IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,570,668
Granted Patent B2
US 8,570,668 · App. 13/237,238 · Granted Oct 29, 2013

Imaging optical system and imaging apparatus

Inventors: Yutaka Takakubo (Saitama, JP); Eijiroh Tada (Saitama, JP); Koichi Maruyama (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Hoya Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,570,668
App. No.
13/237,238
Granted
Oct 29, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging optical system, which includes an imaging lens group having at least one lens, and an image side prism that bends light which has passed through the imaging lens group toward an image pickup device arranged at a predetermined position, and wherein the image side prism includes a reflection surface which reflects, toward the image pickup device, incident light proceeding from the imaging lens group and an exit surface from which light reflected from the reflection surface emerges, and wherein the image side prism has a cut surface formed by cutting off a vertex portion between the reflection surface and the exit surface such that a whole normal light incident area within which normal light is incident on the reflection surface remains, and the cut surface is a non-diffusing surface.

Claims (46)

1. An imaging optical system, comprising:

an imaging lens group having at least one lens; and

an image side prism that bends light which has passed through the imaging lens group toward an image pickup device arranged at a predetermined position, wherein

the image side prism includes a reflection surface which reflects, toward the image pickup device, incident light proceeding from the imaging lens group, and an exit surface from which light reflected from the reflection surface emerges,

the image side prism has a cut surface formed by cutting off a vertex portion between the reflection surface and the exit surface such that a whole normal light incident area within which normal light is incident on the reflection surface remains,

the cut surface is a non-diffusing surface, and

when N p denotes a refractive index of the image side prism, N o denotes a refractive index of a medium outside the image side prism and α denotes an angle formed between the exit surface and the cut surface, the imaging optical system satisfies a condition:

α>π/2−SIN −1 ( N o /N p )  (1).

2. The imaging optical system according to claim 1 , wherein the image side prism bends an optical path by approximately 90°.

3. The imaging optical system according to claim 1 , further comprising an object side prism located on an object side with respect to the image side prism, the object side prism being arranged such that at least one lens of the imaging lens group is located between the object side prism and the image side prism.

4. The imaging optical system according to claim 3 , wherein the object side prism bends an optical path by approximately 90°.

5. An imaging optical system, comprising:

an imaging lens group having at least one lens; and

an image side prism that bends light which has passed through the imaging lens group toward an image pickup device arranged at a predetermined position, wherein

the image side prism includes a reflection surface which reflects, toward the image pickup device, incident light proceeding from the imaging lens group, and an exit surface from which light reflected from the reflection surface emerges,

the image side prism has a cut surface formed by cutting off a vertex portion between the reflection surface and the exit surface such that a whole normal light incident area within which normal light is incident on the reflection surface remains,

the cut surface is a non-diffusing surface, and

when N p denotes a refractive index of the image side prism, N o denotes a refractive index of a medium outside the image side prism and α denotes an angle formed between the exit surface and the cut surface, the imaging optical system satisfies a condition:

α>(π/2+SIN −1 ( N o /N p ))/2  (2).

6. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

an imaging optical system; and

an image pickup device,

wherein the imaging optical system includes:

an imaging lens group having at least one lens; and

an image side prism that bends light which has passed through the imaging lens group toward the image pickup device arranged at a predetermined position, wherein,

the image side prism includes a reflection surface which reflects, toward the image pickup device, incident light proceeding from the imaging lens group, and an exit surface from which light reflected from the reflection surface emerges,

the image side prism has a cut surface formed by cutting off a vertex portion between the reflection surface and the exit surface such that a whole normal light incident area within which normal light is incident on the reflection surface remains,

the cut surface is a non-diffusing surface,

the image pickup device is arranged such that a sensor surface of the image pickup device is positioned on an image plane of the imaging optical system, and

when N p denotes a refractive index of the image side prism, N o denotes a refractive index of a medium outside the image side prism and α denotes an angle formed between the exit surface and the cut surface, the imaging optical system satisfies a condition:

α>π/2−SIN −1 ( N o /N p )  (1).

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the image side prism bends an optical path by approximately 90°.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising an object side prism located on an object side with respect to the image side prism, the object side prism being arranged such that at least one lens of the imaging lens group is located between the object side prism and the image side prism.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the object side prism bends an optical path by approximately 90°.

10. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

an imaging optical system; and

an image pickup device,

wherein the imaging optical system includes:

an imaging lens group having at least one lens; and

an image side prism that bends light which has passed through the imaging lens group toward the image pickup device arranged at a predetermined position, wherein

the image side prism includes a reflection surface which reflects, toward the image pickup device, incident light proceeding from the imaging lens group, and an exit surface from which light reflected from the reflection surface emerges,

the image side prism has a cut surface formed by cutting off a vertex portion between the reflection surface and the exit surface such that a whole normal light incident area within which normal light is incident on the reflection surface remains,

the cut surface is a non-diffusing surface,

the image pickup device is arranged such that a sensor surface of the image pickup device is positioned on an image plane of the imaging optical system, and

when N p denotes a refractive index of the image side prism, N o denotes a refractive index of a medium outside the image side prism and α denotes an angle formed between the exit surface and the cut surface, the imaging optical system satisfies a condition:

α>(π/2+SIN −1 ( N o /N p ))/2  (2).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2011
From: TAKAKUBO, YUTAKA; TADA, EIJIROH; MARUYAMA, KOICHI
To: HOYA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026937/0033 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-214153 · Sep 24, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120075726A1 · Mar 29, 2012