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Compact zoom lens

Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1992-09-09
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Granted: 1993-12-14
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Expires: 2012-09-09
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Abstract

Abstract A compact zoom lens has first to fourth lens groups sequentially arranged from an object side. The first, second and fourth lens groups respectively have negative, positive and negative focal lengths. When a zooming operation is performed from a wide angle end to a telescopic end, a distance between the first and second lens groups is decreased, a distance between the second and third lens groups is increased, and a distance between the third and fourth lens groups is decreased. Focal lengths f 1 and f 2 of the first and second lens groups, focal lengths f 2 ,3,4W and f 2 ,3,4T of a combined lens system of the second, third and fourth lens groups at the wide angle end and the telescopic end, a focal length f 3 ,4T of a combined lens system of the third and fourth lens groups at the telescopic end, focal lengths f W and f T of an entire lens system at the wide angle end and the telescopic end satisfy the following conditions where symbol √[ ] means a square root of a value within bracket [ ]. [f.sub.1 +f.sub.2,3,4W {2-(f.sub.1 /f.sub.W)-(f.sub.W /f.sub.1)}]/f.sub.T <0.6 (1) [f.sub.1 +f.sub.2,3,4T {2-(f.sub.1 /f.sub.T)-(f.sub.T /f.sub.1)}]/f.sub.T <0.6 (2) 0.6<|f.sub.3,4T |/f.sub.2 <6.0 (3) 0.8<f.sub.2 /f.sub.2,3,4T <1.4 (4) 0.5<|f.sub.1 |/√[f.sub.W ·f.sub.T ]<1.3(5)

Inventors

  • 👤 Shuichi Kikuchi
  • 👤 Masami Itoh

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 13:02
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B15/00; G02B15/14; G02B15/16; G02B15/177; G02B15/143; G02B15/1435

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 252 words
A compact zoom lens comprising first to fourth lens groups sequentially arranged from an object side, the first, second and fourth lens groups respectively having negative, positive and negative focal lengths; the zoom lens being constructed such that a distance between the first and second lens groups is decreased, a distance between the second and third lens groups is increased, and a distance between the third and fourth lens groups is decreased when a zooming operation is performed from a wide angle end to a telescopic end; and a focal length f 1 of the first lens group, a focal length f 2 of the second lens group, a focal length f 2 ,3,4W of a combined lens system of the second, third and fourth lens groups at the wide angle end, a focal length f 2 ,3,4T of the combined lens system of the second, third and fourth lens groups at the telescopic end, a focal length f 3 ,4T of a combined lens system of the third and fourth lens groups at the telescopic end, a focal length f W of an entire lens system at the wide angle end, and a focal length f T of the entire lens system at the telescopic end satisfying the following conditions, [f.sub.1 +f.sub.2,3,4W {2-(f.sub.1 /f.sub.W)-(f.sub.W /f.sub.1)}]/f.sub.T <0.6 (1) [f.sub.1 +f.sub.2,3,4T {2-(f.sub.1 /f.sub.T)-(f.sub.T /f.sub.1)}]/f.sub.T <0.6 (2) 0.6<|f.sub.3,4T |/f.sub.2 <6.0 (3) 0.8<f.sub.2 /f.sub.2,3,4T <1.4 (4) 0.5<|f.sub.1 |/√[f.sub.W ·f.sub.T ]<1.3(5) where symbol √[ ] means a square root of a value within bracket [ ].
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 252 words
A compact zoom lens comprising first to fourth lens groups sequentially arranged from an object side, the first, second and fourth lens groups respectively having negative, positive and negative focal lengths; the zoom lens being constructed such that a distance between the first and second lens groups is decreased, a distance between the second and third lens groups is increased, and a distance between the third and fourth lens groups is decreased when a zooming operation is performed from a wide angle end to a telescopic end; and a focal length f 1 of the first lens group, a focal length f 2 of the second lens group, a focal length f 2 ,3,4W of a combined lens system of the second, third and fourth lens groups at the wide angle end, a focal length f 2 ,3,4T of the combined lens system of the second, third and fourth lens groups at the telescopic end, a focal length f 3 ,4T of a combined lens system of the third and fourth lens groups at the telescopic end, a focal length f W of an entire lens system at the wide angle end, and a focal length f T of the entire lens system at the telescopic end satisfying the following conditions, [f.sub.1 +f.sub.2,3,4W {2-(f.sub.1 /f.sub.W)-(f.sub.W /f.sub.1)}]/f.sub.T <0.6 (1) [f.sub.1 +f.sub.2,3,4T {2-(f.sub.1 /f.sub.T)-(f.sub.T /f.sub.1)}]/f.sub.T <0.6 (2) 0.6<|f.sub.3,4T |/f.sub.2 <6.0 (3) 0.8<f.sub.2 /f.sub.2,3,4T <1.4 (4) 0.5<|f.sub.1 |/√[f.sub.W ·f.sub.T ]<1.3(5) where symbol √[ ] means a square root of a value within bracket [ ].
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
A compact zoom lens as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diaphragm is disposed in the third lens group.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 89 words
A compact zoom lens as claimed in claim 2, wherein a diaphragm is arranged on the object side of the third lens group and the zoom lens has a super wide angle end for providing a focal length shorter than that at the wide angle end, and at least the distance between the first and second lens groups, and a distance between the above diaphragm and the third lens group are increased when the zooming operation is performed from the wide angle end to the super wide angle end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
A compact zoom lens as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a focusing operation toward a short distance is performed by integrally moving the third and fourth lens groups on an image face side.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-12-13 1997-06-14 1997-12-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-12-13 2001-06-14 2001-12-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-12-13 2005-06-14 2005-12-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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