IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,286,300
Granted Patent B2
US 7,286,300 · App. 11/402,861 · Granted Oct 23, 2007

Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus

Assignee: Sony Corporation
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 7,286,300
App. No.
11/402,861
Granted
Oct 23, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A zoom lens is disclosed which has a macro mode wherein the magnifying power is higher than 0.5. The zoom lens includes a first positive lens group, a second negative lens group movable upon power variation, and a plurality of movable lens groups cooperable with the second group to form a macro lens group, disposed in order from an object side. The movable lens groups include a single focusing group, and an additional negative lens group disposed further on the image side. The zoom lens has a macro mode in which it can be focused at a shorter distance than an ordinary region by moving the macro lens group integrally from a telephoto end position toward the object side while the first lens group is fixed at the telephotograph end.

Claims (25)

1. A zoom lens, comprising:

a first lens group having a positive refracting power;

a second lens group having a negative refracting power and serving as a movable group upon power variation of said zoom lens; and

a plurality of movable lens groups cooperable with said second group to form a macro lens group; wherein

said first lens group, second lens group and movable lens groups are disposed in order from an object side;

said movable lens groups include a single focusing group and an additional lens group disposed on the image side with respect to said single focusing group and having a negative refracting power; and

said zoom lens has a macro mode in which said zoom lens can be focused at a shorter distance than an ordinary region by moving said macro lens group integrally from a position at a telephoto end toward the object side while said first lens group is fixed at the telephotograph end;

wherein said ordinary region is a region where said single focusing group can focus on, upon power variations of said zoom lens; and

wherein, where the focal length of the entire lens system at the wide angle end is represented by fw and the back focus at the wide angle end is represented by Twbf, the expression 0.2<|Twbf/fw|<1.2 is satisfied.

2. The zoom lens according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of movable lens groups include a third lens group having a positive refracting power, a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power and performing focusing when moved in a direction of an optical axis, a fifth lens group having a low refracting power and a sixth lens group having a negative refracting power, said second to sixth lens groups forming said macro lens group.

3. The zoom lens according to claim 1 , wherein, where the focal length of the entire lens system at the telephoto end is represented by fT, the focal length of said first lens group is represented by f1, the focal length of said macro lens group at the telephoto end is represented by fmgT the following expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied:

0.6< f 1 /fT <2.0  (1)

0.1< fmgT/tT 0.4  (2).

4. The zoom lens according to claim 1 , wherein, where the lateral magnification of the negative lenses included in said macro lens group at a macro position at which the magnifying power is highest is represented by βmgT, the following expression (4) is satisfied:

1.1 <βmgT <2.0  (4).

5. The zoom lens according to claim 1 , wherein, where the focal length of said focusing group is represented by ff and the focal length of said macro lens group at the telephoto end by fmgT, the following expression (5) is satisfied:

1.0< ff/fmgT <5.0  (5).

6. An image pickup apparatus, comprising:

a zoom lens; and

an image pickup element for converting an optical image formed by said zoom lens into an electric signal;

said zoom lens including a first lens group having a positive refracting power, a second lens group having a negative refracting power and serving as a movable group upon power variation of said zoom lens, and a plurality of movable lens groups cooperable with said second group to form a macro lens group, said first lens group, second lens group and movable lens groups being disposed in order from an object side, said movable lens groups including a single focusing group and an additional lens group disposed on the image side with respect to said single focusing group and having a negative refracting power;

said zoom lens having a macro mode in which said zoom lens can be focused at a shorter distance than an ordinary region by moving said macro lens group integrally from a position at the telephoto end toward the object side while said first lens group is fixed at a telephotograph end;

wherein said ordinary region is a region where said single focusing group can focus on, upon power variations of said zoom lens; and

wherein, where the focal length of the entire lens system at the wide angle end is represented by fw and the back focus at the wide angle end is represented by Twbf, the expression 0.2<|Twbf/fw|<1.2 is satisfied.

7. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said plurality of movable lens group including a third lens group having a positive refracting power, a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power and performing focusing when moved in a direction of an optical axis, a fifth lens group having a low refracting power, and a sixth lens group having a negative refracting power, said second to sixth lens groups forming said macro lens group.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2006
From: KURODA, DAISUKE; SUEYOSHI, MASAFUMI
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018023/0671 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP P 2005-125957 · Apr 25, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060268428A1 · Nov 30, 2006