Patent US4976524A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4976524A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1989-04-28
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Granted: 1990-12-11
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Expires: 2009-04-28
Abstract
Abstract An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes is provided with an imaging optical system including at least one convex or concave asphrical surface and a reflecting mirror arranged on the front side of the imaging optical system and having a reflecting surface shaped like a spherical or aspherical surface. The optical system for endoscopes can form a bright image which has little aberration and can also render the distal end portion of the endoscope finer.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiro Chiba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:50
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2407; G02B23/2423; G02B13/00; G02B13/06; G02B23/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes comprising an imaging optical system and a reflecting mirror arranged in front of said imaging optical system, wherein at least one surface of lens components constituting said imaging optical system is an aspherical surface and at least one reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror is an aspherical surface including an optical axis of said imaging optical system and having a convex configuration toward said imaging optical system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes comprising an imaging optical system and a reflecting mirror arranged in front of said imaging optical system, wherein at least one surface of lens components constituting said imaging optical system is an aspherical surface and at least one reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror is an aspherical surface including an optical axis of said imaging optical system and having a convex configuration toward said imaging optical system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes comprising an imaging optical system and a reflecting mirror arranged in front of said imaging optical system, wherein a reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror is an aspherical surface which is attained by rotating a curve, around an optical axis, compounded of curves of n order (n=2, 3, 4. . .) on the basis of a straight line inclined with respect to the optical axis in a plane surface including the optical axis, said aspherical surface having at least one inflection point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes comprising an imaging optical system and a reflecting mirror arranged in front of said imaging optical system, wherein a reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror is an aspherical surface which is attained by rotating a curve, around an optical axis, compounded of curves of n order (n=2, 3, 4. . .) on the basis of a straight line inclined with respect to the optical axis in a plane surface including the optical axis, said aspherical surface having at least one inflection point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes comprising an imaging optical system and a reflecting mirror arranged in front of said imaging optical system, wherein at least one surface of lens components constituting said imaging optical system and at least one reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror are aspherical, and wherein the reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror is a conical surface and said imaging optical system includes at least one aspherical surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes comprising an imaging optical system and a reflecting mirror arranged in front of said imaging optical system, wherein at least one surface of lens components constituting said imaging optical system and at least one reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror are aspherical, and wherein the reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror is a conical surface and said imaging optical system includes at least one aspherical surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes comprising an imaging optical system and a reflecting mirror arranged in front of said imaging optical system, wherein at least one surface of lens components constituting said imaging optical system and at least one reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror are aspherical, wherein a reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror is part of a spherical surface and said imaging optical system includes at least one aspherical surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes comprising an imaging optical system and a reflecting mirror arranged in front of said imaging optical system, wherein at least one surface of lens components constituting said imaging optical system and at least one reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror are aspherical, wherein a reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror is part of a spherical surface and said imaging optical system includes at least one aspherical surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical system for endoscopes according to any one of claim 3 or 4 wherein the aspherical surface included in said imaging optical system is a positive lens surface having the radius of curvature larger on its periphery than in the vicinity of an optical axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical system for endoscopes according to any one of claim 3 or 4, wherein the aspherical surface included in said imaging optical system is a negative lens surface having the radius of curvature smaller on its periphery than in the vicinity of an optical axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
157 words
An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes comprising an imaging optical system and a reflecting mirror arranged in front of said imaging optical system, wherein at least one surface of lens components constituting said imaging optical system and at least one reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror are aspherical, and wherein the reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror is an aspherical surface which is attained by rotating a curve, around an optical axis, compounded of curves of n order (n=2, 3, 4, . . .) on the basis of a straight line inclined with respect to the optical axis in a plane surface including the optical axis, said aspherical surface having at least one inflection point, and said imaging optical system includes at least one aspherical surface, which is a positive lens surface having the radius of curvature larger on its periphery than in the vicinity of the optical axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
157 words
An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes comprising an imaging optical system and a reflecting mirror arranged in front of said imaging optical system, wherein at least one surface of lens components constituting said imaging optical system and at least one reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror are aspherical, and wherein the reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror is an aspherical surface which is attained by rotating a curve, around an optical axis, compounded of curves of n order (n=2, 3, 4, . . .) on the basis of a straight line inclined with respect to the optical axis in a plane surface including the optical axis, said aspherical surface having at least one inflection point, and said imaging optical system includes at least one aspherical surface, which is a positive lens surface having the radius of curvature larger on its periphery than in the vicinity of the optical axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes comprising an imaging optical system and a reflecting mirror arranged in front of said imaging optical system, wherein at least one surface of lens components constituting said imaging optical system and at least one reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror are aspherical, and wherein the reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror is an aspherical surface which is attained by rotating a curve, around an optical axis, compounded of curves of n order (n=2, 3, 4, . . .) on the basis of a straight line inclined with respect to the optical axis in a plane surface including the optical axis, said aspherical surface having at least one inflection point, and said imaging optical system includes at least one aspherical surface, which is a negative lens surface having the radius of curvature smaller on its periphery than in the vicinity of the optical axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
An optical system for endoscopes to be used for observing the interior of pipes comprising an imaging optical system and a reflecting mirror arranged in front of said imaging optical system, wherein at least one surface of lens components constituting said imaging optical system and at least one reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror are aspherical, and wherein the reflecting surface of said reflecting mirror is an aspherical surface which is attained by rotating a curve, around an optical axis, compounded of curves of n order (n=2, 3, 4, . . .) on the basis of a straight line inclined with respect to the optical axis in a plane surface including the optical axis, said aspherical surface having at least one inflection point, and said imaging optical system includes at least one aspherical surface, which is a negative lens surface having the radius of curvature smaller on its periphery than in the vicinity of the optical axis.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-10 | 1994-06-11 | 1994-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-10 | 1998-06-11 | 1998-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-10 | 2002-06-11 | 2002-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |