CN113359283A

CN113359283A - Modular zoom lens with high optical expansion for machine vision

Info

Publication number: CN113359283A
Application number: CN202110812315.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 查德·拜勒
Original assignee: Nawitt Co ltd
Current assignee: Nawitt Co ltd
Priority date: 2017-01-26
Filing date: 2018-01-25
Publication date: 2021-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-25
Also published as: CN113359285A; CN110082895A; CN110082895B; CN113485005A; CN115561887A; CN113359283B; CN113359284A; CN113485004A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical zoom lens assembly for use with a camera or eyepiece for the purpose of viewing and inspecting an object, either to form an optical imaging system with or at least as a complement to other modules or lenses, or lens groups or other optical components. It includes a core zoom module comprising five optical groups configured to provide at least a 7:1 afocal lens, the optical assembly having an etendue between 1.15-4.65mm2sr, and configured in accordance with 8MP and 32MP image sensors.

Description

Modular zoom lens with high optical expansion for machine vision

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an optical zoom lens assembly used with a camera or an eyepiece for the purpose of observing and inspecting an object. Specifically, the present invention relates to an optical module or a lens module, characterized in that: has a plurality of modular parts, high etendue preserving characteristics, wide wavelength correction range, or large zooming range, or a combination of characteristics thereof.

Background

The history of long working distance limited conjugate lenses with large zoom ranges dates back several decades. At that time, Bausch and Lomb used a Zoom module manufactured starting in 1959, among their Stereo Zoom4 models to 7 models. The most common zoom range produced is 0.7X-3X with a zoom ratio of about 4.3: 1. The attached figure 1 is: eyepiece pods used by conventional Bausch and Lomb StereoZoom4 with a magnification range of 0.7-3X. FIG. 2 is a drawing: the complete stereomicroscope stand used by conventional Bausch and Lomb StereoZoom 4.

Even then, an eyepiece pod design was introduced that allowed stereoscopic microlenses to be used on a variety of stands and tables. The product is intended for use with an eyepiece magnifier, which dictates the limited field of view required, and the limited numerical aperture required to achieve the limited resolution of a 2 arc split/ray pair.

Since the 80 s of the 20 th century, technological innovation was finally carried out according to two product development routes, which are continued to date. One route involves continued use within the scope of a stereomicroscope. Fig. 3 is an example of a StereoZoom microscope of a conventional jeweller still in use today. The stereomicroscope zoom ratio shown in FIG. 3 is typically 6.5:1, typically using a zoom chamber with a magnification range of 0.7-4.5X. The optical assembly according to fig. 3 can be used for a variety of different eyepiece magnifiers and a Barlow lens to adjust the visual magnification. Another route involves the use of a zoom chamber with a zoom ratio of 6.5:1, much like a monocular video system. These systems can display a picture of an object or scene on a sensor of up to about 11mm, commonly referred to as an 2/3 "frame camera. The field of view and the approximate maximum back Numerical Aperture (NA) of 0.0388 remain approximately the same as the original stereomicroscope design. These cameras, if utilized to their fullest extent or otherwise optimized for maximum performance quality or efficiency, can achieve substantially 0.45mm at near-field diffraction limit conditions²Maximum etendue of sr (square millimeter steradian).

FIG. 4 illustrates, by way of example, an approximately 0.45mm etendue that may be achieved²sr and an example of an optical component with a near field diffraction limited performance. Three arrangements are included in figure 4, including on the pictureLow magnification arrangement of the facets, medium magnification arrangement in the middle, and high magnification arrangement at the bottom of the picture.

This possibility is believed to be due to a large loss of relative illumination and/or an increase in aberrations. For a larger sensor, for example: a sensor with a diagonal of 16mm, or 1 "width, can be combined with the optical component of fig. 4. Thus, approximately the same optical components as used in the microscope of FIG. 3 can be oriented above 0.45mm²sr, maximum about 0.95mm²The one inch format sensor field of view in a camera operating over the etendue of sr provides an image. But such a camera will exhibit significantly lower diffraction-limited performance.

It is desirable to have a camera that includes an optical assembly configured at 0.45mm²Near-field diffraction-limited properties are exhibited in the etendue range above sr, such as: at about 0.45-0.95mm²sr or in the etendue range of between about 0.5-1. It is also desirable to have a camera and optical assembly that is configured to be approximately 1-5mm in size²Operation in the sr etendue range, and in particular such cameras and optical components, may also exhibit near-field diffraction-limited performance.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram: conventional eyepiece pods (prior art) used by Bausch and Lomb StereoZoom4 with a magnification range of 0.7-3X.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of: the conventional complete stereomicroscope stand employed by Bausch and Lomb StereoZoom4 (prior art).

FIG. 3 is a diagram of: a traditional jeweller's StereoZoom microscope (prior art).

FIG. 4: an etendue of about 0.45mm is illustrated by way of example²sr's microscope is used with conventional optics (prior art).

FIGS. 5A-5B: a specific embodiment of a limited yoke or a limited yoke camera for an optical assembly of a microscope is illustrated as comprising three optical modules, wherein module 1 comprises a lens attachment with a positive focal group G1A, module 2 comprises a 7:1 afocal lens with an etendue of approximately 1.57mm2sr, and 5 lens groups, the 5 lens groups comprising: a stationary positive group G1B, a negative active group G2, a positive active group G3, a negative active group G4 and a stationary positive group G5A, the module 3 including a rear adapter with a positive focal group G5B.

FIG. 6: is a system diagram of a specific embodiment of a high etendue limited-yoke zoom lens system with modular characteristics, including an objective lens or lens attachment with a positive lens group G1A, a core zoom with lens groups G1B, G2, G3, G4, G5A, a sleeve lens with a positive lens group G5B, and various illumination, power, bracket, and focusing modules listed.

FIG. 7: an etendue of about 1.57mm is illustrated by way of example²A first embodiment of the core zoom or afocal module of the optics of the finite-yoke system of sr comprises a stationary positive group G1B, a negative active group G, a positive active group G3, a negative active group G4, and a stationary positive group G5A.

FIG. 8: an etendue of about 1.54mm is illustrated by way of example²The second embodiment of the core zoom assembly or afocal module of the optical assembly of sr includes a stationary positive group G1B, a negative active group G2, a positive stationary group G3, a negative active group G4, and a stationary positive group G5A.

FIG. 9: a third exemplary embodiment of a core zoom or afocal module for an optical component of a limited-yoke optical system having an etendue of about 1.58mm2sr is illustratively described as including a stationary positive plate group G1B, a negative active group G2, a negative active group G3, a negative active group G4, and a stationary positive plate group G5A.

FIG. 10: an etendue of about 1.58mm is illustrated by way of example²A fourth embodiment of a core zoom or afocal module for an optical component of an sr's finite-yoke optical system includes a stationary positive group G1B, a negative active group G2, a positive active group G3, a negative active group G4, and aA stationary positive plate set G5A. FIG. 11 illustrates, by way of example, an etendue of approximately 2.88mm²A fifth embodiment of a core zoom or tele zoom assembly of the optics of the finite-yoke optical system of sr comprises a stationary positive group G1B, a negative active group G2, a negative active group G3, a negative active group G4, and a stationary positive group G5A.

FIG. 12: an etendue of about 4.62mm is illustrated by way of example²A sixth embodiment of a core zoom or afocal module for the optics of the finite-yoke optical system of sr includes a stationary positive plate group G1B, a negative plate active group G2, a positive plate stationary group G3, a negative plate active group G4, and a stationary positive plate group G5A.

FIG. 13: is shown in fig. 5A-5B, a sleeve lens diagram, which may be included in a module 3 of an embodiment, having an etendue of about 1.58mm²sr, size A, B, C are as listed in table 8.

FIG. 14: an example of a rear adapter optic having the optical specifications set forth in table 10 is illustrated.

FIG. 15: an example of a rear adapter optic having the optical specifications set forth in table 11 is illustrated.

FIG. 16 schematically illustrates an example of a rear adapter optic having the optical specifications set forth in Table 12.

FIG. 17 schematically illustrates an example of an optical component of a lens attachment having the optical specifications set forth in Table 13.

FIG. 18 schematically illustrates an example of an optical component of a lens attachment having the optical specifications set forth in Table 14.

Description of the examples

Table 1: including an example of an optical index for an example of a limited-yoke-distance optical component configured in accordance with an embodiment and illustrated schematically in fig. 5A.

Table 2: including an example of an optical index for an example optical component configured in accordance with a particular embodiment and illustrated schematically in fig. 7.

Table 3: including an example of an optical index for an example optical component configured in accordance with a particular embodiment and illustrated schematically in fig. 8.

Table 4: including an example of an optical index for an example optical component configured in accordance with a particular embodiment and illustrated schematically in fig. 9.

Table 5: including an example of an optical index for an example optical component configured in accordance with a particular embodiment and illustrated schematically in fig. 10.

Table 6: including an example of an optical index for an example optical component configured in accordance with a particular embodiment and illustrated schematically in fig. 11.

Table 7: including an example of an optical index for an example optical component configured in accordance with a particular embodiment and illustrated schematically in fig. 12.

Table 8: including lens attachments or objective lenses having a long working distance/focal length ratio (WD/FL) and an outer entrance pupil of 16-25mm diameter that is positioned at a distance of 50,75,100 or 150mm or more.

Table 9: including a rear adapter or sleeve lens having a short optical path/focal length ratio and an outer entrance pupil of 16-25mm diameter positioned at a distance of 50,75,100,150mm or more and an etendue of about 1.58mm²sr。

Table 10: including an example of an optical index for an optical component configured in accordance with the specific embodiment shown in fig. 14.

Table 11: including an example of an optical index for an optical component configured in accordance with the specific embodiment shown in fig. 15.

Table 12: including an example of an optical index for an optical component configured in accordance with the specific embodiment shown in fig. 16.

Table 13: including an example of an optical index for an optical component configured in accordance with the specific embodiment shown in fig. 17.

Table 14: including an example of an optical index for an optical component configured in accordance with the specific embodiment shown in fig. 18.

Table 15: including a zoom field of view matrix in accordance with a particular embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT (S) OF INVENTION

A limited yoke distance camera or microscope includes a modular optical assembly or modular lens system capable of providing a range of numerical apertures, or numerical apertures across a variety of sensor formats, and having zoom capability. A lens system according to a particular embodiment may have advantageous etendue, defined as the product of the pupil area and the solid angle of the field of view Smith-modern optical design, page 716]. [ etendue ═ π A sin [ ]²θ]Equation 1[ Bentley&Olson-View field of lens design guide, page 120, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety]For a plane with a uniform solid angle, where A is the area of the plane and θ is half the edge beam angle.

Providing an etendue of about 1.15mm²sr, or higher, defines an optical design configured to be substantially fully utilized, an 8MP sensor with an aspect ratio of about 4: 3. A similar design is provided with an etendue of about 4.65mm²Near field diffraction at sr defines an optical system configured to fully utilize approximately a 32MP sensor having a length ratio of approximately 4: 3. A near field diffraction limited optical design, which typically has a stele ratio in excess of 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85, or 0.9 in a particular embodiment, is generally referred to herein as a finite yoke pitch optical component having a stele ratio of at least 0.8, as well as having near field diffraction limited properties. In some specific embodiments of the optical component, an etendue of about 1.15 and 4.65mm is provided²The lens system between sr, on a digital or analog image acquisition device with various aspect ratios of 4075-. These single sensing devices are commonly referred to as pixels of a digital camera. Various specific embodiments and examples are presented, includingAn etendue preserving lens system, the lens comprising a zoom ratio with a magnification change of at least 5.5:1, and the etendue being at 1.45 and 4.65mm²And sr. In general, conventional lens systems with similarly large zoom ranges have maximum etendue values at 0.237 and 0.55mm²sr.

According to a particular embodiment of the optical component, the zoom range may be between 5.5:1 and 16: 1. In fig. 5A-5B, specific embodiments of optical layouts of a limited yoke distance camera or microscope are illustrated by way of example. Finite yoke distance optics are typically used to display pictures of objects placed at distances less than the 21x, 20x or 19x focal length of the optic. The limited-yoke optical component may constitute a limited-yoke camera with an image sensor, or may use an eyepiece to view an object through naked eyes. A limited-yoke camera may include a screen, a processor, memory for storing pictures, a wired and/or wireless communication interface for receiving and/or transmitting picture data.

Various embodiments have many positive focal length lens attachments, module 1, group G1A, resembling a large field of view (FOV) microscope eyepiece. These lens attachments allow for changes in working distance, object numerical aperture values, field of view, and/or telecentricity level. Various embodiments are also possible with a core zoom, afocal module 2 and provide zoom ratios between 5.5:1 and 16: 1. Various embodiments are also possible with many positive focal length adapter tubes or rear attachments, module 3, group G5B, similar to a sleeve lens. The adapter sleeve attachment can vary sensor size ranges as well as sensor side numerical aperture values.

In fig. 5A-5B, the core zoom module of the limited-yoke optical part shown in fig. 5A-5B, the module 2 includes 5 lens groups G1B, G2, G3, G4, G5A.

The conventional optical component shown in fig. 4 does not include group G3. Group G3 may include a stationary or movable lens group. Group G3 may include a positive or negative lens group. The group G3 may include a single shot, or two or more shots.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of a modular system with various combinations of

modules

1,2 and 3. Such modular designs may contain two or more modules or modular components, and in general may be separately serviced or replaced or calibrated separately from other modules. According to certain embodiments, the sensor module may be included in an imaging system. Other module configurations may include a motorized module, lighting module, processing module, interface module, communication module, or a combination of these modules.

In some embodiments, aberration control is higher than in other embodiments, which facilitates modularity of the system and may function better. The magnification of the optical component systems according to a particular embodiment may be higher than 2 times at their high magnification point.

Core zoom module

Further embodiments of the afocal lens group or module 2 or core zoom module can include or otherwise be configured according to one or more of the following features. The afocal lens is provided in accordance with certain embodiments that are configured to reduce the pupil to a minimum total shift length. With these embodiments, the optical aberrations can be thoroughly controlled. These together may better combine multiple objectives and a sleeve lens together, which together with the core zoom may provide optimal performance. These improved overall system performance, with larger apertures and fields of view than previously provided. Combined together, will produce more optical bandwidth for wavelengths between 1.15 and 4.65mm²At the exit pupil of sr, represented by the minimum etendue value for the low zoom position, for an optical system configured according to some specific embodiments with 8MP-32MP sensors, respectively, at the maximum etendue point of the zoom lens.

A first specific embodiment of the core zoom module includes a 7:1 afocal lens assembly having an etendue of about 1.57mm in its low power position²And sr. The specific embodiment is shown in FIG. 7, and comprises a positive plate set (G1B), a movable negative plate set (G2), a movable positive plate set (G3), and a movable negative plateGroup (G4), one positive group (G5A). A numerical example in accordance with this particular embodiment is given in table 2. Three arrangements are included in fig. 7, including a low magnification arrangement above the picture, a medium magnification arrangement in the middle, and a high magnification arrangement at the bottom of the picture.

A second specific embodiment of the core zoom module includes a 7:1 afocal lens assembly having an etendue of about 1.54mm in its low magnification position²And sr. The specific embodiment is shown in fig. 8, and comprises a positive plate group (G1B), a movable negative plate group (G2), a movable positive plate group (G3), a movable negative plate group (G4), and a positive plate group (G5A). A numerical example in accordance with this particular embodiment is given in table 3. Three arrangements are included in fig. 8, including a low magnification arrangement above the picture, a medium magnification arrangement in the middle, and a high magnification arrangement at the bottom of the picture.

A third specific embodiment of the core zoom module includes a 7:1 afocal lens assembly having an etendue of about 1.58mm in its low power position²And sr. The specific embodiment is shown in fig. 9, and comprises a positive plate group (G1B), a movable negative plate group (G2), a movable negative plate group (G3), a movable negative plate group (G4), and a positive plate group (G5A). A numerical example in accordance with this particular embodiment is given in table 4. Three arrangements are included in fig. 9, including a low magnification arrangement above the picture, a medium magnification arrangement in the middle, and a high magnification arrangement at the bottom of the picture.

A fourth specific embodiment of the core zoom module includes a 16:1 afocal lens assembly having an etendue of about 1.58mm in its low power position²And sr. The specific embodiment is shown in fig. 10, and comprises a positive plate group (G1B), a movable negative plate group (G2), a movable positive plate group (G3), a movable negative plate group (G4), and a positive plate group (G5A). A numerical example in accordance with this particular embodiment is given in table 5. Three arrangements are included in fig. 10, including a low magnification arrangement above the picture, a medium magnification arrangement in the middle, and a high magnification arrangement at the bottom of the picture.

A fifth embodiment of the core zoom module includes a 6.2:1 afocal lens assembly having an etendue of about 2.88mm in its low power position²And sr. The specific embodiment is shown in fig. 11, and comprises a positive plate group (G1B), a movable negative plate group (G2), a movable negative plate group (G3), a movable negative plate group (G4), and a positive plate group (G5A). A numerical example in accordance with this particular embodiment is given in table 6. Three arrangements are included in fig. 11, including a low magnification arrangement above the picture, a medium magnification arrangement in the middle, and a high magnification arrangement at the bottom of the picture.

A sixth embodiment of the core zoom module includes a 5.7:1 afocal lens assembly having an etendue of about 4.62mm in its low power position²And sr. The specific embodiment is shown in fig. 12, and comprises a positive plate group (G1B), a movable negative plate group (G2), a fixed positive plate group (G3), a movable negative plate group (G4), and a positive plate group (G5A). A numerical example according to this particular embodiment is given in table 7. Three arrangements are included in fig. 12, including a low magnification arrangement above the picture, a medium magnification arrangement in the middle, and a high magnification arrangement at the bottom of the picture.

Another core zoom module embodiment may include 5 optical groups having similar general attributes to the numbers in fig. 7-12 and tables 2-7. For example, another embodiment may include a lens accessory group G1A and/or rear adapter group G5B, either as separate optical components or with a center zoom feature in one module. According to further embodiments, various zoom ratios between 5.5:1 and 16:1 and between 1.15 and 4.65mm are provided²Etendue between sr. Further embodiments may include larger diameters, and longer optical path designs, needed to correct for other aberrations that are present in the high etendue design and/or the high zoom range of larger magnifications. Other design features may be included to achieve near-field diffraction-limited performance, such as more optical elements per group or aspheric elements, for example: may be considered as a mediumOther embodiments that are variations of the described embodiments. Further alternative embodiments may be used for three general packet types, that is, type 1: (a)Positive film static group G1BNegative film moving group G2, positive film fixed group G3, negative film moving group G4, positive film static group G5A), type 2 (Positive still group G1BNegative film active group G2, positive film active group G3, negative film active group G4, positive film static group G5A), type 3: (type 3)Positive still group G1BNegative active group G2, negative active group G3, negative active group G4, positive static group G5A) because each type can provide significant benefits for aberration correction and pupil compression. In various alternative embodiments, group G3 may include a positive or negative active group, or group G3 may be stationary.

In order to correct chromatic aberration optically well, the afocal lens assembly may be designed in accordance with certain embodiments. For a given system wavelength and aperture, the lens can be corrected to have an axial separation less than or equal to the depth of focus of the light, and the depth of focus equation defined according to the Rayleigh standard, with DOF ═ λ/(2 × NA)²) [ Smith-modern optical design, 715 pages]Here, the wavelength of light is specified in terms of 430-670 nm. This is particularly advantageous for zoom lenses according to some embodiments described, such as extended range 5.5X-16X.

When paired with modular objective and sleeve lenses according to certain embodiments, certain embodiments may achieve less than 3,2, 1, or even less than half the depth of focus for the 430-fold 1100nm band covering the visible and Near Infrared (NIR) spectra, than for the axial color separation for the 550nm wavelength.

To correct for the 900-1700nm wavelength range, or color separation of the Short Wavelength Infrared (SWIR), the assembly adjustment of the described embodiments may be used.

Similarly, axial separations of wavelengths in this range, relative to 1200nm wavelengths, may have a depth of focus of up to 3,2, 1, or even less than half the depth of focus in alternative embodiments.

This low slope axial color change in near and short wave infrared allows the user to use the same lens system to inspect both visible and infrared light applications. This increased wavelength focusing capability provides additional capability to collect information about the sample, as with higher apertures. As an example of the use of one embodiment, this capability allows the inspection of the surface of a part requiring detailed inspection with short wavelength blue light, and thus subcutaneous investigation with near infrared light with or without any mechanical focusing mechanism and/or software focusing modalities.

If a high magnification setting is used, the entire spectrum from 430nm to 1100nm can be controlled below the depth of focus according to some embodiments when taking similar microscopy images. When a medium to low magnification setting is used, near infrared light can be corrected to be less than twice the depth of focus, as a minimum, according to some embodiments.

Additionally, in some advantageous embodiments, assembly time adjustment of the wavelength focal length of the system is provided. Such tuning by suitable coated glass advantageously provides the short wavelength infrared wavelength (SWIR) referred to herein from 900-1700nm while encompassing a zoom range that extends according to certain embodiments. In certain embodiments, the wavelength may be corrected to be below the depth of focus when the highest magnification setting is used throughout the spectral range. In certain embodiments, from 975nm to 1700nm, at intermediate magnification, may be less than the depth of focus, below 975m, and may be less than 2 times the depth of focus. In some embodiments, from 1065-1660nm, the lowest magnification setting may be less than the depth of focus for axial color defocus, and in the short wavelength infrared range, may be less than twice the depth of focus beyond these values.

Lens accessory module

Further embodiments of the lens attachment module G1A or otherwise for the first objective lens, the front objective lens, or the objective lens module may include or otherwise be configured with one or more of the following features.

In certain embodiments, multiple long working distance, fixed focal length, objective lenses with external entrance pupils are provided. Such an entrance pupil may be placed at a suitable depth to meet a sufficient pupil depth and range of motion for an afocal lens to provide a pupil that matches the afocal lens and thus may work seamlessly with a focusing module configured according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the objective lens may have an entrance pupil of 16-25 mm. Such a pupil may be placed at a distance of 50,75,100,150mm or even more from the outside of the lens.

With some embodiments, including the first 5 example objectives numerically represented in table 8, the mechanical working distance (W.D.) to focal length (F1) ratio may be 0.75 or more (w.d./F1> 0.75). Alternative embodiments may have a working distance to focal length ratio between 0.6 and 0.75. Other ratios of working distance to focal length are possible for some embodiments for reasons that may be advantageous in terms of cost or performance. In certain embodiments, working distance in combination with a large entrance pupil provides significant numerical aperture performance advantages for a variety of long working distance applications including, but not limited to, inspection lines, contact probes, cavity inspection, automotive components, and/or flat panel manufacturing.

The examples given in table 8 include lens attachments and/or objectives with large working distance/focal length ratios and 16-25mm diameter outer entrance pupils at distances of 50,75,100,150mm or more in some embodiments.

An objective lens according to some embodiments may have an angular output that, in combination with a pupil of 16-25mm, exhibits a pupil diameter of 1.15-4.65mm²The etendue of sr.

Other lens attachment and/or objective module examples may include telecentric lens attachments with a primary beam that deviates from planar object perpendicularity by less than 2 °,1 °, 0.5 °, or 0.25 ° throughout the field of view and throughout the zoom range in certain embodiments. Reducing the pupil of an afocal lens according to the lens figures given in the side views of fig. 7-12 and/or the numerical indications given in tables 2-7 support chief ray angle reduction in lens attachment designs according to some embodiments.

The examples of the limited-yoke-pitch optical components illustrated in fig. 5A, 5B, and 6 each contain an example of a lens accessory module G1A. Fig. 17-18 illustrate by way of example a specific embodiment of an alternative lens accessory module G1A. Tables 13-14 contain examples of optical indices for the lens accessory module G1A of fig. 17-18, respectively.

According to Rayleigh criterion DOF ═ λ/(2 NA)²) Other lens attachments for use with one or more other modules can employ a depth of focus difference of less than 3x, 2x, or even less than 1x or lower starting at a nominal center wavelength throughout the wavelength range, with the ability to focus 400nm-1100 nm.

In addition, in some embodiments, a lens used with one or more other modules may be configured to operate with a depth of focus difference similar to 3x, 2x, or even less than 1x or lower, with near field diffraction limits from 900-1700nm, for example: in some embodiments, there is no need to refocus over the band range.

Rear adapter module

Further embodiments of the rear adapter G5B, or the sleeve lens, rear module, or third module, may include one or more of the following features.

In some embodiments, various short back-focus, fixed focus, sleeve lenses are provided with an external entrance pupil, a sufficiently large aperture, and an acceptance angle to produce 1.15-4.65mm²The etendue of sr. Such an entrance pupil may be at a sufficient depth of focus to satisfy the sufficient pupil depth and range of motion of an afocal lens module according to some embodiments to provide a pupil that matches the afocal lens module and thus can work seamlessly with a focusing module. In some embodiments, the varying pupil depth is advantageously optimized to provide advantageous stiffness for use with a separate sleeve lens.

A sleeve lens according to some embodiments may have an entrance pupil diameter for an external entrance pupil sleeve lens that is between 16-25mm in some embodiments.

The sleeve lens in some embodiments may receive a maximum collimated field angle of 2.5-3.5 ° without halo at an entrance pupil depth of 50,75,100,150mm, or more, which may provide advantageous field coverage for existing sensor platforms for each given focal length.

Specific embodiments comprising values according to the first and/or second examples above, providing etendue values in the range of 1.15-4.65mm²sr. Table 8 shows the 1.58mm fit for selection²The etendue value of sr changes the value of a particular embodiment of the sensor coverage. Table 9 shows that the external entrance pupil has a short optical path/focal length ratio and a diameter of 16-25mm, is placed at a distance of 50,75,100,150mm, or more, and has an etendue of 1.58mm²sr, or some numerical example of a specific embodiment of a sleeve lens.

In fig. 13, an example of a sleeve lens is schematically illustrated, which may have an optical arrangement of 1.58mm according to the module 3 of the limited-yoke optical component of fig. 5A-5B²The etendue of sr has a number of example variables of dimension a or focal length, dimension B or optical path, dimension C or sensor diagonal length as listed in table 9.

In fig. 5A, 5B and 6, examples of limited-yoke pitch optics are illustrated, each containing an example of a rear adapter module G5B. In fig. 14-16, an alternative embodiment of the rear adapter module G5B is illustrated by way of example. Tables 10-12 contain examples of optical specifications for the rear adapter module G5B of FIGS. 14-16, respectively.

In some embodiments, the sleeve lens may have a smaller track or optical path than the focal length of the sleeve lens. The trajectory or optical path of some embodiments is determined from the mechanical entrance of the sleeve lens to the focal plane of the sleeve lens, especially when a collimated beam is input. In other embodiments, the track or optical path to focal length ratio may be less than 0.9. In table 9, a parameter value for a plurality of examples according to these embodiments is included. In fig. 13, the focal length dimension a, the optical path dimension B, and the sensor specification dimension C are graphically shown, and these specific example values can be seen in a number of examples in table 9.

In addition, according to the Rayleigh standard DOF ═ λ/(2 × NA)²) A sleeve lens according to some embodiments may be configured to have the ability to focus 400nm-1100nm with a depth of focus difference of less than 3x, 2x, or even less than 1x or less, starting at a nominal center wavelength from the entire wavelength range.

In addition, in some embodiments, the lens may be configured to operate with a depth of focus difference similar to 3x, 2x, or even less than 1x or lower from the near field diffraction limit of 900-1700nm, without requiring refocusing in the wavelength range.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments discussed. Accordingly, the particular embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and it should be understood that variations may be made in those particular embodiments by workers skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example: particular embodiments may include near field diffraction limited properties and various specific etendue values in the range of 0.5-1, 1-5, and/or 0.5-5mm²sr, lens component for a system with limited yoke pitch. Alternative embodiments may include a different number of parallel pitches occurring consecutively between the lenses of groups G1A and G1B. There are also different numbers of parallel pitches between the lenses of groups G5A and G5B. Lens accessory modules according to some alternative embodiments may include one or more positive and/or negative film groups. The rear adapter module, according to some alternative embodiments, may include one or more positive or negative groups.

Additionally, in the methods employed in accordance with the preferred embodiments herein and described above, the operations have been described in a selected order of typographic printing. However, the order is chosen and arranged for ease of typography and does not imply any particular order for performing the operations, unless a particular order is specified or one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that a particular order is required.

In the above specification, a group of items linked with the conjunction "and" should not be read as requiring that each of those items be present in a grouping according to all embodiments, as one or more elements of each embodiment may be replaced by one or more other embodiments. Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the invention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated or is clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art in the field.

In some cases, if words and phrases with extended word senses are present, such as "one or more," "at least," "but not limited to," or other phrases, then this should not be construed to mean that the scope is reduced if such extended phrases are absent. The use of the terms "camera", "optical component", "module", and "lens group" should not imply that the components or functionality described or suggested in the example claims, as a whole set of parts of a camera, assembly, module, or lens group are all collocated. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a camera (e.g., optical assembly and image sensor), optical assembly (e.g.,

modules

1,2, and 3 and/or lens groups G1, G1A, G1B, G2, G3, G4, G5, G5B, and/or G5B), a module and/or a lens group may be combined together in a package, may be separately located or maintained, and may be further manufactured, assembled, and/or distributed in a plurality of locations.

Different materials may be used to make the lenses of the optical components of several embodiments. For example, various glass and/or transparent plastic or polymeric materials may also be used, and are not limited to those identified in the example optical criteria table, as identified in column 5, to the left of table 1, and columns 4 and 5, to the left of tables 2-7 and tables 10-14. Examples include polyimides. Among these, the polymeric material is a High Refractive Index Polymer (HRIP) having a refractive index generally higher than 1.5 (see, e.g., Hung-JuYen and Guey-Sheng Liou (2010)). "a method for easily obtaining an optically isotropic, colorless, thermoplastic polyimide material having a high refractive index" J.Mater.chem.20(20): 4080; h.althees, j.henle and s.kaskaskel (2007). "functional inorganic nanofillers for transparent polymers" chemical Association, 9 th edition (49): 1454-65; akhmad Herman Yuwono, Binghai Liu, Junmin Xue, John Wang, Hendry IZaac Elim, Wei Ji, Ying Li and Timothy John White (2004). "control crystallinity and nonlinear optical properties of transparent nanocomposite TiO 2-PMMA" -J.Mater.chem.14 (20): 2978; naoaki Suzuki, Yasuo Tomita, Kentaroh Ohmori, Motohiko Hidaka and Katsumi Chikama (2006). "high transparency zirconia nanoparticle dispersed acrylic photopolymer for volume holographic recording", optical publication 14(26):012712, which is incorporated herein by reference).

According to some embodiments, optical image stabilization techniques may also be incorporated in the microscope and/or digital camera and/or video camera. For example, the techniques described in 8,649,628,8,649,627,8,417,055,8,351,726,8,264,576,8,212,882,8,593,542,8,509,496,8,363,085,8,330,831,8,648,959,8,637,961,8,587,666,8,604,663,8,521,017,8,508,652,8,358,925,8,264,576,8,199,222,8,135,184,8,184,967, and U.S. published patent application nos. 2012/0121243,2012/0207347,2012/0206618,2013/0258140,2013/0201392,2013/0077945,2013/0076919,2013/0070126,2012/0019613,2012/0120283, and 2013/0075237, which are incorporated herein by reference, may also be used.

In addition, various embodiments presented herein are described in the context of schematic diagrams and other illustrations. It is evident that the particular embodiments disclosed, as well as the various alternatives thereof, may be practiced without limitation to the examples disclosed, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure. For example, the schematic drawings and accompanying descriptions should not be construed as specifying a particular structure or configuration.

Various embodiments of optical assemblies are described by specification and drawings and tabular legends. Microscopes and digital cameras and video cameras and other mobile or laboratory or research devices or optical systems according to further embodiments may include optical components therein. Several examples of cameras that can be manufactured with high efficiency include image sensor modules that are combined with optical components according to specific embodiments described herein. Some optical parts of the camera or optical assembly, such as one or more lenses, mirrors and/or apertures, shutters, housings or barrels holding some optical element, lenses or barrels, or other optical lenses, such as lenses, light sources, auxiliary sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, power connections, data storage chips, microprocessors, wired or wireless transmission/reception connections and/or receivers/transmitters, or housing pairs and/or connection pins or recesses or other such structures that may be included in some embodiments, even if they are not specifically described or graphically represented herein. It is noted that some embodiments may include a shutter, while other camera embodiments do not have a shutter. Flash memory may or may not be included in these camera embodiments.

In certain embodiments, it may be desirable to obtain a significantly wider field of view in one dimension than in another, and it may be desirable to obtain a wide field of view in only one dimension. In this case, some of the principles described herein may be simplified to apply a cylindrical surface to the spherical example provided.

Furthermore, all references cited above and below, as well as brief descriptions of products, backgrounds, abstracts, tables, and diagrams, are incorporated by reference in their entirety into the detailed description as alternatives to the specific embodiments described. Several embodiments of the microscope, optical assembly and camera are described herein by way of physical, electrical and optical configurations and are illustrated by way of example. In U.S. Pat. nos. 7,224,056,7,683,468,7,936,062,7,935,568,7,927,070,7,858,445,7,807,508,7,569,424,7,449,779,7,443,597,7,449,779,7,768,574,7,593,636,7,566,853,7,858,445,7,936,062,9,091,843,9,316,808,8,005,268,8,014,662,8,090,252,8,004,780,8,119,516,7,920,163,7,747,155,7,368,695,7,095,054,6,888,168,6,844,991,6,583,444, and/or 5,882,221, and one or a combination of U.S. published patent application No. 2013/0270419,2013/0258140,2014/0028887,2014/0043525,2012/0063761,2011/0317013,2011/0255182,2011/0274423,2010/0053407,2009/0212381,2009/0023249,2008/0296717,2008/0099907,2008/0099900,2008/0029879,2007/0190747,2007/0190691,2007/0145564,2007/0138644,2007/0096312,2007/0096311,2007/0096295,2005/0095835,2005/0087861,2005/0085016,2005/0082654,2005/0082653, and/or2005/0067688, specific embodiments of the microscope, optical assembly, other features and components of the camera may be described which are encompassed within the scope of alternative specific embodiments. All of these patents and published patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

U.S. Pat. nos. 7,593,636,7,768,574,7,807,508 and 7,244,056, which are incorporated by reference, describe examples of structures in which some camera devices are embedded electrically within an optical height in order to reduce the height of a physical object. In an alternative embodiment, an advantageous compact optical assembly or module or set of lenses thereof, a microscope and camera, and a video camera and other mobile devices and laboratory and research equipment are provided. Also provided herein are optical assemblies and microscopes, as well as imaging systems and cameras, that have an advantageously low optical path (or form factor or height) to effective focal length (or form factor or height) ratio, or an advantageous TTL/EFL ratio.

US2013/0242080, also incorporated by reference, describes an example of an imaging system comprising optics and sensors placed inside a watertight compartment and a camera module. Mechanisms for wireless communication of optical and/or electrical and/or image data are also provided that do not involve a waterproof sealed enclosure with one or more imaging components inside.

Claims

1. A limited-yoke optical assembly for viewing or inspecting an object, or for forming together with or at least supplementing a further module or lens, or lens group or other optical component a set of optical imaging systems, characterized in that: includes a core zoom module comprising five optical groups configured to provide at least a 7:1 afocal lens.

2. The optical assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lens attachment module disposed on an object side of the core zoom module.

3. The optical assembly of claim 2, wherein the lens accessory module includes a positive focus lens group.

4. The optical assembly of claim 2, further comprising a rear adapter module disposed image-side of the core zoom module.

5. The optical assembly of claim 4, wherein the rear adapter module includes a positive focus lens group.

6. The optical assembly of claim 4, wherein the rear adapter module comprises a sleeve lens.

7. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the etendue of the optical assembly is between 1.15-4.65mm2 sr.

8. The optical assembly of claim 7, wherein the optical assembly is configured for use with an image sensor, the image sensor being between 8MP and 32 MP.

9. The optical assembly according to claim 1, comprising, from an object side to a figure side of the optical assembly, one stationary group, one active group, one third group, the other active group and the other stationary group.

10. The optical module of claim 9, wherein the third set comprises a moving set.

11. An optical component according to claim 1, comprising, from the object side to the image side of the optical component, one positive plate group, one negative plate group and one positive plate group.

12. The optical assembly according to claim 1, comprising, from the object side to the figure side of the optical assembly, one stationary positive group, one negative active group, one positive active group, one negative active group, one stationary positive group.

13. An optical assembly according to claim 1,2 or 4 or other claims comprising an illumination module, a motorized module, a fixed module, or one or more focusing modules or a combination of these modules.

14. The optical assembly of claim 1, having a magnification of 2X or more at a high magnification position.

15. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the etendue of the optical assembly in the low magnification position is not less than 1.57mm2 sr.

16. The optical module of claim 15, wherein the core zoom module comprises, from an object side to a picture side of the optical module, one positive plate group, one movable negative plate group, one movable positive plate group, one movable negative plate group, and one positive plate group.

17. The optical assembly of claim 16, wherein the core zoom module comprises a stationary positive plate set, a negative plate active set, a positive plate active set, a negative plate active set, a stationary positive plate set.

18. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the etendue of the optical assembly in the low magnification position is not less than 1.57mm2 sr.

19. The optical module of claim 18, wherein the core zoom module comprises, from an object side to a picture side of the optical module, a positive plate group, a movable negative plate group, a stationary positive plate group, a movable negative plate group, and a positive plate group.

20. The optical assembly of claim 19, wherein the core zoom module comprises a stationary positive group, a negative active group, a positive stationary group.

21. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the etendue of the optical assembly in the low magnification position is not less than 1.58mm²sr。

22. The optical module of claim 21, wherein the core zoom module comprises, from an object side to a figure side of the optical module, one positive plate group, one movable negative plate group, and one positive plate group.

23. The optical assembly of claim 22, wherein the core zoom module comprises a stationary positive group, a negative active group, a positive stationary group.

24. A limited yoke range camera, comprising:

a limited-yoke optical assembly as recited in any one of claims 1-23;

an image sensor for capturing an image on an image plane of the optical assembly;

a screen or interface, or both, in communication with the external screen for displaying the image captured in the image sensor.

25. The limited yoke distance camera of claim 24 comprising a digital microscope.

26. A limited yoke range camera, comprising:

a limited-yoke optical assembly as recited in any one of claims 1-23;

an eyepiece positioned and configured to allow an image formed by the optical assembly to be viewed through the eyepiece.

27. The limited yoke distance camera of claim 26 including a microscope.