to a second position substantially at a 45° angle to the longitudinal axis of the lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A fisheye lens system as recited in claim 4 further including means for supporting said lens system at an angle displaced approximately 20° from the vertical.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
A fisheye lens system as recited in claim 7 wherein said supporting means includes a projector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
A fisheye lens system as recited in claim 8 wherein said projector includes means for positioning a circular image having a diameter of approximately 23mm in a focal plane adjacent the element XV.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
A fisheye lens system as recited in claim 9 wherein said projector is a 35mm motion picture projector.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3366436A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-01-23 1981-07-25 1982-01-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-01-23 1985-07-25 1986-01-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-01-23 1989-07-25 1990-01-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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