US5097359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscope relay lens configuration
Assignee: McKinley Optics Inc
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Filing: 1991-03-05
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Granted: 1992-03-17
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Expires: 2011-03-05
Abstract
Abstract Relay lenses for endoscopy include an axially symmetrical three-part optical component having a thin symmetrical negative element interposed between identical, substantially spherical outside elements; and an axially symmetrical five-part optical component in which the three-part component described above is disposed between two additional outer components.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry R. McKinley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:22
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2407; G02B23/2446
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A relay lens for transmitting an optical image, comprising (a) a center lens having opposed ends, radii of curvature of said opposed ends of said center lens being substantially identical, and (b) two substantially identical end lenses coupled to said opposed ends of said center lens, each of said end lenses being substantially spherical, each of said end lenses having an axial length that is equal to or greater than approximately one-half its diameter, said end lenses and said center lens forming a cylinder, so that the relay lens is substantially symmetrical about a plane passing through the center of said center lens perpendicular to an axis passing through the centers of said opposed end lenses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A relay lens for transmitting an optical image, comprising (a) a center lens having opposed ends, radii of curvature of said opposed ends of said center lens being substantially identical, and (b) two substantially identical end lenses coupled to said opposed ends of said center lens, each of said end lenses being substantially spherical, each of said end lenses having an axial length that is equal to or greater than approximately one-half its diameter, said end lenses and said center lens forming a cylinder, so that the relay lens is substantially symmetrical about a plane passing through the center of said center lens perpendicular to an axis passing through the centers of said opposed end lenses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The relay lens of claim 1 wherein said center lens has an axial length that is equal to or less than approximately one-half its diameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
183 words
A relay lens set for transmitting an optical image of an object, comprising a pair of substantially identical relay lenses, each of said relay lenses comprising (a) a center lens having opposed ends, radii of curvature of said opposed ends of said center lens being substantially identical, and (b) two substantially identical end lenses coupled to said opposed ends of said center lens, each of said end lenses being substantially spherical, each of said end lenses having an axial length that is equal to or greater than approximately one-half its diameter, said end lenses and said center lens forming a cylinder, so that said relay lens is symmetrical about a plane passing through the center of the center lens perpendicular to an axis passing through the centers of the opposed end lenses, wherein radii of curvature and axial lengths of said end lenses and center lenses cooperate so that optimal performance of the relay lens set is achieved when the distance from the object to the closest relay lens is approximately one-half the distance between the pair of relay lenses in the set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
183 words
A relay lens set for transmitting an optical image of an object, comprising a pair of substantially identical relay lenses, each of said relay lenses comprising (a) a center lens having opposed ends, radii of curvature of said opposed ends of said center lens being substantially identical, and (b) two substantially identical end lenses coupled to said opposed ends of said center lens, each of said end lenses being substantially spherical, each of said end lenses having an axial length that is equal to or greater than approximately one-half its diameter, said end lenses and said center lens forming a cylinder, so that said relay lens is symmetrical about a plane passing through the center of the center lens perpendicular to an axis passing through the centers of the opposed end lenses, wherein radii of curvature and axial lengths of said end lenses and center lenses cooperate so that optimal performance of the relay lens set is achieved when the distance from the object to the closest relay lens is approximately one-half the distance between the pair of relay lenses in the set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The relay lens set of claim 3 wherein said center lens has an axial length that is equal to or less than approximately one-half its diameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The relay lens set of claim 3 wherein the relay lens set transmits an optical image to a second, identical, relay lens set and the distance from the object to the closest relay lens is approximately one-half the distance between the relay lens set and the second relay lens set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
229 words
A relay lens set system for transmitting an optical image of an object through a plurality of relay lens sets, the relay lens set system comprising a first relay lens set and an identical, adjacent second relay lens set, each of said relay lens sets including a pair of identical relay lenses, said relay lenses comprising (a) a center lens having opposed ends, radii of curvature of said opposed ends of said center lens being substantially identical, (b) two substantially identical end lenses coupled to said opposed ends of said center lens, each of said end lenses being substantially spherical, each of said end lenses having an axial length that is equal to or greater than approximately one-half its diameter, said end lenses and center lens forming a cylinder. so that the relay lens is substantially symmetrical about a plane passing through the center of the center lens perpendicular to an axis passing through the centers of the opposed end lenses, wherein radii of curvature and axial lengths of the end lenses and center lens cooperate so that optimal performance of the relay lens set system is achieved when the distance from the object to the closest relay lens is approximately one-half the distance between the pair of relay lenses in the first relay lens st and approximately one-half the distance between the first and second relay lens sets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
229 words
A relay lens set system for transmitting an optical image of an object through a plurality of relay lens sets, the relay lens set system comprising a first relay lens set and an identical, adjacent second relay lens set, each of said relay lens sets including a pair of identical relay lenses, said relay lenses comprising (a) a center lens having opposed ends, radii of curvature of said opposed ends of said center lens being substantially identical, (b) two substantially identical end lenses coupled to said opposed ends of said center lens, each of said end lenses being substantially spherical, each of said end lenses having an axial length that is equal to or greater than approximately one-half its diameter, said end lenses and center lens forming a cylinder. so that the relay lens is substantially symmetrical about a plane passing through the center of the center lens perpendicular to an axis passing through the centers of the opposed end lenses, wherein radii of curvature and axial lengths of the end lenses and center lens cooperate so that optimal performance of the relay lens set system is achieved when the distance from the object to the closest relay lens is approximately one-half the distance between the pair of relay lenses in the first relay lens st and approximately one-half the distance between the first and second relay lens sets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The relay lens set system of claim 6 wherein the distance from the object to the closest relay lens is approximately one-half the distance between any adjacent relay lens sets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The relay lens set system of claim 6 wherein said center lens has an axial length that is equal to or less than approximately one-half its diameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
130 words
A relay lens for transmitting an optical image, comprising (a) a center lens having opposed ends, radii of curvature of said opposed ends of said center lens being substantially identical, (b) two substantially identical intermediate lenses coupled to said opposed ends of said center lens, each of said intermediate lenses being substantially spherical, each of said intermediate lenses having an axial length that is equal to or greater than approximately one-half its diameter, and (c) two substantially identical end lenses coupled to said substantially spherical intermediate lenses, said end lenses, intermediate lenses and center lens forming a cylinder, so that the relay lens is substantially symmetrical about a plane passing through the center of the center lens perpendicular to an axis passing through the centers of the opposed end lenses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
130 words
A relay lens for transmitting an optical image, comprising (a) a center lens having opposed ends, radii of curvature of said opposed ends of said center lens being substantially identical, (b) two substantially identical intermediate lenses coupled to said opposed ends of said center lens, each of said intermediate lenses being substantially spherical, each of said intermediate lenses having an axial length that is equal to or greater than approximately one-half its diameter, and (c) two substantially identical end lenses coupled to said substantially spherical intermediate lenses, said end lenses, intermediate lenses and center lens forming a cylinder, so that the relay lens is substantially symmetrical about a plane passing through the center of the center lens perpendicular to an axis passing through the centers of the opposed end lenses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The relay lens of claim 9 wherein said center lens has an axial length that is equal to or less than approximately one-half its diameter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
203 words
A relay lens set for transmitting an optical image of an object, comprising a pair of substantially identical relay lenses, each of said relay lenses comprising (a) a center lens having opposed ends, radii of curvature of said opposed ends of said center lens being substantially identical, (b) two substantially identical intermediate lenses coupled to said opposed ends of said center lens, each of said intermediate lenses being substantially spherical, each of said intermediate lenses having an axial length that is equal to or greater than approximately one-half its diameter, and (c) two substantially identical end lenses coupled to said substantially spherical outer end surfaces of said intermediate lenses, said end lenses, intermediate lenses and center lens forming a cylinder, so that the relay lens is substantially symmetrical about a plane passing through the center of the center lens perpendicular to an axis passing through the centers of the opposed end lenses, wherein radii of curvature and axial lengths of the end lenses and center lens cooperate so that optimal performance of the relay lens set is achieved when the distance from the object to the closest relay lens is approximately one-half the distance between the pair of relay lenses in the set.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
203 words
A relay lens set for transmitting an optical image of an object, comprising a pair of substantially identical relay lenses, each of said relay lenses comprising (a) a center lens having opposed ends, radii of curvature of said opposed ends of said center lens being substantially identical, (b) two substantially identical intermediate lenses coupled to said opposed ends of said center lens, each of said intermediate lenses being substantially spherical, each of said intermediate lenses having an axial length that is equal to or greater than approximately one-half its diameter, and (c) two substantially identical end lenses coupled to said substantially spherical outer end surfaces of said intermediate lenses, said end lenses, intermediate lenses and center lens forming a cylinder, so that the relay lens is substantially symmetrical about a plane passing through the center of the center lens perpendicular to an axis passing through the centers of the opposed end lenses, wherein radii of curvature and axial lengths of the end lenses and center lens cooperate so that optimal performance of the relay lens set is achieved when the distance from the object to the closest relay lens is approximately one-half the distance between the pair of relay lenses in the set.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The relay lens set of claim 11 wherein said center lens has an axial length that is equal to or less than approximately one-half its diameter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The relay lens set of claim 11 wherein the relay lens set transmits an optical image to a second, identical, relay lens set and the distance from the object to the closest relay lens is approximately one-half the distance between the relay lens set and the second relay lens set.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1995-03-17 | 1995-09-16 | 1996-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-17 | 1999-09-16 | 2000-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-17 | 2003-09-16 | 2004-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |