IP Library Granted Patent US 7,106,520
Granted Patent B2
US 7,106,520 · App. 10/836,224 · Granted Sep 12, 2006

Wide-angle zoom lens system

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,106,520
App. No.
10/836,224
Granted
Sep 12, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wide-angle zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, a negative third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group. Upon zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, the distance between the negative first lens group and the positive second lens group decreases, the distance between the positive second lens group and the negative third lens group increases, and the distance between the negative third lens group and the positive fourth lens group decreases; and the positive second lens group, the negative third lens group and the positive fourth lens group move toward the object. The wide-angle zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions: 1.2<| f (i=1) /f W |<2.0  (1) 1.5< f (i=2) /f W <2.2  (2) 2.5<| f (i=3) /f W |<3.6  (3) 3.2< f (i=4) /f W <4.7;  (4) wherein fi designates the focal length (f 1 <0, f 3 <0) of the i th lens group (i=1˜4); and f W designates the focal length of the entire the wide-angle zoom lens system at the short focal length extremity.

Claims (22)

1. A wide-angle zoom lens system comprising a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, a negative third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group, in this order from an object;

wherein upon zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, the distance between said negative first lens group and said positive second lens group decreases, the distance between said positive second lens group and said negative third lens group increases, and the distance between said negative third lens group and said positive fourth lens group decreases;

wherein said positive second lens group, said negative third lens group and said positive fourth lens group are arranged to move toward said object; and

wherein said wide-angle zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions:

1.2 <|f (i=1) /f W |<2.0

1.5 <f (i=2) /f W <2.2

2.5 <|f (i=3) /f W |<3.6

3.2 <f (i=4) /f W <4.7

wherein

fi designates the focal length (f 1 <0, f 3 <0) of the i th lens group (i=1˜4); and

f W designates the focal length of the entire the wide-angle zoom lens system at the short focal length extremity.

2. The wide-angle zoom lens system according to claim 1 , further satisfying the following condition:

1.05 <TL w /TL t <1.30

wherein

TL w designates the distance from the most object-side surface of said negative first lens group to the image plane at the short focal length extremity; and

TL t designates the distance from the most object-side surface of said negative first lens group to the image plane at the long focal length extremity.

3. The wide-angle zoom lens system according to claim 1 , wherein said negative first lens group comprises at least one lens element having an aspherical surface thereon.

4. The wide-angle zoom lens system according to claim 1 , wherein said positive second lens group and said positive fourth lens group are arranged to integrally move upon zooming.

5. The wide-angle zoom lens system according to claim 1 , wherein said positive fourth lens group comprises at least one positive lens element and at least one negative lens element; and wherein the most object-side surface of said positive fourth lens group is made aspherical.

6. The wide-angle zoom lens system according to claim 1 , wherein a diaphragm is provided on the object side of said positive second lens group, and is arranged to move together with said positive second lens group upon zooming.

7. The wide-angle zoom lens system according to claim 1 , wherein the most image-side lens element of said positive fourth lens group comprises a positive lens element having a convex surface facing toward said image.

8. The wide-angle zoom lens system according to claim 1 , wherein upon zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, said negative first lens group is arranged to initially move toward said image, and thereafter to move toward said object.

Assignments (3)
CORPORATE SPLIT Recorded Dec 2, 2011
From: HOYA CORPORATION
To: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 027315/0115 →
MERGER Recorded Sep 26, 2011
From: PENTAX CORPORATION
To: HOYA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026970/0554 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2004
From: SAORI, MASAKAZU
To: PENTAX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015289/0452 →