IP Library Granted Patent US 12,625,365
Granted Patent B2
US 12,625,365 · App. 18/495,526 · Granted May 12, 2026

Optical device

Inventor: Keiji Murata (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
G02B27/005G02B21/02G02B21/08G02B27/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,625,365
App. No.
18/495,526
Filed
Oct 26, 2023
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2872
USPC
359/385
Abstract

An optical device comprises: an image forming lens; an objective lens; an imaging device; a beam splitter; a coaxial epi-illumination optical system; and an optical damper having a damper surface. The beam splitter, the image forming lens, and the imaging device are arranged along an optical axis of the objective lens. An optical axis of the coaxial epi-illumination optical system is perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens. The beam splitter and the optical damper are arranged along the optical axis of the coaxial epi-illumination optical system. A normal direction of the damper surface is perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens and inclines with respect to the optical axis of the coaxial epi-illumination optical system without being perpendicular to the optical axis of the coaxial epi-illumination optical system.

Claims (78)

1 . An optical device comprising:

an image forming lens disposed in an optical path between an objective lens and an imaging device, the image forming lens forming an image of light incident via the objective lens on an imaging surface of the imaging device;

a beam splitter disposed along an optical axis of the objective lens;

a coaxial epi-illumination optical system configured to be able to illuminate an imaging target via the beam splitter, the coaxial epi-illumination optical system being arranged in an optical path different from the optical path in which the image forming lens is arranged; and

an optical damper having a damper surface, wherein

the beam splitter, the image forming lens, and the imaging device are arranged along the optical axis of the objective lens,

an optical axis of the coaxial epi-illumination optical system is perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens,

the beam splitter and the optical damper are arranged along the optical axis of the coaxial epi-illumination optical system, and

a normal direction of the damper surface is perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens and inclines with respect to the optical axis of the coaxial epi-illumination optical system without being perpendicular to the optical axis of the coaxial epi-illumination optical system.

2 . The optical device according to claim 1 , comprising

a housing that houses the image forming lens, wherein

the housing is configured to be able to be attached to and detached from the objective lens.

3 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the beam splitter comprises a film base material made of a resin film or a thin-type glass.

4 . The optical device according to claim 3 , wherein

2

t

tan

(

sin

-

1

1

2

n

)

<

Np

where n is a refractive index of the film base material, t is a thickness of the film base material, p is a pixel pitch of the imaging device, and N×N is a unit pixel count for interpolation processing of a pixel value of the imaging device.

5 . The optical device according to claim 3 , wherein

the beam splitter comprises a coating film disposed on at least one surface of the film base material.

6 . The optical device according to claim 5 , wherein

the coating film is disposed on each of both surfaces of the film base material, and

a coating film disposed on one surface of the film base material and a coating film disposed on the other surface of the film base material have a same sign of stress resulting from coating.

7 . An optical device comprising:

an image forming lens disposed in an optical path between an objective lens and an imaging device, the image forming lens forming an image of light incident via the objective lens on an imaging surface of the imaging device;

a beam splitter disposed along an optical axis of the objective lens;

a coaxial epi-illumination optical system configured to be able to illuminate an imaging target via the beam splitter, the coaxial epi-illumination optical system being arranged in an optical path different from the optical path in which the image forming lens is arranged; and

an optical damper having a damper surface, wherein

the beam splitter and the coaxial epi-illumination optical system are arranged along the optical axis of the objective lens,

an optical axis of the image forming lens is perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens,

the imaging device, the beam splitter, and the optical damper are arranged along the optical axis of the image forming lens, and

a normal direction of the damper surface is perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens and inclines with respect to the optical axis of the image forming lens without being perpendicular to the optical axis of the image forming lens.

8 . The optical device according to claim 7 , comprising:

a housing that houses the image forming lens, wherein

the housing is configured to be able to be attached to and detached from the objective lens.

9 . The optical device according to claim 7 , wherein

the beam splitter comprises a film base material made of a resin film or a thin-type glass.

10 . The optical device according to claim 9 , wherein

2

t

tan

(

sin

-

1

1

2

n

)

<

Np

where n is a refractive index of the film base material, t is a thickness of the film base material, p is a pixel pitch of the imaging device, and N×N is a unit pixel count for interpolation processing of a pixel value of the imaging device.

11 . The optical device according to claim 9 , wherein

the beam splitter comprises a coating film disposed on at least one surface of the film base material.

12 . The optical device according to claim 11 , wherein

the coating film is disposed on each of both surfaces of the film base material, and

a coating film disposed on one surface of the film base material and a coating film disposed on the other surface of the film base material have a same sign of stress resulting from coating.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2024
From: MURATA, KEIJI
To: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066960/0427 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-172809 · Oct 28, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240142774A1 · May 2, 2024
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