# US 2023/0056633 A1 · Optical assembly having a movable lens unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0056633 A1 - Document ID: US20230056633A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/886,487 - Filed: 2022-08-12 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-19 - Assignees: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH - Applicants: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH - Inventors: Sebastian HITZLER; Christian SCHULZ; Martin KUBEK; Benjamin DEISSLER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230056633A1 ## CPC - G02B 7/021: {for more than one lens} - G03B 17/565: {Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors} - G02B 7/028: {with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation} - G03B 5/00: Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing - G03B 17/12: with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets - G03B 17/14: interchangeably - G03B 2205/0046: Movement of one or more optical elements for zooming - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract An optical assembly includes a lens unit capable of being moved along an optical axis of the optical assembly. The lens unit includes a lens mount for holding at least one lens. The optical assembly further includes a sleeve for receiving the lens mount. The lens mount is in sliding contact with and movable in relation to the sleeve as the lens unit is moved along the optical axis. The lens mount is formed of or comprises at its outer surface a self-lubricating material, and/or the sleeve is formed of or comprises at its inner surface a self-lubricating material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical assembly comprising: a lens unit capable of being moved along an optical axis of the optical assembly, the lens unit comprising a lens mount for holding at least one lens, a sleeve for receiving the lens mount, the lens mount being in sliding contact with and movable in relation to the sleeve as the lens unit is moved along the optical axis, wherein the lens mount is formed of or comprises at its outer surface a self-lubricating material, and/or the sleeve is formed of or comprises at its inner surface a self-lubricating material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lens mount comprises a coating formed of or including the self-lubricating material on its outer surface and/or the sleeve comprises a coating formed of or including the self-lubricating material on its inner surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The optical assembly according to claim 2, wherein the coating is formed in the form of one or more circumferential rings and/or in the form of coated areas and/or in the form of two or more coated areas along a circumferential direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The optical assembly according to claim 2, wherein a thickness of the coating is in the range of greater than 0 and less than 250 μm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lens mount comprises one or more rings mounted onto the outer surface of the lens mount, and/or the sleeve comprises one or more rings mounted onto the inner surface of the sleeve, the one or more rings consisting of or comprising the self-lubricating material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the self-lubricating material is or comprises a self-lubricating sintered metal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The optical assembly according to claim 6, wherein the sintered metal is or comprises sintered bronze. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the self-lubricating material is or comprises a self-lubricating polymer composition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The optical assembly according to claim 8, wherein the polymer composition is or comprises at least one of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyether ether ketone, and one or more of these or another base polymer including solid lubricants. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The optical assembly according to claim 8, wherein the lens mount and the sleeve are formed of a self-lubricating polymer composition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the optical assembly is a microscope objective. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The optical assembly according to claim 11, wherein the movable lens unit is configured as an optical compensating element compensating optical aberrations. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The optical assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a lens unit moving mechanism configured to be operated to transmit force to the lens unit in order to move the lens unit in the direction of the optical axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the lens unit moving mechanism comprises a spring member arranged between at least parts of the lens mount and the sleeve such that, in an axial direction, the spring member at a first end is supported by the lens mount and at a second end is supported by the sleeve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the lens unit moving mechanism comprises a handling unit configured for a manually operated movement or an electrical drive unit configured for a motorized movement of the lens unit.