US5125052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical device for the observation of an elongated object
Assignee: Thales SA
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Filing: 1989-12-11
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Granted: 1992-06-23
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Expires: 2009-12-11
Abstract
Abstract For the observation of an elongated object or an elongated zone (12) of an object with a lens (20, 20', 54), in the vicinity of this object or zone (12), a cylindrical lens (23) is used whose axis (Ox) extends along the largest dimension of the object or the zone. In this way, the observation is performed with a large resolution on an extended field.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Claude Lehureau
- 👤 Sophie Neubert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:53
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B11/00; G11B11/10; G11B11/105; G11B11/10532; G11B11/10541; G11B11/10543; G11B11/10547; G02; G02B; G02B13/00; G02B13/08; G02B13/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A device for observation, with an observations lens, of an elongated object or an object elongated zone, said device comprising, in the vicinity of, or in contact with, the object or the zone: a first cylindrical lens including an axis extending along the largest dimension of said object or zone, so that the device magnifies the object insignificantly along the largest dimension and significantly along the smallest dimension of the object, and wherein the focal distance of said first cylindrical lens is small relative to the focal distance of said observation lens.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A device for observation, with an observations lens, of an elongated object or an object elongated zone, said device comprising, in the vicinity of, or in contact with, the object or the zone: a first cylindrical lens including an axis extending along the largest dimension of said object or zone, so that the device magnifies the object insignificantly along the largest dimension and significantly along the smallest dimension of the object, and wherein the focal distance of said first cylindrical lens is small relative to the focal distance of said observation lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the ratio between the focal distance of the observation lens and the focal distance of said first cylindrical lens is between 10 and 100.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
35 words
The device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the focal distance of the first cylindrical lens is between 100 microns and 1 mm and preferably on the order to 150 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device according to any one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the cylindrical lens consists of an optical fiber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device according to claim 4, wherein the optical fiber exhibits a flat surface parallel to its axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device according to claim 5, wherein the flat surface or base plane comprises the axis of the optical fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device according to any one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first cylindrical lens is joined to a transparent plate having substantially the same dimensions as said object or said zone to be observed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 7, wherein the refraction indexes of said first cylindrical lens and said transparent plate are different.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device according to claim 7, wherein the cylindrical lens is glued to said transparent plate (24).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
44 words
The device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, further comprising a second cylindrical lens with an axis parallel to that of said first cylindrical lens said second cylindrical lens being intended to correct the astigmatism caused by said first cylindrical lens.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
74 words
The device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, further comprising, for lighting the object or zone through said first cylindrical lens, a light source, a shaping cylindrical lens for rectilinear shaping of the light beam and a focusing lens, axis of said shaping cylindrical lens for shaping the light beam being perpendicular to the axis of said first cylindrical lens in the vicinity of the object or zone to be observed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
The device according to claim 11, wherein, in a plane passing through said axis of said shaping cylindrical lens, an image of a source relative to an optical unit comprising said focusing lens and said first cylindrical lens, is on said object or zone or in the vicinity of the object or zone and, in a perpendicular plane, an image of a source relative to said shaping cylindrical lens is at a focal point of said focusing lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device according to claim 4, wherein the index of the core of said optical fiber is smaller than the index of the cladding of said optical fiber.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
37 words
The device according to any of claims 1 or 2 further comprising, before said first cylindrical lens placed in the vicinity or against the object or zone, an optical assembly for enlargement of the field of observation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device according to claim 14, wherein said assembly for enlargement of the field comprises a unit of lines of optical fibers with index gradient along their length, the magnification of said assembly being equal to 1.
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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) | 1995-06-23 | 1995-12-23 | 1996-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-23 | 1999-12-23 | 2000-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-23 | 2003-12-23 | 2004-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |