Optical: systems and elements – Lens – With support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2001-02-20
Mack, Ricky (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Lens
With support
Reexamination Certificate
active
06191898
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an optical imaging device, particularly an objective, with at least one optical element, which is mounted in an inner ring, the inner ring being connected to an outer mount, and with a manipulator device for the displacement of the optical element in at least one direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis.
2. Discussion of Relevant Art
From European Patent EP 243 893 81, a lens mount is known with a lens as the optical element that is elastically connected to a mount element such that different expansions of the individual elements arising due to temperature differences or temperature fluctuations, can be compensated. In particular, radial movements or radial expansions are thereby compensated, but a central position is nevertheless to be maintained.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,482 shows a deformation decoupling of a lens from a mount.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,223, an objective is known in which lens tilting is possible.
In the assembly of an optical imaging device, e.g. an objective, which consists of a number of parts and several optical elements, mechanical manufacturing tolerances necessarily arise. During assembly, these tolerances, such as unevennesses of the individual parts, are summed. In particular, there is a risk of large unevennesses at the seating of the optical element such as, for example, a lens.
For the compensation of these manufacturing tolerances, it is known to move one or more optical elements on the x-axis or y-axis, i.e., on one or both axes perpendicular to the optical axis. Known manipulator devices for the displacement of the optical element consist, in general, of an outer mount, a manipulator ring, and an inner mount or an inner ring which supports the optical element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention therefore has as its object to improve an optical imaging device of the kind mentioned at the beginning, such that, for the compensation of imaging errors, an optical element is displaceable in a defined manner in at least one direction that is perpendicular to, or at an optionally selected angle to, the optical axis, such that the path-controlled displacement can be carried out very accurately, with a construction that is optimized for force flux and rigidity, with a marked reduction of the surface deformation of the optical element.
This object is attained according to the invention by an optical imaging device comprising: an outer mount, an inner ring connected to said outer mount, at least one optical element mounted in said inner ring, a manipulator device comprising at least one adjusting rotary joint or hinge with an adjusting member between said inner ring and said outer mount for path-controlled displacement of said optical element in at least one direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis of the imaging device or which is situated at an optionally selected angle to said optical axis, a system of peripheral slots between said inner ring and said outer mount with connecting members situated therebetween, and a rotary joint or hinge between said inner ring and said outer mount, whereby displacement of said optical element is attained with low deformation or controlled deformation of the optical element.
By means of the solution according to the invention, there takes place an integration of the heretofore three components, namely the outer mount, inner ring, and manipulator ring, into a single component, in particular when the inner ring and outer mount are constituted monolithically . Substantial advantages thereby accrue in weight saving and a smaller constructional space, and also thereby resulting in higher natural frequencies.
The reduction of parts leads on the one hand to cost savings and on the other hand also to a corresponding saving of time during mounting. A better rigidity arrangement is in addition obtained in this manner, connected with a reduction of the surface deformation of the optical element. Tolerances, particularly surface tolerances, can furthermore be reduced in this manner.
With the imaging device according to the invention, general corrections of imaging errors of the objective can also be effected, in order correspondingly to precisely compensate them.
A resilience, or possibility of movement in the x- and y-directions, is attained by means of the connecting members which provide an elastic or resilient connection between the outer mount and the inner ring; however, rigidity is simultaneously given in the z-direction, i.e., in the direction of the optical axis.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4017878 (1977-04-01), Hagiwara
patent: 4162120 (1979-07-01), Moreno
patent: 4929073 (1990-05-01), La Plante et al.
patent: 5117311 (1992-05-01), Nomura
patent: 5160112 (1992-11-01), Pritchard et al.
patent: 5428482 (1995-06-01), Bruning et al.
patent: 5523893 (1996-06-01), Haas
patent: 5638223 (1997-06-01), Ikeda
patent: 5822133 (1998-10-01), Mizuno et al.
patent: 0 243 893 B1 (1987-04-01), None
Hilgers Ralf
Merz Erich
Mühlbeyer Michael
Trunz Michael
Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
Mack Ricky
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