US5825534A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stereoendoscope having a folded sight line
Assignee: Carl Zeiss AG
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Filing: 1995-09-07
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Granted: 1998-10-20
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Expires: 2015-09-07
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a stereoendoscope having a sight line folded relative to the tube axis. The endoscope includes a distal front optic having a deflecting prism 4b. The deflecting prism 4b is mounted between a component 4a having a negative refractive power and a proximal component 4c having a positive refractive power. The inlet pupils 11 of the viewing component are imaged demagnified in the reflecting prism 4b by field optics (7, 7', 13) and transmitting optics (8, 8', 14). In this way, the beam can be guided free of vignetting without field cropping for both stereo channels through the endoscope tube and through the reflecting prism 4b even for a large object field angles and without image cropping. The endoscope tube 2 and the viewing component 1 are rotatable with respect to each other about the optical axis 12 within the endoscope tube 2 so that the line of sight can be changed for a viewing component fixed in space. The stereo basis remains for a rotation of the endoscope tube 2 fixed in space.
Inventors
- 👤 Fritz Strahle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 00:20
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2407; G02B23/2415; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00174; A61B1/00179; A61B1/00193; A61B1/00195
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A stereoendoscope providing a viewing field to an observer, the stereoendoscope comprising; an endoscope tube; a transmitting optic assembly mounted in said endoscope tube and defining a first optical axis; a front optic assembly having a proximal end adjacent said transmitting optic assembly and a distal end facing away from said transmitting optic assembly; said front optic assembly defining a second optical axis at said distal end and including a prism mounted between said proximal and distal ends; said proximal end being aligned with said first optical axis; said second optical axis at said distal end being aligned so as to define an angle with said first optical axis unequal to 0° or 18°; said transmitting optic assembly having an end facing away from said front optic assembly; a viewing system disposed on said first optical axis so as to be adjacent said end of said transmitting optic assembly; said viewing system having two pupils spaced from each other; and, said transmitting optic assembly including field optics for imaging said two pupils demagnified into said prism so that a beam guided through said stereoendoscope is vignette free and said viewing field is uncropped by said prism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
A stereoendoscope providing a viewing field to an observer, the stereoendoscope comprising; an endoscope tube; a transmitting optic assembly mounted in said endoscope tube and defining a first optical axis; a front optic assembly having a proximal end adjacent said transmitting optic assembly and a distal end facing away from said transmitting optic assembly; said front optic assembly defining a second optical axis at said distal end and including a prism mounted between said proximal and distal ends; said proximal end being aligned with said first optical axis; said second optical axis at said distal end being aligned so as to define an angle with said first optical axis unequal to 0° or 18°; said transmitting optic assembly having an end facing away from said front optic assembly; a viewing system disposed on said first optical axis so as to be adjacent said end of said transmitting optic assembly; said viewing system having two pupils spaced from each other; and, said transmitting optic assembly including field optics for imaging said two pupils demagnified into said prism so that a beam guided through said stereoendoscope is vignette free and said viewing field is uncropped by said prism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The stereoendoscope of claim 1, said front optic assembly including: a proximal lens component defining said proximal end and said proximal lens component having a positive refractive power; and, a distal lens component defining said distal end and said distal lens component having a negative refractive power; and, said prism being mounted between said proximal and distal lens components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
The stereoendoscope of claim 2, said prism having a distal light entry surface and a proximal light exit surface; said prism also having four optically effective surfaces, two of said optically effective surfaces being said entry and exit surfaces and the remaining ones of said optically effective surfaces being first and second reflecting surfaces between said entry and exit surfaces for reflecting light entering via said entry surface and travelling to said exit surface; and, said distal light entry surface having an area less than the area of said proximal light exit surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The stereoendoscope of claim 3, wherein the images of said pupils in said prism are apart from each other at a spacing demagnified at the same scale as said images of said pupils.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The stereoendoscope of claim 4, said viewing system and said endoscope tube conjointly defining an interface which permits said viewing system and said endoscope tube to be rotated relative to each other about said first optical axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The stereoendoscope of claim 3, wherein: said first optical axis and said second optical axis conjointly define an angle (α) equal to at least 30°; and, said front optic assembly define a distal image angle (β) equal to at least 60°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stereoendoscope of claim 6, said proximal light exit surface and said second reflecting surface conjointly defining an angle greater than 56°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The stereoendoscope of claim 7, said endoscope tube defining a tube axis and said first and second reflecting surfaces being inclined to said tube axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The stereoendoscope of claim 3, said prism being the only prism of said front optic assembly; said light entry surface being perpendicular to said second optical axis and said light exit surface being perpendicular to said first optical axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The stereoendoscope of claim 2, said prism being made of a material having a refractive index greater than 2.00; said prism and said proximal lens component conjointly defining a first air spacing therebetween; and, said prism and said distal lens component conjointly defining a second air spacing therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stereoendoscope of claim 1, said endoscope tube defining a tube axis and said first optical axis being coaxial with said tube 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) | 2001-10-19 | 2002-04-20 | 2002-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-19 | 2006-04-20 | 2006-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-19 | 2010-04-20 | 2010-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |