IP Library Granted Patent US 9,366,850
Granted Patent B2
US 9,366,850 · App. 13/709,785 · Granted Jun 14, 2016

Microscope objective lens

Inventors: Taeko Toshi (Tokyo, JP); Kazuhiro Takasago (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
G02B21/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,366,850
App. No.
13/709,785
Granted
Jun 14, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a microscope objective lens that sufficiently corrects on-axis and off-axis chromatic aberrations and that has a long working distance. A microscope objective lens OL includes, in order from an object side, a first lens group G 1 with positive refractive power and a second lens group G 2 with negative refractive power. The first lens group G 1 of the microscope objective lens OL includes a diffractive optical element GD including a diffractive optical surface D, and the diffractive optical element GD is arranged at a position closer to the image than a section where a diameter of a light flux passing through the first lens group G 1 is the largest.

Claims (66)

1. A microscope objective lens comprising, in order from an object side:

a first lens group with positive refractive power; and

a second lens group with negative refractive power, wherein

the first lens group comprises a diffractive optical element including a diffractive optical surface,

the diffractive optical element is arranged at a position closer to an image side than a position where a diameter of a light flux passing through the first lens group is the largest, and

conditions of the following expressions are satisfied, in which a maximum diameter of the light flux passing through the first lens group is defined as φmax, a maximum diameter of the light flux passing through the diffractive optical surface is defined as φDOE, a focal length of the second lens group is defined as f 2 , and a focal length of an entire system is defined as f:

φDOE/φmax<0.76

0.65<(− f 2)/ f< 2.0.

2. The microscope objective lens according to claim 1 , wherein

the first lens group comprises a lens component with positive refractive power arranged closest to an object side, and

a condition of the following expression is satisfied, in which a distance on an optical axis from the object side to an apex of a lens surface closest to the object side of the first lens group is defined as d 0 , and a distance on the optical axis from the object side to an apex of a lens surface closest to an image side is defined as L:

0.1< d 0/ L< 0.6.

3. The microscope objective lens according to claim 2 , wherein

a condition of the following expressions is satisfied, in which a focal length of the lens component closest to the object side of the first lens group is defined as f 11 :

1.2< f 11/ f< 19.0.

4. The microscope objective lens according to claim 1 , wherein

a condition of the following expression is satisfied, in which a focal length of the first lens group is defined as f 1 :

0.5≦ f 1/ f≦ 3.5.

5. The microscope objective lens according to claim 1 , wherein

a lens surface closest to the image side of the second lens group is arranged to have a concave surface facing the image side.

6. The microscope objective lens according to claim 5 , wherein

a position of an intersection of a principal ray and an optical axis is closer to the object side than the lens surface closest to the image e of the second lens group.

7. The microscope objective lens according to claim 1 , wherein

the first lens group comprises at least one cemented positive lens.

8. The microscope objective lens according to claim 7 , wherein

in the at least one cemented positive lens in the first lens group, when an absolute value of a difference between an Abbe number of a medium of a positive lens element and an Abbe number of a medium of a negative lens element included in the cemented positive lens is defined as Δv d1 , at least one of the absolute values of the differences satisfies a condition of the following expression:

Δ v d1 >40.

9. The microscope objective lens according to claim 1 , wherein

the second lens group includes at least one or more cemented negative lenses.

10. The microscope objective lens according to claim 9 , wherein

in the at least one cemented negative lens in the second lens group, when an absolute value of a difference between an Abbe number of a medium of a positive lens element and an Abbe number of a medium of a negative lens element included in the cemented negative lens is defined as Δv d2 , at least one of the absolute values of the differences satisfies a condition of the following expression:

Δ v d2 >30.

11. The microscope objective lens according to claim 1 , wherein

a condition of the following expression is satisfied, in which a marginal ray height of the lens surface closest to the objects side of the first lens group is defined as H, and an on-axis lens thickness of the lens component closest to the object side of the first lens group is defined as d 11 :

2< H/d 11<3.6.

12. The microscope objective lens according to claim 1 , wherein

the lens surface closest to the object side of the first lens group is arranged to have a concave surface facing the object side.

13. The microscope objective lens according to claim 1 , wherein

when a refractive index relative to a d line of a medium of a lens arranged closest to the object side of the first lens group is defined as n 1 , a radius of curvature of the lens surface closest to the object side of the lens is defined as r, power φ of the lens surface closest to the object side of the lens is defined by the following expression

φ=( n 1−1)/ r,

and when an effective radius of the lens surface closest to the objects side of the lens arranged closest to the object side is defined as H 1 , a condition of the following expression is satisfied:

0.05≦|φ× H 1|≦0.35.

14. A microscope objective lens comprising, in order from an object side:

a first lens group with positive refractive power; and

a second lens group with negative refractive power, wherein

the first lens group comprises a lens component with positive refractive power arranged closest to an object side and a diffractive optical element including a diffractive optical surface,

the diffractive optical element is arranged at a position closer to an image than a position where a diameter of a light flux passing through the first lens group is the largest, and

conditions of the following expressions are satisfied, in which a distance on an optical axis from the object side to an apex of a lens surface closest to the object side of the first lens group is defined as d 0 , a distance on the optical axis from the object side, to an apex of a lens surface closest to an image side is defined as L, a maximum diameter of the light flux passing through the first lens group is defined as φmax, and a maximum diameter of the light flux passing through the diffractive optical surface is defined as φDOE:

0.3< d 0/ L< 0.6

φDOE/φmax<0.76.

15. A microscope objective lens comprising, in order from an object side:

a first lens group with positive refractive power; and

a second lens group with negative refractive power, wherein

the first lens group comprises a lens component with positive refractive power arranged closest to an object side and a diffractive optical element including a diffractive optical surface,

the diffractive optical element is arranged at a position closer to an image side than a position where a diameter of a light flux passing through the first lens group is the largest, and

conditions of the following expressions are satisfied, in which a focal length of the lens component closest to the object side of the first lens group is defined as f 11 , a focal length of an entire system is defined as f, a maximum diameter of the light flux passing through the first lens group is defined as φmax, and a maximum diameter of the light flux passing through the diffractive optical surface is defined as φDOE:

2< f 11/ f< 10.0

φDOE/φmax<0.5.

16. A microscope objective lens comprising, in order from an object side:

a first lens group with positive refractive power; and

a second lens group with negative refractive power, wherein

the first lens group comprises a lens component with positive refractive power arranged closest to an object side and a diffractive optical element including a diffractive optical surface with positive refractive power,

the diffractive optical element is arranged at a position closer to an image side than a position where a diameter of a light flux passing through the first lens group is the largest, and

conditions of the following expressions are satisfied, in which a focal length of the lens component closest to the object side of the first lens group is defined as f 11 , a focal length of an entire system is defined as f, a maximum diameter of the light flux passing through the first lens group is defined as φmax, and a maximum diameter of the light flux passing through the diffractive optical surface is defined as φDOE:

1.2< f 11/ f< 6.0 or 15.0< f 11/ f< 19.0

φDOE/φmax<0.76.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2013
From: TOSHI, TAEKO; TAKASAGO, KAZUHIRO
To: NIKON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029684/0455 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2010-136728 · Jun 16, 2010 · national
JP 2010-136729 · Jun 16, 2010 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2011063477 · Jun 13, 2011
Related Publication 20130135739A1 · May 30, 2013