Endoscope relay optics

Claim 2

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, comprising: a rod-like central element constructed of a first material having a relatively high index of refraction and having first and second end surfaces; first and second negative elements construed of a second material having a relatively low index of refraction, being axially spaced apart from each other by said central element and being cemented to said first and second end surfaces, respectively; first and second positive elements constructed of said first material, being spaced apart from each other by said central element and said negative elements and being cemented to said negative elements; the dispersions of said first and second materials being chosen to substantially correct chromatic aberration; the index difference contribution to the Petzval sum dominating the bending and spacing contributions to the Petzval sum.

Claim 3

The lens assembly of claim 1 wherein said positive elements are substantially identical, said negative elements are substantially identical, and said central element is substantially symmetric about a median plane, thereby substantially correcting coma, distortion, and lateral color.

Claim 4

The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein said central element has convex surfaces, said negative elements are concave-concave, and said positive elements are concave-convex.

Claim 5

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, the lens assembly having normalized geometreical parameters and being made of optical materials as follows: __________________________________________________________________________ SURFACE RADIUS THICKNESS MEDIUM INDEX ABBE NO. __________________________________________________________________________ A -- 1.000 Air B -63.111 10.602 Schott LAF21 1.792 47.23 C -15.873 5.506 Schott LF6 1.570 42.56 D 30.551 165.602 Schott LAF21 1.792 47.23 E -30.551 5.506 Schott LF6 1.570 42.56 F 15.873 10.602 Schott LAF21 1.792 47.23 G 63.111 1.000 Air H -- CONIC SURF CONSTANT AD AE AF AG __________________________________________________________________________ B 1.516 E + 01 -3.126 E - 06 -5.248 E - 09 -1.507 E - 11 0.000 E + 00 G 1.516 E + 01 3.126 E - 06 5.248 E - 09 1.507 E - 11 0.000 E + 00 __________________________________________________________________________

Claim 6

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, the lens assembly having normalized geometreical parameters and being made of optical materials as follows: __________________________________________________________________________ SURFACE RADIUS THICKNESS MEDIUM INDEX ABBE NO. __________________________________________________________________________ A -- 1.000 Air B -63.111 10.602 Schott LAF21 1.792 47.23 C -15.873 5.506 Schott LF6 1.570 42.56 D 30.551 165.602 Schott LAF21 1.792 47.23 E -30.551 5.506 Schott LF6 1.570 42.56 F 15.873 10.602 Schott LAF21 1.792 47.23 G 63.111 1.000 Air H -- CONIC SURF CONSTANT AD AE AF AG __________________________________________________________________________ B 1.516 E + 01 -3.126 E - 06 -5.248 E - 09 -1.507 E - 11 0.000 E + 00 G 1.516 E + 01 3.126 E - 06 5.248 E - 09 1.507 E - 11 0.000 E + 00 __________________________________________________________________________

Claim 7

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, the lens assembly having normalized geometreical parameters and being made of optical materials as follows: __________________________________________________________________________ SURFACE RADIUS THICKNESS MEDIUM INDEX ABBE NO. __________________________________________________________________________ A -- 1.000 Air B 110.974 13.985 Schott LASFN30 1.807 46.13 C -21.284 3.000 Schott LF7 1.578 41.22 D 37.398 164.099 Schott LAF21 1.792 47.23 E -37.398 3.000 Schott LF7 1.578 41.22 F 21.284 13.985 Schott LASFN30 1.807 46.13 G 110.974 1.000 Air H -- CONIC SURF CONSTANT AD AE AF AG __________________________________________________________________________ B 1.849 E + 01 -3.019 E - 06 -3.764 E - 09 -6.490 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 G 1.849 E + 01 3.019 E - 06 3.764 E - 09 6.490 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 __________________________________________________________________________

Claim 8

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, the lens assembly having normalized geometreical parameters and being made of optical materials as follows: __________________________________________________________________________ SURFACE RADIUS THICKNESS MEDIUM INDEX ABBE NO. __________________________________________________________________________ A -- 1.000 Air B 110.974 13.985 Schott LASFN30 1.807 46.13 C -21.284 3.000 Schott LF7 1.578 41.22 D 37.398 164.099 Schott LAF21 1.792 47.23 E -37.398 3.000 Schott LF7 1.578 41.22 F 21.284 13.985 Schott LASFN30 1.807 46.13 G 110.974 1.000 Air H -- CONIC SURF CONSTANT AD AE AF AG __________________________________________________________________________ B 1.849 E + 01 -3.019 E - 06 -3.764 E - 09 -6.490 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 G 1.849 E + 01 3.019 E - 06 3.764 E - 09 6.490 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 __________________________________________________________________________

Claim 9

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, the lens assembly having normalized geometreical parameters and being made of optical materials as follows: __________________________________________________________________________ SURFACE RADIUS THICKNESS MEDIUM INDEX ABBE NO. __________________________________________________________________________ A -- 1.000 Air B -128.871 11.396 Schott LASF3 1.813 40.36 C -21.742 4.000 Polycarbonate 1.590 29.62 D 46.858 167.394 Schott SF57 1.855 23.64 E -46.858 4.000 Polycarbonate 1.590 29.62 F 21.742 11.396 Schott LASF3 1.813 40.36 G 128.872 1.000 Air H -- CONIC SURF CONSTANT AD AE AF AG __________________________________________________________________________ B 2.385 E + 01 -2.563 E - 06 -2.859 E - 09 -4.520 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 C 2.385 E + 01 2.563 E - 06 2.859 E - 09 4.520 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 __________________________________________________________________________

Claim 10

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, the lens assembly having normalized geometreical parameters and being made of optical materials as follows: __________________________________________________________________________ SURFACE RADIUS THICKNESS MEDIUM INDEX ABBE NO. __________________________________________________________________________ A -- 1.000 Air B -128.871 11.396 Schott LASF3 1.813 40.36 C -21.742 4.000 Polycarbonate 1.590 29.62 D 46.858 167.394 Schott SF57 1.855 23.64 E -46.858 4.000 Polycarbonate 1.590 29.62 F 21.742 11.396 Schott LASF3 1.813 40.36 G 128.872 1.000 Air H -- CONIC SURF CONSTANT AD AE AF AG __________________________________________________________________________ B 2.385 E + 01 -2.563 E - 06 -2.859 E - 09 -4.520 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 C 2.385 E + 01 2.563 E - 06 2.859 E - 09 4.520 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 __________________________________________________________________________

Claim 11

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, the lens assembly having normalized geometreical parameters and being made of optical materials as follows: __________________________________________________________________________ SURFACE RADIUS THICKNESS MEDIUM INDEX ABBE NO. __________________________________________________________________________ A -- 1.000 Air B -109.876 14.212 Schott LASFN31 1.886 40.76 C -23.049 3.000 Schott F5 1.607 37.76 D 35.968 163.663 Schott LAF21 1.792 47.23 E -35.968 3.000 Schott F5 1.607 37.76 F 23.049 14.212 Schott LASFN31 1.886 40.76 G 109.876 1.000 Air H -- CONIC SURF CONSTANT AD AE AF AG __________________________________________________________________________ B 1.868 E + 01 -2.400 E - 06 -2.307 E - 09 -3.133 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 C 1.868 E + 01 2.400 E - 06 2.307 E - 09 3.133 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 __________________________________________________________________________

Claim 12

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, the lens assembly having normalized geometreical parameters and being made of optical materials as follows: __________________________________________________________________________ SURFACE RADIUS THICKNESS MEDIUM INDEX ABBE NO. __________________________________________________________________________ A -- 1.000 Air B -109.876 14.212 Schott LASFN31 1.886 40.76 C -23.049 3.000 Schott F5 1.607 37.76 D 35.968 163.663 Schott LAF21 1.792 47.23 E -35.968 3.000 Schott F5 1.607 37.76 F 23.049 14.212 Schott LASFN31 1.886 40.76 G 109.876 1.000 Air H -- CONIC SURF CONSTANT AD AE AF AG __________________________________________________________________________ B 1.868 E + 01 -2.400 E - 06 -2.307 E - 09 -3.133 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 C 1.868 E + 01 2.400 E - 06 2.307 E - 09 3.133 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 __________________________________________________________________________

