IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,289,631
Granted Patent B2
US 8,289,631 · App. 12/448,231 · Granted Oct 16, 2012

Wide-angle optical system

Assignee: Olympus Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,289,631
App. No.
12/448,231
Granted
Oct 16, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention provides a superwide-angle imaging or projecting optical system provided that, albeit being a wide-angle optical system having an angle of view exceeding 180°, is of small size and reduced F-number and fast, and has improved f-θ performance. The optical system consists only of transmitting surfaces, and has an angle of view of 180° or more. The optical system comprises a front group (G f ) comprising at least one meniscus lens (L 1 ) having a negative focal length, an aperture (S), and a rear group (G b ) comprising at least two lenses having a positive focal length. At least one transmitting surface in the front group is made up of an extended rotation free-form surface.

Claims (50)

1. A wide-angle imaging or projecting optical system consisting only of transmitting surfaces, comprising:

a front group comprising at least one meniscus lens having a negative focal length, an aperture, and a rear group comprising at least two lenses having a positive focal length,

wherein at least one transmitting surface in said front group is made up of an extended rotation free-form surface rotationally symmetric with respect to the Z-axis which is orthogonal to the X-axis and the Y-axis.

2. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 1 , wherein said front group comprises one or two meniscus lenses having a negative focal length, and all transmitting surfaces in said front group are made up of extended rotation free-form surfaces.

3. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 1 , wherein said extended rotation free-form surface is orthogonal to the axis of rotational symmetry thereof at a point of intersection with said axis of rotational symmetry.

4. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 2 , wherein said extended rotation free-form surface is orthogonal to the axis of rotational symmetry thereof at a point of intersection with said axis of rotational symmetry.

5. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 3 , satisfying the following condition (1):

−1.1< F f /F b <−0.2  (1)

where F f is a focal length of said front group, and F b is a focal length of said rear group.

6. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 4 , satisfying the following condition (1):

−1.1< F f /F b <−0.2  (1)

where F f is a focal length of said front group, and F b is a focal length of said rear group.

7. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 3 , satisfying the following condition (2):

−5< F f /F<− 1  (2)

where F is a focal length of the whole optical system, and F f is a focal length of said front group.

8. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 4 , satisfying the following condition (2):

−5< F f /F<− 1  (2)

where F is a focal length of the whole optical system, and F f is a focal length of said front group.

9. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 5 , satisfying the following condition (2):

−5< F f /F<− 1  (2)

where F is a focal length of the whole optical system, and F f is a focal length of said front group.

10. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 6 , satisfying the following condition (2):

−5< F f /F<− 1  (2)

where F is a focal length of the whole optical system, and F f is a focal length of said front group.

11. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 3 , satisfying the following condition (3):

1.5< F b /F< 5  (3)

where F is a focal length of the whole optical system, and F b is a focal length of said rear group.

12. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 4 , satisfying the following condition (3):

1.5< F b /F< 5  (3)

where F is a focal length of the whole optical system, and F b is a focal length of said rear group.

13. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 5 , satisfying the following condition (3):

1.5< F b /F< 5  (3)

where F is a focal length of the whole optical system, and F b is a focal length of said rear group.

14. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 6 , satisfying the following condition (3):

1.5< F b /F< 5  (3)

where F is a focal length of the whole optical system, and F b is a focal length of said rear group.

15. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 7 , satisfying the following condition (3):

1.5< F b /F< 5  (3)

where F is a focal length of the whole optical system, and F b is a focal length of said rear group.

16. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 8 , satisfying the following condition (3):

1.5< F b /F< 5  (3)

where F is a focal length of the whole optical system, and F b is a focal length of said rear group.

17. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 9 , satisfying the following condition (3):

1.5< F b /F< 5  (3)

where F is a focal length of the whole optical system, and F b is a focal length of said rear group.

18. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 10 , satisfying the following condition (3):

1.5< F b /F< 5  (3)

where F is a focal length of the whole optical system, and F b is a focal length of said rear group.

19. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 1 , wherein the system includes an angle of view of 180° or more.

20. The wide-angle optical system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one meniscus lens having the negative focal length is convex on an object side, and at least one surface of said at least one meniscus lens is an extended rotation free-form surface.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 27, 2016
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039344/0502 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2009
From: TOGINO, TAKAYOSHI
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022845/0945 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2006-338139 · Dec 15, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100014174A1 · Jan 21, 2010