US6850372B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orthogonal movement lateral shift zoom lens
Assignee: Raytheon Canada Ltd
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Filing: 2002-06-18
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Granted: 2005-02-01
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Expires: 2022-06-18
Abstract
Abstract An optical zoom lens mechanism is arranged along an optical axis and produces a zooming effect by a transverse movement of transparent elements perpendicular to the optical axis. A first lens group has two adjacent, rotationally nonsymmetric transparent first optical lens plates that are each rotationally nonsymmetric relative to the optical axis, and a first-group drive is operable to move the first optical lens plates together and relative to each other in a first-movement radial direction relative to the optical axis. A second lens group has two adjacent, rotationally nonsymmetric transparent second optical lens plates that are each rotationally nonsymmetric relative to the optical axis, and a second-group drive is operable to move the second optical lens plates together and relative to each other in a second-movement radial direction relative to the optical axis. The second-movement radial direction is angularly rotated from the first-movement radial direction by a nonzero, preferably about 90 degrees, rotational angle about the optical axis. The first optical lens plates and the second optical lens plates are shaped so that the relative movement of the first optical lens plates and second optical lens plates produces an optical zoom relative to a focal surface. The drives may be driven by a controller, such as a feedback controller having an imaging sensor located at the focal surface, and a microprocessor controller receiving an output of the imaging sensor and having a control output signal set operably connected to the drives.
Inventors
- 👤 Conrad Stenton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:54
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
An optical zoom lens mechanism arranged along an optical axis, comprising: a first lens group comprising at least two adjacent transparent fist optical lens plates that are each rotationally nonsymmetric relative to the optical axis; a first-group drive operable to move the first optical lens plates together and also by a first relative movement to each other in a first-movement radial direction relative to the optical axis; a second lens group comprising at least two adjacent transparent second optical lens plates that are each rotationally nonsymmetric relative to the optical axis, wherein the second lens group is spaced apart from the first lens group in an axial direction along the optical axis; and a second-group drive operable to move the second optical lens plates together and also by a second relative movement to each other in a second-movement radial direction relative to the optical axis, wherein the second-movement radial direction is angularly rotated from the first-movement radial direction by a rotational angle about the optical axis of about 90 degrees, and wherein the fist optical lens plates and the second optical lens plates are shaped so that the first relative movement of the first optical lens plates and the second relative movement of the second optical lens plates produces an optical zoom relative to a focal surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
An optical zoom lens mechanism arranged along an optical axis, comprising: a first lens group comprising at least two adjacent transparent fist optical lens plates that are each rotationally nonsymmetric relative to the optical axis; a first-group drive operable to move the first optical lens plates together and also by a first relative movement to each other in a first-movement radial direction relative to the optical axis; a second lens group comprising at least two adjacent transparent second optical lens plates that are each rotationally nonsymmetric relative to the optical axis, wherein the second lens group is spaced apart from the first lens group in an axial direction along the optical axis; and a second-group drive operable to move the second optical lens plates together and also by a second relative movement to each other in a second-movement radial direction relative to the optical axis, wherein the second-movement radial direction is angularly rotated from the first-movement radial direction by a rotational angle about the optical axis of about 90 degrees, and wherein the fist optical lens plates and the second optical lens plates are shaped so that the first relative movement of the first optical lens plates and the second relative movement of the second optical lens plates produces an optical zoom relative to a focal surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first-group drive produces a linear relative movement of the first optical lens plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first-group drive produces a rotational relative movement of the first optical lens plates about a rotation axis parallel to but spaced apart from the optical axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the at least two first optical lens plates are exactly two first optical lens plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the at least two second optical lens plates are exactly two second optical lens plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 1 , wherein each optical lens plate is made of glass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 1 , further including a microprocessor controller having a control output signal set operably connected to the first-group drive and to the second-group drive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 1 , further including a feedback controller comprising an imaging sensor upon which a light beam passing through the first lens group and the second lens group falls, and a microprocessor controller receiving an output of the imaging sensor and having a control output signal set operably connected to the first-group drive and to the second-group drive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the imaging sensor is positioned at the focal surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 1 , further including at least one additional lens lying on the optical axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
249 words
An optical zoom lens mechanism arranged along an optical axis, comprising: a first lens group comprising at least two adjacent transparent first optical lens plates that ane each rotationally nonsymmetric relative to the optical axis; a first-group drive operable to move the first optical lens plates together and also by a first relative movement to each other in a first-movement radial direction relative to the optical axis; a second lens group comprising at least two adjacent transparent second optical lens plates that are each rotationally nonsymmetric relative to the optical axis, wherein the second lens group is spaced apart from the first lens group in an axial direction along the optical axis; a second-group drive operable to move the second optical lens plates together and also by a second, relative movement to each other in a second-movement radial direction relative to the optical axis, wherein the second-movement radial direction is angularly rotated from the first-movement radial direction by a rotation angle of about 90 degrees about the optical axis, wherein the first optical lens plates and the second optical lens plates are shaped so that the relative movements of the first optical lens plates and second optical lens plates produce an optical zoom relative to a focal surface; and a feedback controller comprising an imaging sensor located at the focal surface, and a controller receiving an output of the imaging sensor and having a control output signal set operably connected to the first-group drive and to the second-group drive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
249 words
An optical zoom lens mechanism arranged along an optical axis, comprising: a first lens group comprising at least two adjacent transparent first optical lens plates that ane each rotationally nonsymmetric relative to the optical axis; a first-group drive operable to move the first optical lens plates together and also by a first relative movement to each other in a first-movement radial direction relative to the optical axis; a second lens group comprising at least two adjacent transparent second optical lens plates that are each rotationally nonsymmetric relative to the optical axis, wherein the second lens group is spaced apart from the first lens group in an axial direction along the optical axis; a second-group drive operable to move the second optical lens plates together and also by a second, relative movement to each other in a second-movement radial direction relative to the optical axis, wherein the second-movement radial direction is angularly rotated from the first-movement radial direction by a rotation angle of about 90 degrees about the optical axis, wherein the first optical lens plates and the second optical lens plates are shaped so that the relative movements of the first optical lens plates and second optical lens plates produce an optical zoom relative to a focal surface; and a feedback controller comprising an imaging sensor located at the focal surface, and a controller receiving an output of the imaging sensor and having a control output signal set operably connected to the first-group drive and to the second-group drive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the first-group drive produces a linear relative movement of the first optical lens plates.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the first-group drive produces a rotational relative movement of the first optical lens plates about a rotation axis parallel to but spaced apart from the optical axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the at least two first optical lens plates are exactly two first optical lens plates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the at least two second optical lens plates are exactly two second optical lens plates.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 11 , wherein each optical lens plate is made of glass.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the controller is a microprocessor controller.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical zoom lens mechanism of claim 11 , further including at least one additional lens lying on the optical axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-02-01 | 2008-08-02 | 2009-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-02-01 | 2012-08-02 | 2013-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-02-01 | 2016-08-02 | 2017-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |