US4934771A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical apparatus
Assignee: Qioptiq Ltd
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Filing: 1986-05-09
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Granted: 1990-06-19
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Expires: 2006-05-09
Abstract
Abstract Optical viewing apparatus has an obective lens for focussing radiation from a scene or object to form an image on a detector and means for producing a visible display of the image which is viewed through an eye-piece lens. The objective lens is designed to impose a substantial level of barrel distortion on the image and the eye-piece lens imposes a substantial level of pincushion distortion on the observer's view to give improved central resolution. The radiation focussed by the objective lens may be visible or invisible, e.g. infra-red.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip J. Rogers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:02
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
Optical viewing apparatus comprising an objective lens for focusing radiation from a scene or object to form an image, detector and display means for detecting the image and producing a visible display thereof, and an eye-piece lens through which the display can be viewed, in which the objective lens imposes a substantial level of at least 30% of barrel distortion on the image and the eye-piece lens imposes a substantial level of pincushion distortion above that normally inherent in an eyepiece on the observer's view of the display whereby an appreciably improved central resolution of the viewed field is achieved.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
Optical viewing apparatus comprising an objective lens for focusing radiation from a scene or object to form an image, detector and display means for detecting the image and producing a visible display thereof, and an eye-piece lens through which the display can be viewed, in which the objective lens imposes a substantial level of at least 30% of barrel distortion on the image and the eye-piece lens imposes a substantial level of pincushion distortion above that normally inherent in an eyepiece on the observer's view of the display whereby an appreciably improved central resolution of the viewed field is achieved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the level of barrel distortion imposed by the objective lens is between about 30% and 55%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the level of pincushion distortion imposed by the eye-piece lens is such as substantially fully to compensate for the level of barrel distortion imposed by the objective lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the level of pincushion distortion imposed by the eye-piece lens is less than fully to compensate for the level of barrel distortion imposed by the objective lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the objective lens includes aspheric refracting surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the eye-piece lens includes one or more aspheric refracting surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the objective lens is of infra-red transmitting materials.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 which the objective lens is of materials for transmitting thermal infra-red radiation in the 8 to 12 microns waveband.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the detector and display means is effective to convert a non-visible image into a visible display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the detector and display means comprises a staring array operatively connected with a visual display device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the detector and display means provides a greater brightness display from a low light level image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the detector and display means comprises an image intensifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 having two channels for binocular viewing with a respective objective lens, detector and display means, and eye-piece lens in each channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 in the form of goggles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4178075A
Cited
US4196969A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-18 | 1993-12-18 | 1994-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-18 | 1997-12-18 | 1998-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-18 | 2001-12-18 | 2002-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |