Lens systems comprising plastic and liquid lens elements

Claim 2

A lens system comprising two plastic lens elements and a liquid lens element disposed coaxially along an optic axis, said two plastic lens elements being substantially identical to each other, said two plastic lens elements and said liquid lens element coacting with each other to provide a common back focal distance for said lens system at at least three discrete wavelengths.

Claim 3

A lens system comprising two plastic lens elements and a liquid lens element disposed coaxially along an optic axis, said two plastic lens elements being substantially identical to each other, said two plastic lens elements and said liquid lens element coacting with each other to focus optical radiation at three discrete wavelengths passing through said lens system onto a common focal surface.

Claim 4

A lens system comprising two plastic lens elements and a liquid lens element disposed coaxially along an optic axis, said two plastic lens elements being substantially identical to each other, said two plastic lens elements and said liquid lens element coacting with each other to focus optical radiation at three discrete wavelengths passing through said lens system onto a common focal surface.

Claim 5

A lens system comprising two plastic lens elements and a liquid lens element disposed coaxially along an optic axis, said two plastic lens elements being substantially identical to each other, said two plastic lens elements and said liquid lens element coacting with each other to focus optical radiation at two discrete wavelengths passing through said lens system onto a common focal surface with a change in focus of less than one-quarter wavelength over a range of wavelengths between said two discrete wavelengths, said two discrete wavelengths at which said optical radiation is focussed onto said focal surface having a spectral separation of at least about 0.07 micron.

Claim 6

A lens system comprising two plastic lens elements and a liquid lens element disposed coaxially along an optic axis, said two plastic lens elements being substantially identical to each other, said two plastic lens elements and said liquid lens element coacting with each other to focus optical radiation at two discrete wavelengths passing through said lens system onto a common focal surface with a change in focus of less than one-quarter wavelength over a range of wavelengths between said two discrete wavelengths, said two discrete wavelengths at which said optical radiation is focussed onto said focal surface having a spectral separation of at least about 0.07 micron.

Claim 7

The lens system of claim 3 wherein said two plastic lens elements are made of acrylic.

Claim 8

The lens system of claim 4 wherein said liquid lens element is made of an optical liquid having an index of refraction of approximately 1.71035 at a wavelength of 0.58756 micron and an Abbe number of approximately 20.95.

Claim 9

The lens system of claim 4 wherein said liquid lens element is made of an optical liquid having an index of refraction of approximately 1.50012 at a wavelength of 0.58756 micron and an Abbe number of approximately 35.31.

Claim 10

The lens system of claim 4 wherein said liquid lens element is made of an optical liquid having an index of refraction of approximately 1.47011 at a wavelength of 0.58756 micron and an Abbe member of approximately 38,08.

Claim 11

The lens system of claim 3 wherein said plastic lens elements and said liquid lens element are configured and positioned along said optic axis substantially according to an optical prescription as follows: ______________________________________ Surface Radius Thickness No. (inches) (inches) N.sub.d V.sub.d Material ______________________________________ 1 8.36182 0.07106 1.49176 57.46 acrylic 2 -25.11101 0.00142 1.71035 20.95 710209 3 25.11101 0.07106 1.49176 57.46 acrylic 4 -8.36182 9.92095 5 (image plane) ______________________________________

Claim 12

The lens system of claim 3 wherein said plastic lens elements and said liquid lens element are configured and positioned along said optic axis substantially according to an optical prescription as follows: ______________________________________ Surface Radius Thickness No. (inches) (inches) N.sub.d V.sub.d Material ______________________________________ 1 9.55933 0.07106 1.49176 57.46 acrylic 2 -6.31572 0.00142 1.50012 35.31 499352 3 6.31572 0.07106 1.49176 57.46 acrylic 4 -9.55933 9.92323 5 (image plane) ______________________________________

Claim 13

The lens system of claim 3 wherein said plastic lens elements and said liquid lens element are configured and positioned along said optic axis substantially according to an optical prescription as follows: ______________________________________ Surface Radius Thickness No. (inches) (inches) N.sub.d V.sub.d Material ______________________________________ 1 10.78748 0.07106 1.49176 57.46 acrylic 2 -4.77688 0.00142 1.47011 38.08 470380 3 4.77688 0.07106 1.49176 57.46 acrylic 4 -10.78748 9.92072 5 (image plane) ______________________________________