Zoom lens system for minimal lens system length and minimal aberrations

Claim 2

A zoom lens system comprising: a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power located at the image side of the first lens group with a first variable air space between the first and second lens groups; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power, located at the image side of the second lens group with a second variable air space between the second and third lens groups, including a positive front lens unit and a positive rear lens unit with at least one aspheric surface located at the image side of the front lens unit with a third variable air space between the front and rear lens units; wherein the first lens group and the front and rear lens units of the third lens group are shiftable to the object side in the zooming operation from the shortest focal length to the longest focal length with changing of the first, second and third variable air spaces; and wherein the lens system fulfills the following condition; (|X|-|X.sub.0 |)/C.sub.0 (N'-N)<0 wherein; C 0 represents the curvature of the basic spheric surface of the aspheric surface; N represents the refractive index of a material located at the object side of the aspheric surface; N' represents the refractive index of a material located at the image side of the aspheric surface; and X represents the configuration of the aspheric surface in a coordinate system in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the lens system at the height Y measured from the optical axis as represented by; X=X.sub.0 +A.sub.4 Y.sup.4 +A.sub.6 Y.sup.6 +A.sub.8 Y.sup.8 +A.sub.10 Y.sup.10`+ - - - wherein; X 0 represents the configuration of the based spheric surface as represented by; X.sub.0 =C.sub.0 Y.sup.2 /{1+(1-C.sub.0.sup.2 Y.sup.2).sup.1/2 } and A i represents the aspheric coefficients, where i=1, 2, 3, - - - .

Claim 3

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lens system further fulfills the following condition; 0.4<f.sub.3w /f.sub.w <0.9 wherein; f 3w represents the focal length of the third lens group in the shortest focal length condition; and f w represents the focal length of the whole lens system in the shortest focal length condition.

Claim 4

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lens system further fulfills the following condition; 0.5<f.sub.3w /f.sub.w <0.9

Claim 5

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lens system further fulfills the following condition; 0.4<f.sub.3w /f.sub.w <0.75

Claim 6

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front lens unit of the third lens group consists of, from the object side, two positive lens components and a negative lens component, and the rear lens unit of the third lens group consists of, from the object side, a positive lens component and a negative lens component.

Claim 7

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lens system further fulfills the following condition; 0.01<Δd.sub.3 /f.sub.w <0.3 wherein; Δd 3 represents the amount obtained by subtracting the axial thickness of the third lens group in the longest focal length condition from that in the shortest focal length condition; and f w represents the focal length of the whole lens system in the shortest focal length condition.

Claim 8

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the lens system further fulfills the following condition; 0.02<f.sub.w /f.sub.3B <2.0 wherein; f 3B represents the focal length of the rear lens unit of the third lens group.

Claim 9

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the lens system further fulfills the following condition; 0.2<(T.sub.3-B +B.sub.w -f.sub.w)/f.sub.w <1.0 wherein, T 3-B represents the axial thickness of the rear lens unit of the third lens group; and B w represents the back focal length of the whole lens system in the shortest focal length condition.

Claim 10

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front and rear lens units of the third lens group are shiftable to the image side in the focusing operation to a close object, and wherein the lens system further fulfills the following condition; β.sub.F <-1 wherein; β F represents the lateral magnification of the third lens group in any focal length condition.

Claim 11

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the third variable air space formed between the front and rear lens units of the third lens group is kept constant in the focusing operation.

Claim 12

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first variable air space formed between the first and second lens groups is minimum in the shortest focal length condition, and wherein the second lens group has at least one aspheric surface.

Claim 13

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the lens system fulfills the following condition within a range of 0.7y max <y<1.0y max ; ##EQU8## wherein; y max represents the maximum effective diameter of a lens element having the aspheric surface; y represents the height measured from the optical axis; x(y) represents the position of the aspheric surface at the height y; and x 0 represents the position of the basic spherical surface of the aspheric surface.

Claim 14

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the lens system fulfills the following condition within a range of y<0.7y max ; ##EQU9##

Claim 15

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first variable air space formed between the first and second lens groups is minimum in the shortest focal length condition, and wherein the second lens group has at least one aspheric surface.

Claim 16

A zoom lens system comprising: a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power located at the image side of the first lens group with a first variable air space between the first and second lens groups; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power located at the image side of the second lens group with a second variable air space between the second and third lens groups, including a front lens unit and a rear lens unit located at the image side of the front lens unit with a third variable air space between the front and rear lens units; wherein the first lens group and the rear lens unit of the third lens group are shiftable to the object side in the zooming operation from the shortest focal length to the longest focal length with changing of the first, second and third variable air spaces, while the front and rear lens units of the third lens group are shiftable to the image side in the focusing operation to a close object in any focal length condition; and wherein the lens system fulfills the following conditions: β.sub.F <-1 0.2<(T.sub.3-B +B.sub.w -f.sub.w)/f.sub.w <1.0 wherein, β F represents the lateral magnification of the third lens group in any focal length condition. T 3-B represents the axial thickness of the rear lens unit of the third lens group; B w represents the back focal length of the whole lens system in the shortest focal length condition; and f w represents the focal length of the whole lens system in the shortest focal length condition.

Claim 17

A zoom lens system comprising: a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power located at the image side of the first lens group with a first variable air space between the first and second lens groups; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power located at the image side of the second lens group with a second variable air space between the second and third lens groups, including a front lens unit and a rear lens unit located at the image side of the front lens unit with a third variable air space between the front and rear lens units; wherein the first lens group and the rear lens unit of the third lens group are shiftable to the object side in the zooming operation from the shortest focal length to the longest focal length with changing of the first, second and third variable air spaces, while the front and rear lens units of the third lens group are shiftable to the image side in the focusing operation to a close object in any focal length condition; and wherein the lens system fulfills the following conditions: β.sub.F <-1 0.2<(T.sub.3-B +B.sub.w -f.sub.w)/f.sub.w <1.0 wherein, β F represents the lateral magnification of the third lens group in any focal length condition. T 3-B represents the axial thickness of the rear lens unit of the third lens group; B w represents the back focal length of the whole lens system in the shortest focal length condition; and f w represents the focal length of the whole lens system in the shortest focal length condition.

Claim 18

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the third variable air space formed between the front and rear lens units of the third lens group is kept constant in the focusing operation.

Claim 19

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the third lens group includes at least one aspheric surface, and wherein the lens system fulfills the following condition; (|X|-|X.sub.0 |)/C.sub.0 (N'-N)<0 wherein; C 0 represents the curvature of the basic spheric surface of the aspheric surface, N represents the refractive index of a material located at the object side of the aspheric surface; N' represents the refractive index of a material located at the image side of the aspheric surface; X represents the configuration of the aspheric surface in a coordinate system in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the lens system at the height Y measured from the optical axis as represented by; X=X.sub.0 +A.sub.4 Y.sup.4 +A.sub.6 Y.sup.6 +A.sub.8 Y.sup.8 +A.sub.10 Y.sup.10 + - - - wherein; X 0 represents the configuration of the based spheric surface as represented by; X.sub.0 =C.sub.0 Y.sup.2 /{1+(1-C.sub.0.sup.2 Y.sup.2).sup.1/2 } and, A i represent the aspheric coefficients, where i=1, 2, 3, - - - .

Claim 20

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the lens system further fulfills the following condition; 0.01<Δd.sub.3 /f.sub.w <0.3 wherein; Δd 3 represents the amount obtained by subtracting the axial thickness of the third lens group in the longest focal length condition from that in the shortest focal length condition.

Claim 21

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the lens system furhter fulfills the following condition; 0.5<f.sub.3w /f.sub.w <0.9 wherein; f 3w represents the focal length of the third lens group in the shortest focal length condition.

Claim 22

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the rear lens unit of the third lens group has a positive refractive power with including, from the object side, a first lens component having a positive refractive power and a second lens component having a negative refractive power, and wherein the lens system further fulfills the following condition; 0.3<f.sub.3B-1 /f.sub.3B <0.75 wherein; f 3B-1 represents the focal length of the first lens component of the rear lens unit of the third lens group; and f 3B represents the focal length of the rear lens unit of the third lens group.

Claim 23

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rear lens unit of the third lens group consists of, from the object side, a positive lens element and a negative meniscus lens element convex to the image side.

