# US 5,349,472 A · Coupled lens assembly

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- Number: US 5,349,472 A
- Document ID: US5349472A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/911,672
- Filed: 1992-07-09
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1991-07-12
- Assignees: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
- Inventors: Takashi Terai; Takayuki Yoshioka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5349472A

## CPC

- G02B 3/12: Fluid-filled or evacuated lenses
- G02B 3/00: Simple or compound lenses
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A coupled lens assembly comprises a plurality of lens units coupled by an intermediate layer disposed between the adjoining lens units, the intermediate layers being formed of an additional type silicone filler. A coupled lens assembly comprises a plurality of lens units coupled by an intermediate layer disposed between the adjoining lens units and formed of a bonding agent. Each of the lens units has a central lens portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the central lens portion and wherein one of the adjoining lens units has a flanged portion formed to a peripheral portion and the other one of the adjoining lens units has an engaging portion formed to the peripheral portion to be engaged with the flanged portion when both the lens units are coupled with optical axes of both the lens units being aligned. A groove is formed to at least one of the peripheral portions of the adjoining lens units for receiving an excessive fillet such as bonding agent when the filler is excessively applied and/or a discharge passage is formed to at least one of the peripheral portions of the adjoining lens units for discharging the excessive filler outward the coupled lens assembly. The groove may be formed so as to communicate with the discharge passage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A coupled lens assembly comprising:
a plurality of lens units coupled, in which each of said lens units has a central lens portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the central lens portion, one of adjoining lens units has a flanged portion formed to a peripheral portion and the other one of the adjoining lens units has an engaging portion formed to the peripheral portion to be engaged with the flanged portion when both the lens units are coupled with optical axes of both the adjoining lens units being aligned;
an intermediate layer disposed between the adjoining lens units formed of a bonding agent; and
at least one of a groove and a discharge passage formed to at least one of the peripheral portions of the adjoining lens units for receiving any excessive bonding agent when the bonding agent is excessively applied.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A coupled lens assembly according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate bonding agent layer is formed of an additional type silicone filler.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A coupled lens assembly according to claim 2, wherein the additional type silicone filler has a coefficient of cure shrinkage of less than 1% and a refractive index of 1.40 to 1.53.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A coupled lens assembly according to claim 3, wherein a preferable coefficient of cure shrinkage of the additional type silicone filler is of about 0.2% and a preferable refractive index thereof is of 1.49 to 1.53

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A coupled lens assembly according to claim 3, wherein the additional type silicone filler is a silicone rubber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

A coupled lens assembly according to claim 3, wherein the additional type silicone filler is a silicone gel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A coupled lens assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one of the adjoining lens units comprises a concave lens surface and the other one of the adjoining lens units comprises a convex lens surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A coupled lens assembly according to claim 1, wherein the groove communicates with the discharge passage.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A coupled lens assembly according to claim 1, wherein the discharge passage is shaped like a hole.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A coupled lens assembly according to claim 1, wherein the discharge passage is shaped line a groove.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A coupled lens assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the lens units is formed of a plastic material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A coupled lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein said discharge passage is formed for discharging the excessive bonding agent outward of the coupled lens assembly.