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US4586787A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Lens assembly

Assignee: ASML Holding NV
•
Filing: 1985-09-27
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Granted: 1986-05-06
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Expires: 2005-09-27
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention is directed to a lens assembly which includes a lens element having a front face and a back face and a peripheral edge; a lens cell having an axial bore and a radially inwardly extending lens seat, the lens seat having a radially seating surface for engaging one of the lens faces, the peripheral edge of the lens element being radially spaced from the inner wall of the lens cell; a retainer ring mounted removably, adjustably, rigidly in the seating surface substantially equal to the thickness of the element, the retaining ring having a plurality of radially inwardly directed fingers which are disposed closely adjacent the other of the lens faces; and an adhesive disposed axially between the retainer ring fingers and the other lens face for tying the lens to the retainer after alignment of the lens whereby the lens and the retainer ring are removable from the lens cell as a single integral unit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Carlo L. Fiandra
  • 👤 Warren Deschenaux

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 12:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/026

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 173 words
A lens assembly comprising, in combination: a lens having a front face and a back face and a peripheral edge; a lens cell having an axial bore, said lens cell having a radially inwardly extending lens seat, said lens seat having a radially extending seating surface for engaging one of said lens faces, the peripheral edge of said lens being radially spaced from the inner wall of said lens cell; a retainer ring, means for removably, adjustably, rigidly mounting said retainer ring in said axial bore spaced a preselected axial distance from said lens seating surface substantially equal to the thickness of said lens, said retainer ring having a plurality of radially inwardly directed fingers, said fingers being disposed closely adjacent the other of said lens faces; and adhesive means disposed axially between said retainer ring fingers and said other lens face for tying said lens to said retainer ring after alignment of said lens whereby said lens and said retainer ring are removable from said lens cell as a single integral unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 173 words
A lens assembly comprising, in combination: a lens having a front face and a back face and a peripheral edge; a lens cell having an axial bore, said lens cell having a radially inwardly extending lens seat, said lens seat having a radially extending seating surface for engaging one of said lens faces, the peripheral edge of said lens being radially spaced from the inner wall of said lens cell; a retainer ring, means for removably, adjustably, rigidly mounting said retainer ring in said axial bore spaced a preselected axial distance from said lens seating surface substantially equal to the thickness of said lens, said retainer ring having a plurality of radially inwardly directed fingers, said fingers being disposed closely adjacent the other of said lens faces; and adhesive means disposed axially between said retainer ring fingers and said other lens face for tying said lens to said retainer ring after alignment of said lens whereby said lens and said retainer ring are removable from said lens cell as a single integral unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lens element is substantially circular, said lens cell being substantially cylindrical, and said retainer ring being substantially circular.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lens is a convex lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lens is a concave lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of lenses, a like plurality of retainer rings and a like plurality of adhesive means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein said means for removably, adjustably, rigidly mounting said retainer ring in said axial bore comprises mechanical screw means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein there are three substantially equally spaced fingers carried by said retainer ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein there is a clearance of between about 0.020 inches and about 0.030 inches between said fingers and said other lens face for receiving said adhesive means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said fingers has an axially extending bore for receiving said adhesive means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said fingers has an axially extending slot for receiving said adhesive means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive means comprises a RTV type rubber compound.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive means comprises an epoxy resin adhesive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 32 words
A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein the optical axis of said lens is aligned to the axis of said lens cell prior to adhering said retainer ring to said lens.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 42 words
A lens assembly according to claim 5 wherein the optical axes of said plurality of lenses are aligned to each other and to the axis of said lens cell prior to adhereing said plurality of lenses to said plurality of retainer rings.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2394894A Cited
US2571186A Cited
US2817998A Cited
US3220309A Cited
US3507597A Cited
US3521945A Cited
US3904276A Cited
US4303306A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-05-05 1989-11-04 1990-05-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-05-05 1993-11-04 1994-05-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-05-05 1997-11-04 1998-05-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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