Zoom optical system
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronic, N.V.
InventorsBernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hendriks, Stein Kuiper
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Abstract
A zoom optical system is provided which has a lens system which comprises a first lens which is arranged to provide a continuously variable focus for a beam of radiation. The lens system further comprises a switchable optical element including a first fluid, a second fluid and a wavefront modifier having a part through which said radiation beam is arranged to pass. In a first mode the switchable optical element has a first fluid configuration with said part being substantially covered by the first fluid, and in a second mode the switchable optical element has a second, different, fluid configuration with said part being substantially covered by the second fluid.
Claims11
A zoom optical system comprising a lens system which is arranged to provide a variable zoom setting for a beam of radiation, wherein the lens system comprises a switchable optical element having a first mode and a second mode,
- characterised in that the element includes a first fluid, a second fluid and a wavefront modifier having a part through which said radiation beam is arranged to pass, wherein
- in the first mode the switchable optical element has a first fluid configuration in which said part is substantially covered by the first fluid, and
- in the second mode the switchable optical element has a second, different, fluid configuration in which said part is substantially covered by the second fluid
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.