IP Library Granted Patent US 6,995,921
Granted Patent B2
US 6,995,921 · App. 10/935,263 · Granted Feb 7, 2006

Compact zoom lens system and digital camera using the compact zoom lens system

Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,995,921
App. No.
10/935,263
Granted
Feb 7, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A zoom lens apparatus includes a first optical lens group having a negative focal length, a second optical lens group having a positive focal length, and a third optical lens group having a positive focal length, arranged in this order from a subject. The lens groups move such that a distance between the first and second optical lens groups is decreased and a distance between the second and third optical lens groups is increased at a scaling change to a long focal length edge. The second optical lens group includes two positive lenses, a negative meniscus lens, and a positive meniscus lens. The zoom lens system satisfies an inequality condition 0.15<(N 22 −N 23 )<0.40, in which N22 is a refractive index of the negative meniscus lens and N23 is a refractive index of the positive meniscus lens conjoined with the negative meniscus lens.

Claims (79)

1. A zoom lens apparatus, comprising:

a first optical lens group having a negative focal length arranged at a first position closest to a subject;

a second optical lens group having a positive focal length arranged at a second position second closest to the subject;

an aperture diaphragm which is disposed to a subject side of the second optical lens group closer to the subject in a manner such that the aperture diaphragm is movable integrally with the second optical lens group; and

a third optical lens group having a positive focal length arranged at a third position third closest to the subject,

wherein at least the first and second optical lens groups are moved to change a magnification of the zoom lens apparatus,

wherein the second optical lens group comprises a three-group and four-lens structure which comprises:

a positive lens arranged at a first sub-position closest to the subject in the second optical lens group and such that a greater-curvature surface of the positive lens faces the subject;

a negative meniscus lens arranged at a second sub-position second closest to the subject in the second optical lens group and such that a concave of the negative meniscus lens faces the subject;

a positive meniscus lens conjoined with the negative meniscus lens and arranged at a third sub-position third closest to the subject in the second optical lens group; and

a positive lens arranged at a fourth sub-position fourth closest to the subject in the second optical lens group,

wherein the zoom lens system satisfies an inequality condition 0.15<(N 22 −N 23 )<0.40, wherein N22 is a refractive index of the negative meniscus lens of the second optical lens group and N23 is a refractive index of the positive meniscus lens of the second optical lens group conjoined with the negative meniscus lens.

2. The zoom lens system according to claim 1 , wherein the zoom lens system satisfies an inequality condition 25<(ν 22 −ν 23 )<50, wherein ν 22 is an Abbe number of the negative meniscus lens in the second optical lens group and ν 22 is an Abbe number of the positive meniscus lens conjoined with the negative meniscus lens in the second optical lens group.

3. The zoom lens system according to claim 1 , wherein the zoom lens system satisfies an inequality condition 1.40<((1/r 21F )+(1/r 22F )+(1/r 22R ))*Y′<2.20, wherein r 21F is a radius of curvature of a subject-side surface of the positive lens arranged at the first sub-position in the second optical lens group, r 22F is a radius of curvature of a subject-side surface of the negative meniscus lens arranged at the second sub-position in the second optical lens group, r 22R is a radius of curvature of a conjoined surface of the negative meniscus lens arranged at the second sub-position and the positive lens arranged at the third sub-position in the second optical lens group, and Y′ is an image height.

4. The zoom lens system according to claim 1 , wherein the zoom lens system satisfies an inequality condition 1.40<(L PN /L 2)< 0.70, wherein L PN is a distance between a summit of the subject-side surface of the positive lens arranged at the first sub-position and a summit of the conjoined surface of the negative meniscus lens arranged at the second sub-position and the positive lens arranged at the third sub-position in the second optical lens group, and L 2 is a thickness of the second optical lens group in a direction of a light axis of the second optical lens group.

5. The zoom lens system according to claim 1 , wherein the conjoined surface of the negative meniscus lens arranged at the second sub-position and the positive lens arranged at the third sub-position has a radius of curvature which is greatest among lens surfaces included in the second optical lens group.

6. The zoom lens system according to claim 1 , wherein the subject-side surface of the positive lens arranged at the first sub-position in the second optical lens group and an image-side surface of the positive lens arranged at the fourth sub-position are aspherical.

7. A zoom lens apparatus, comprising:

a first optical lens group having a negative focal length arranged at a first position closest to a subject;

a second optical lens group having a positive focal length arranged at a second position second closest to the subject;

an aperture diaphragm which is disposed to a subject side of the second optical lens group closer to the subject in a manner such that the aperture diaphragm is movable integrally with the second optical lens group; and

a third optical lens group having a positive focal length arranged at a third position third closest to the subject,

wherein at least the first and second optical lens groups are moved to change a magnification of the zoom lens apparatus,

wherein the second optical lens group comprises a three-group and four-lens structure which comprises:

a first positive lens arranged at a first sub-position closest to the subject in the second optical lens group and such that a greater-curvature surface of the positive lens faces the subject;

a negative meniscus lens arranged at a second sub-position second closest to the subject in the second optical lens group and such that a concave of the negative meniscus lens faces the subject;

a positive meniscus lens conjoined with the negative meniscus lens and arranged at a third sub-position third closest to the subject in the second optical lens group; and

a second positive lens arranged at a fourth sub-position fourth closest to the subject in the second optical lens group,

wherein the zoom lens system satisfies an inequality condition 1.40<((1/r 21F )+(1/r 22F )+(1/r 22R ))*Y′<2.20, wherein r 21F is a radius of curvature of a subject-side surface of the first positive lens arranged at the first sub-position in the second optical lens group, r 22F is a radius of curvature of a subject-side surface of the negative meniscus lens arranged at the second sub-position in the second optical lens group, r 22R is a radius of curvature of a conjoined surface of the negative meniscus lens arranged at the second sub-position and the meniscus positive lens arranged at the third sub-position in the second optical lens group, and Y′ is an image height.

8. A zoom lens apparatus, comprising:

a first optical lens group having a negative focal length arranged at a first position closest to a subject;

a second optical lens group having a positive focal length arranged at a second position second closest to the subject;

an aperture diaphragm which is disposed to a subject side of the second optical lens group closer to the subject in a manner such that the aperture diaphragm is movable integrally with the second optical lens group; and

a third optical lens group having a positive focal length arranged at a third position third closest to the subject,

wherein at least the first and second optical lens groups are moved to change a magnification of the zoom lens apparatus,

wherein the second optical lens group comprises a three-group and four-lens structure which comprises:

a first positive lens arranged at a first sub-position closest to the subject in the second optical lens group and such that a greater-curvature surface of the first positive lens faces the subject;

a negative meniscus lens arranged at a second sub-position second closest to the subject in the second optical lens group and such that a concave of the negative meniscus lens faces the subject;

a positive meniscus lens conjoined with the negative meniscus lens and arranged at a third sub-position third closest to the subject in the second optical lens group; and

a second positive lens arranged at a fourth sub-position fourth closest to the subject in the second optical lens group,

wherein the zoom lens system satisfies an inequality condition 1.40<(L PN /L 2 )<0.70, wherein L PN is a distance between a summit of the subject-side surface of the first positive lens arranged at the first sub-position and a summit of the conjoined surface of the negative meniscus lens arranged at the second sub-position and the meniscus positive lens arranged at the third sub-position in the second optical lens group, and L 2 is a thickness of the second optical lens group in a direction of a light axis of the second optical lens group.

9. A zoom lens apparatus, comprising:

a first optical lens group having a negative focal length arranged at a first position closest to a subject;

a second optical lens group having a positive focal length arranged at a second position second closest to the subject;

an aperture diaphragm which is disposed to a subject side of the second optical lens group closer to the subject in a manner such that the aperture diaphragm is movable integrally with the second optical lens group; and

a third optical lens group having a positive focal length arranged at a third position third closest to the subject,

wherein at least the at first and second optical lens groups are moved to change a magnification of the zoom lens apparatus,

wherein the second optical lens group comprises a three-group and four-lens structure which comprises:

a first positive lens arranged at a first sub-position closest to the subject in the second optical lens group and such that a greater-curvature surface of the first positive lens faces the subject;

a negative meniscus lens arranged at a second sub-position second closest to the subject in the second optical lens group and such that a concave of the negative meniscus lens faces the subject;

a positive meniscus lens conjoined with the negative meniscus lens and arranged at a third sub-position third closest to the subject in the second optical lens group; and

a second positive lens arranged at a fourth sub-position fourth closest to the subject in the second optical lens group,

wherein the conjoined surface of the negative meniscus lens arranged at the second sub-position and the positive lens arranged at the third sub-position has a radius of curvature which is greatest among lens surfaces included in the second optical lens group.

10. A digital camera, comprising:

a zoom lens system which comprises:

a first optical lens group having a negative focal length arranged at a first position closest to a subject;

a second optical lens group having a positive focal length arranged at a second position second closest to the subject;

an aperture diaphragm which is disposed to a subject side of the second optical lens group closer to the subject in a manner such that the aperture diaphragm is movable integrally with the second optical lens group; and

a third optical lens group having a positive focal length arranged at a third position third closest to the subject,

wherein at least the first and second optical lens groups are moved to change a magnification of the zoom lens apparatus,

wherein the second optical lens group comprises a three-group and four-lens structure which comprises:

a positive lens arranged at a first sub-position closest to the subject in the second optical lens group and such that a greater-curvature surface of the positive lens faces the subject;

a negative meniscus lens arranged at a second sub-position second closest to the subject in the second optical lens group and such that a concave of the negative meniscus lens faces the subject;

a positive meniscus lens conjoined with the negative meniscus lens and arranged at a third sub-position third closest to the subject in the second optical lens group; and

a positive lens arranged at a fourth sub-position fourth closest to the subject in the second optical lens group,

wherein the zoom lens system satisfies an inequality condition 0.15<(N 22 −N 23 )<0.40, wherein N 22 is a refractive index of the negative meniscus lens of the second optical lens group and N 23 is a refractive index of the positive meniscus lens of the second optical lens group conjoined with the negative meniscus lens.

11. A personal digital assistance apparatus, comprising:

a zoom lens system which comprises:

a first optical lens group having a negative focal length arranged at a first position closest to a subject;

a second optical lens group having a positive focal length arranged at a second position second closest to the subject;

an aperture diaphragm which is disposed to a subject side of the second optical lens group closer to the subject in a manner such that the aperture diaphragm is movable integrally with the second optical lens group; and

a third optical lens group having a positive focal length arranged at a third position third closest to the subject,

wherein at least the first and second optical lens groups are moved to change a magnification of the zoom lens apparatus,

wherein the second optical lens group comprises a three-group and four-lens structure which comprises:

a positive lens arranged at a first sub-position closest to the subject in the second optical lens group and such that a greater-curvature surface of the positive lens faces the subject;

a negative meniscus lens arranged at a second sub-position second closest to the subject in the second optical lens group and such that a concave of the negative meniscus lens faces the subject;

a positive meniscus lens conjoined with the negative meniscus lens and arranged at a third sub-position third closest to the subject in the second optical lens group; and

a positive lens arranged at a fourth sub-position fourth closest to the subject in the second optical lens group,

wherein the zoom lens system satisfies an inequality condition 0.15<(N 22 −N 23 )<0.40, wherein N 22 is a refractive index of the negative meniscus lens of the second optical lens group and N 23 is a refractive index of the positive meniscus lens of the second optical lens group conjoined with the negative meniscus lens.

Priority Claims (2)
JP 2002-320584 · Nov 1, 2002 · national
JP 2003-022254 · Jan 30, 2003 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 1069716900 · Oct 31, 2003
Related Publication 20050094285A1 · May 5, 2005