Claim 13

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, the lens assembly having normalized geometreical parameters and being made of optical materials as follows: __________________________________________________________________________ SURFACE RADIUS THICKNESS MEDIUM INDEX ABBE NO. __________________________________________________________________________ A -- 1.000 Air B Flat 12.327 Schott LAFN24 1.761 47.57 C -24.819 3.000 Schott LF7 1.578 41.22 D 79.030 166.990 Schott LAK10 1.723 50.17 E -79.030 3.000 Schott LF7 1.578 41.22 F 24.819 12.327 Schott LAFN24 1.761 47.57 G Flat 1.000 Air H -- CONIC SURF CONSTANT AD AE AF AG __________________________________________________________________________ B 0.000 E + 00 -2.2490 E - 06 -2.162 E - 09 -1.722 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 G 0.000 E + 00 2.490 E - 06 2.162 E - 09 1.722 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 __________________________________________________________________________

Claim 14

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, the lens assembly having normalized geometreical parameters and being made of optical materials as follows: __________________________________________________________________________ SURFACE RADIUS THICKNESS MEDIUM INDEX ABBE NO. __________________________________________________________________________ A -- 1.000 Air B Flat 12.327 Schott LAFN24 1.761 47.57 C -24.819 3.000 Schott LF7 1.578 41.22 D 79.030 166.990 Schott LAK10 1.723 50.17 E -79.030 3.000 Schott LF7 1.578 41.22 F 24.819 12.327 Schott LAFN24 1.761 47.57 G Flat 1.000 Air H -- CONIC SURF CONSTANT AD AE AF AG __________________________________________________________________________ B 0.000 E + 00 -2.2490 E - 06 -2.162 E - 09 -1.722 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 G 0.000 E + 00 2.490 E - 06 2.162 E - 09 1.722 E - 12 0.000 E + 00 __________________________________________________________________________

Claim 15

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, the lens assembly having normalized geometreical parameters and being made of optical materials as follows: __________________________________________________________________________ SURFACE RADIUS THICKNESS MEDIUM INDEX ABBE NO. __________________________________________________________________________ A -- 1.000 Air B Flat 10.188 Schott LASFN30 1.807 46.13 C -27.271 3.000 Schott TIF3 1.551 41.89 D Flat 172.759 Schott SF6 1.813 25.24 E Flat 3.000 Schott TIF3 1.551 41.89 F 27.271 10.188 Schott LASFN30 1.807 46.13 G Flat 1.000 Air H -- CONIC SURF CONSTANT AD AE AF AG __________________________________________________________________________ B 0.000 E + 00 -2.693 E - 06 -1.757 E - 09 -9.843 E - 13 0.000 E + 00 G 0.000 E + 00 2.693 E - 06 1.757 E - 09 9.843 E - 13 0.000 E + 00 __________________________________________________________________________

Claim 16

A lens assembly for incorporation into an optical transfer system wherein two such assemblies define an optical transfer module for transferring an image between successive image planes, the lens assembly having normalized geometreical parameters and being made of optical materials as follows: __________________________________________________________________________ SURFACE RADIUS THICKNESS MEDIUM INDEX ABBE NO. __________________________________________________________________________ A -- 1.000 Air B Flat 10.188 Schott LASFN30 1.807 46.13 C -27.271 3.000 Schott TIF3 1.551 41.89 D Flat 172.759 Schott SF6 1.813 25.24 E Flat 3.000 Schott TIF3 1.551 41.89 F 27.271 10.188 Schott LASFN30 1.807 46.13 G Flat 1.000 Air H -- CONIC SURF CONSTANT AD AE AF AG __________________________________________________________________________ B 0.000 E + 00 -2.693 E - 06 -1.757 E - 09 -9.843 E - 13 0.000 E + 00 G 0.000 E + 00 2.693 E - 06 1.757 E - 09 9.843 E - 13 0.000 E + 00 __________________________________________________________________________