Claim 24

A zoom lens system comprising from the object side to the image side; a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power with having at least one aspheric surface; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power; wherein the zooming operation is achieved so that the air space formed between the first and second lens groups is a minimum in the shortest focal length condition.

Claim 25

A zoom lens system comprising from the object side to the image side; a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power with having at least one aspheric surface; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power; wherein the zooming operation is achieved so that the air space formed between the first and second lens groups is a minimum in the shortest focal length condition.

Claim 26

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the lens system fulfills the following condition within a range of 0.7y max <y<1.0y max ; ##EQU10## wherein; y max represents the maximum effective diameter of a lens element having the aspheric surface; y represents the height measured from the optical axis; x(y) represents the position of the aspheric surface at the height y; and x 0 represents the position of the basic spherical surface of the aspheric surface.

Claim 27

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the lens system fulfills the following condition within a range of y<0.7y max ; ##EQU11##

Claim 28

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the lens system fulfills the following condition within a range of y<0.7y max ; ##EQU12##

Claim 29

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the lens system fulfills the following condition; 0.1<h.sub.t /h.sub.w <0.6 wherein; h t represents the farthest position from the optical axis through which the axial ray passes on the aspheric surface in the longest focal length condition; and h w represents the farthest position from the optical axis through which the axial ray passes on the aspheric surface in the shortest focal length condition.

Claim 30

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the aspheric surface is applied to a lens surface located at the object side in the second lens group.

Claim 31

A zoom lens system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the lens system fulfills the following conditions; 0<f.sub.w /r.sub.2-I <1.0 0.3<|f.sub.2-I |/f.sub.w <1.0 wherein; r 2-I represents the paraxial radius of curvature of the lens surface located at the object side in the second lens group; f 2-I represents the paraxial focal length of the lens surface located at the object side in the second lens group; and f w represent the focal length of the whole lens system in the shortest focal length condition.

Claim 32

A zoom lens system according to the following design parameters; ______________________________________ f = 36.0-60.0-102.0 F.sub.NO = 3.6-4.2-4.65 2ω = 61.93°-39.6 0°-23.91° Radius of Axial Refractive Abbe curvature distance index (Nd) number (νd) ______________________________________ r.sub.1 120.926 d.sub.1 2.200 N.sub.1 1.84666 ν.sub.1 23.83 r.sub.2 44.896 d.sub.2 7.150 N.sub.2 1.67000 ν.sub.2 57.07 r.sub.3 -326.540 d.sub.3 0.100 r.sub.4 29.132 d.sub.4 3.250 N.sub.3 1.69680 ν.sub.3 56.47 r.sub.5 50.276 d.sub.5 0.900-9.586-17.809 r.sub.6 66.325 d.sub.6 1.200 N.sub.4 1.77250 ν.sub.4 49.77 r.sub.7 14.430 d.sub.7 3.950 r.sub.8 -1357.755 d.sub.8 1.150 N.sub.5 1.67000 ν.sub.5 57.07 r.sub.9 34.737 d.sub.9 0.300 r.sub.10 19.885 d.sub.10 2.680 N.sub.6 1.84666 ν.sub.6 23.83 d.sub.11 1.620 r.sub.12 -29.666 d.sub.12 1.150 N.sub.7 1.61800 ν.sub.7 63.39 r.sub. 13 79.294 d.sub.13 5.505-8.926-2.360 r.sub.14 24.547 d.sub.14 3.150 N.sub.8 1.67000 ν.sub.8 57.07 r.sub.15 -71.330 d.sub.15 0.150 r.sub.16 36.161 d.sub.16 6.000 N.sub.9 1.51680 ν.sub.9 64.20 r.sub.17 -15.061 d.sub.17 2.500 N.sub.10 1.80741 ν.sub.10 31.59 r.sub.18 87.398 d.sub.18 4.673-2.566-0.909 r.sub.19 59.168 d.sub.19 3.000 N.sub.11 1.72000 ν.sub.11 42.02 r.sub.20 -22.059 d.sub.20 3.605 r.sub.21 * -25.806 d.sub.21 0.035 N.sub.12 1.51790 ν.sub.12 52.31 r.sub.22 -22.822 d.sub.22 1.800 N.sub.13 1.80500 ν.sub.13 40.97 r.sub.23 503.492 ______________________________________ Aspheric coefficients (r.sub.21): A.sub.4 = -0.66020 × 10.sup.-4 A.sub.6 = -0.52200 × 10.sup.-7 A.sub.8 = -0.64384 × 10.sup.-8 A.sub.10 = -0.11612 × 10.sup.-9 A.sub.12 = -0.84797 × 10.sup.-12 ______________________________________

Claim 33

A zoom lens system according to the following design parameters; ______________________________________ f = 36.0-60.0-102.0 F.sub.NO = 3.6-4.2-4.65 2ω = 61.93°-39.6 0°-23.91° Radius of Axial Refractive Abbe curvature distance index (Nd) number (νd) ______________________________________ r.sub.1 120.926 d.sub.1 2.200 N.sub.1 1.84666 ν.sub.1 23.83 r.sub.2 44.896 d.sub.2 7.150 N.sub.2 1.67000 ν.sub.2 57.07 r.sub.3 -326.540 d.sub.3 0.100 r.sub.4 29.132 d.sub.4 3.250 N.sub.3 1.69680 ν.sub.3 56.47 r.sub.5 50.276 d.sub.5 0.900-9.586-17.809 r.sub.6 66.325 d.sub.6 1.200 N.sub.4 1.77250 ν.sub.4 49.77 r.sub.7 14.430 d.sub.7 3.950 r.sub.8 -1357.755 d.sub.8 1.150 N.sub.5 1.67000 ν.sub.5 57.07 r.sub.9 34.737 d.sub.9 0.300 r.sub.10 19.885 d.sub.10 2.680 N.sub.6 1.84666 ν.sub.6 23.83 d.sub.11 1.620 r.sub.12 -29.666 d.sub.12 1.150 N.sub.7 1.61800 ν.sub.7 63.39 r.sub. 13 79.294 d.sub.13 5.505-8.926-2.360 r.sub.14 24.547 d.sub.14 3.150 N.sub.8 1.67000 ν.sub.8 57.07 r.sub.15 -71.330 d.sub.15 0.150 r.sub.16 36.161 d.sub.16 6.000 N.sub.9 1.51680 ν.sub.9 64.20 r.sub.17 -15.061 d.sub.17 2.500 N.sub.10 1.80741 ν.sub.10 31.59 r.sub.18 87.398 d.sub.18 4.673-2.566-0.909 r.sub.19 59.168 d.sub.19 3.000 N.sub.11 1.72000 ν.sub.11 42.02 r.sub.20 -22.059 d.sub.20 3.605 r.sub.21 * -25.806 d.sub.21 0.035 N.sub.12 1.51790 ν.sub.12 52.31 r.sub.22 -22.822 d.sub.22 1.800 N.sub.13 1.80500 ν.sub.13 40.97 r.sub.23 503.492 ______________________________________ Aspheric coefficients (r.sub.21): A.sub.4 = -0.66020 × 10.sup.-4 A.sub.6 = -0.52200 × 10.sup.-7 A.sub.8 = -0.64384 × 10.sup.-8 A.sub.10 = -0.11612 × 10.sup.-9 A.sub.12 = -0.84797 × 10.sup.-12 ______________________________________

Claim 34

In an improved zoom lens system having a first positive lens group, a second negative lens group with a first variable air space between said first and second lens groups, and a third positive lens group with a second variable air space between said second and third lens groups, said third lens group having a front lens unit and rear lens unit with a third variable air space therebetween, wherein the improvement comprises: means for shifting said front and rear lens units together with said first lens group in a zooming operation, and for shifting said front and rear lens units in a focusing operation; and an aspheric surface on said rear lens unit.

Claim 35

In an improved zoom lens system having a first positive lens group, a second negative lens group with a first variable air space between said first and second lens groups, and a third positive lens group with a second variable air space between said second and third lens groups, said third lens group having a front lens unit and rear lens unit with a third variable air space therebetween, wherein the improvement comprises: means for shifting said front and rear lens units together with said first lens group in a zooming operation, and for shifting said front and rear lens units in a focusing operation; and an aspheric surface on said rear lens unit.

Claim 36

The improvement according to claim 30 further including an aspheric surface on said second lens group.

Claim 37

The improvement according to claim 31 wherein said front and rear lens units can be shifted in the same direction.