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US4939357A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical system for a focal point detecting device

Assignee: Pentax Corp
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Filing: 1988-11-17
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Granted: 1990-07-03
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Expires: 2008-11-17
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Abstract

Abstract A condenser lens disposed behind a film equivalent plane, a pair of light splitting elements disposed behind the condenser lens, and a focal point detecting apparatus. The radius of curvature of a front surface of the condenser lens at the film equivalent plane side is larger than that of a rear surface of the condenser. A path length L from the film equivalent plane to the rear surface of the condenser lens is set in a range of 3.2 mm>L>3.6 mm on the assumption that the path length L is not substantially expanded by a refractive material. The pair of light splitting elements are disposed in symmetricy with respect to a meridian plane of the condenser lens. The focal point detecting apparatus is adapted to detect a focal point by finding a relative positional displacement of an objective image which is reimaged by the pair of light splitting elements. Due to the foregoing construction, in an optical system of a focal point detecting device of the present invention, even if a spherical lens, which is easy to manufacture, is used for a condenser lens, instead of an aspherical lens which is difficult to manufacture, the zone of focus can be made long enough so that the effect of dust on the condenser can be minimized. In addition, aberration distortion can be corrected thoroughly.

Inventors

  • 👤 Osamu Shindo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 21:29
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/34; G02B7/346

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 142 words
An optical system of a focal point detecting device comprising: a condenser lens disposed behind a film equivalent plane, the radius of curvature of a front surface of said condenser lens at the film equivalent plane side being larger than that of a rear surface of said condenser lens, a path length L from said film equivalent plane to the rear surface of said condenser lens being in a range of 3.2 mm<L<3.6 mm when the path length is not substantially expanded by a refractive material; a pair of light splitting means disposed behind the condenser lens and in symmetry with respect to a meridian plane of said condenser lens; and a focal point detecting means adapted to detect a focal point by finding a relative positional displacement of an objective image which is reimaged by said pair of light splitting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 142 words
An optical system of a focal point detecting device comprising: a condenser lens disposed behind a film equivalent plane, the radius of curvature of a front surface of said condenser lens at the film equivalent plane side being larger than that of a rear surface of said condenser lens, a path length L from said film equivalent plane to the rear surface of said condenser lens being in a range of 3.2 mm<L<3.6 mm when the path length is not substantially expanded by a refractive material; a pair of light splitting means disposed behind the condenser lens and in symmetry with respect to a meridian plane of said condenser lens; and a focal point detecting means adapted to detect a focal point by finding a relative positional displacement of an objective image which is reimaged by said pair of light splitting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 170 words
An optical system of a focal point detecting device comprising: a condenser lens disposed behind a film equivalent plane and formed with a front surface thereof at the film equivalent plane side in a convex shape and formed with a rear surface thereof in a convex shape, the radius of curvature of the front surface of said condenser lens being larger than that of the rear surface of said condenser lens, a path length L from the film equivalent plane to the rear surface of said condenser lens being set in a range of 3.2 mm<L<3.6 mm when the path length L is not substantially expanded by a refractive material; a pair of light splitting means disposed behind said condenser lens through no refractive member and in symmetry with respect to a meridian plane of said condenser lens; and a focal point detecting means adapted to detect a focal point by finding a relative positional displacment of an objective image which is reimaged by said pair of light splitting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 170 words
An optical system of a focal point detecting device comprising: a condenser lens disposed behind a film equivalent plane and formed with a front surface thereof at the film equivalent plane side in a convex shape and formed with a rear surface thereof in a convex shape, the radius of curvature of the front surface of said condenser lens being larger than that of the rear surface of said condenser lens, a path length L from the film equivalent plane to the rear surface of said condenser lens being set in a range of 3.2 mm<L<3.6 mm when the path length L is not substantially expanded by a refractive material; a pair of light splitting means disposed behind said condenser lens through no refractive member and in symmetry with respect to a meridian plane of said condenser lens; and a focal point detecting means adapted to detect a focal point by finding a relative positional displacment of an objective image which is reimaged by said pair of light splitting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 113 words
An optical system of a focal point detecting device comprising: a condenser lens disposed behind a film equivalent plane and formed with a front surface thereof at the film equivalent plane side in a plain shape having an infinitive radius of curvature and a rear surface thereof in a convex shape, a path length L from the film equivalent plane to the rear surface of said condenser lens being in a range of 3.2 mm<L<3.6 mm when the path length L is not substantially expanded by a refractive material; a pair of light splitting means disposed behind said condenser lens and in symmetry with respect to a meridian plane of said condenser lens;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 113 words
An optical system of a focal point detecting device comprising: a condenser lens disposed behind a film equivalent plane and formed with a front surface thereof at the film equivalent plane side in a plain shape having an infinitive radius of curvature and a rear surface thereof in a convex shape, a path length L from the film equivalent plane to the rear surface of said condenser lens being in a range of 3.2 mm<L<3.6 mm when the path length L is not substantially expanded by a refractive material; a pair of light splitting means disposed behind said condenser lens and in symmetry with respect to a meridian plane of said condenser lens;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 47 words
An optical system of a focal point detecting device according to any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein a plane parallel plate having a filtering function is disposed between said film equivalent plane and said condenser lens and in parallel relation with said film equivalent plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
An optical system of a focal point detecting device according to claim 4, wherein said plane parallel plate is an infrared eliminating-filter.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4580042A Cited
JPS5975209A Cited
JPS6032012A Cited
JPS6225715A Cited
US4716431A Cited
US4794416A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-07-02 1994-01-01 1994-07-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-07-02 1998-01-01 1998-07-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-07-02 2002-01-01 2002-07-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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