IP Library Granted Patent US 8,149,519
Granted Patent B2
US 8,149,519 · App. 12/843,815 · Granted Apr 3, 2012

High-speed zoom lens

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,149,519
App. No.
12/843,815
Granted
Apr 3, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of an optical zoom lens system may comprise three lens groups with a PNP power sequence. The first lens group may vary focus. The second and third lens groups may be movable to vary magnification during zoom. The first lens group may include three lens subgroups with an NNP power sequence: a stationary first lens subgroup, a second lens subgroup including a movable lens element, and a stationary or movable third lens subgroup. The second lens subgroup may include two parts, which may be movable at different rates of travel to vary focus. One part may include the movable lens element. Lens elements of the first lens group may be movable according to different focus movement plans. In the first lens group, lens element movement and lens element power may contribute to provide low focus breathing over the entire zoom range. The F-number may be F/2.8 or less.

Claims (41)

1. A zoom lens system for forming an image of an object, said system having an object side and an image side, said system comprising in order from the object side to the image side:

a first lens group with positive power, the first lens group including:

a first lens subgroup with negative power and being stationary,

a second lens subgroup with negative power and including a lens element being movable to vary focus of the image, and

a third lens subgroup with positive power;

a second lens group with negative power; and

a third lens group with positive power;

wherein the second and third lens groups are movable to vary magnification of the image during zoom.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a fourth lens group to flatten the image.

3. The system of claim 1 , the third lens subgroup being stationary.

4. The system of claim 3 , the second lens subgroup including two parts, the two parts being movable at different rates of travel to vary focus of the image, and one of the two parts including said lens element.

5. The system of claim 1 , the third lens subgroup being movable to vary focus of the image.

6. The system of claim 1 , lens elements of the first lens group being movable according to a plurality of focus movement plans.

7. The system of claim 1 , the second lens subgroup including two cemented doublets.

8. The system of claim 1 , the third lens subgroup including, in any order, a positive lens element and a cemented doublet.

9. The system of claim 1 , the second lens group including, in any order, a negative lens element and a cemented doublet.

10. The system of claim 1 , the third lens group including an iris stop and including, in order from the object side to the image side, a lens subgroup with positive power and a lens subgroup with negative power.

11. The system of claim 10 , the lens subgroup with positive power of the third lens group including, in any order, a positive lens element and a cemented doublet, and the lens subgroup with negative power of the third lens group including, in any order, a negative lens element and a positive lens element.

12. The system of claim 1 having a zoom range, wherein lens element movement in the first lens group and lens element power in the first lens group contribute to provide 5% or less focus breathing over the entire zoom range of the system.

13. The system of claim 1 having an F-number of F/2.8 or less.

14. A zoom lens system having an object side and an image side, said system comprising in order from the object side to the image side:

a positive focus lens group A including:

a stationary negative lens subgroup X,

a negative lens subgroup Y including a movable lens element, and

a positive lens subgroup Z;

a negative zoom lens group B; and

a positive zoom lens group C.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a field flattener lens group D.

16. The system of claim 14 , lens subgroup Z being stationary.

17. The system of claim 16 , lens subgroup Y including two parts, the two parts being movable at different rates of travel, and one of the two parts including said movable lens element.

18. The system of claim 14 , lens subgroup Z being movable.

19. The system of claim 14 , lens elements of focus lens group A being movable according to a plurality of focus movement plans.

20. The system of claim 14 , lens subgroup Y including two cemented doublets.

21. The system of claim 14 , lens subgroup Z including, in any order, a positive lens element and a cemented doublet.

22. The system of claim 14 , zoom lens group B including, in any order, a negative lens element and a cemented doublet.

23. The system of claim 14 , zoom lens group C including an iris stop and including, in order from the object side to the image side, a lens subgroup with positive power and a lens subgroup with negative power.

24. The system of claim 23 , the lens subgroup with positive power of zoom lens group C including, in any order, a positive lens element and a cemented doublet, and the lens subgroup with negative power of zoom lens group C including, in any order, a negative lens element and a positive lens element.

25. The system of claim 14 having a zoom range, wherein lens element movement in focus lens group A and lens element power in focus lens group A contribute to provide 5% or less focus breathing over the entire zoom range of the system.

26. The system of claim 14 having an F-number of F/2.8 or less.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 23, 2026
From: GREAT ROCK CAPITAL PARTNERS MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: SIENA LENDING GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 075454/0461 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: PANAVISION INC.; PANAVISION GP LLC; PANAVISION INTERNATIONAL, L.P.; LIGHT IRON DIGITAL, LLC; PANY RENTAL LLC; PANAVISION FEDERAL SYSTEMS, LLC; PANAVISION REMOTE SYSTEMS LLC; LIGHT IRON NY, LLC; PANAVISION IMAGING, LLC; PANAVISION U.K. HOLDINGS, INC.; SEAWAY MEDIA CORPORATION; PANAVISION EUROPE LIMITED; PANALUX LIMITED
Reel/Frame 071043/0144 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2025
From: PANAVISION INTERNATIONAL, L.P.
To: GREAT ROCK CAPITAL PARTNERS MANAGEMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 071161/0916 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2022
From: PANAVISION INTERNATIONAL, L.P.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 062114/0459 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2020
From: PANAVISION INC.; PANAVISION INTERNATIONAL, L.P.; LIGHT IRON DIGITAL, LLC; PANAVISION EUROPE LIMITED; PANALUX LIMITED
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 054285/0199 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2016
From: PANAVISION INC.; PANAVISION INTERNATIONAL, L.P.; LIGHT IRON DIGITAL, LLC; PANY RENTAL LLC; PANAVISION FEDERAL SYSTEMS, LLC; PANAVISION REMOTE SYSTEMS, LLC; SEAWAY MEDIA CORPORATION; PANAVISION U.K. HOLDINGS, INC.; PANAVISION EUROPE LIMITED; PANAVISION GP LLC; PANAVISION IMAGING, LLC; LIGHT IRON NY, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT AND U.S. LENDER
Reel/Frame 037693/0662 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2010
From: YAMANASHI, TAKANORI
To: PANAVISION INTERNATIONAL, L.P.
Reel/Frame 024995/0928 →