Catadioptric lens barrel structure having a plurality of support platforms and method of making the same

A lens barrel structure, comprising:

• a plurality of lens barrels;
• a support structure to support the plurality of lens barrels;
• a plurality of flexures to resiliently secure the plurality of lens barrels to the support structure;
• and at least one reflective element positioned in front of an exit end of a lens barrel.

A lens barrel structure, comprising:

• a plurality of lens barrels, each of the plurality of lens barrels comprising an optical axis and an optical pivot point along the optical axis;
• a support structure to support the plurality of lens barrels, the support structure comprising a plurality of support platforms, each support platform firmly securing the corresponding lens barrel substantially near the corresponding optical pivot point;
• and
• a plurality of flexures to resiliently secure the plurality of lens barrels to the support structure.

A lens barrel structure, comprising:

• a plurality of lens barrels;
• a support structure to support the plurality of lens barrels, the support structure comprising a base support platform firmly securing base portions of the lens barrels and an upper support platform;
• and
• a plurality sets of flexures resiliently securing upper portions of the lens barrels to the upper support platform of the support structure.

A lens barrel structure, comprising:

• a plurality of lens barrels, each lens barrel having an optical axis running along the length of the lens barrel, a frontal plane being defined by a plane passing through the plurality of optical axes, and a plurality of optical planes being defined by planes each perpendicular to the frontal plane and passing through a respective optical axis;
• a support structure to support the plurality of lens barrels, the support structure further comprising a plurality of support platforms parallel to each other and perpendicular to the optical axes, each support platform having openings to accommodate the plurality of lens barrels;
• and
• a plurality of flexures to resiliently secure the plurality of lens barrels to the support structure, each flexure being attached opposite another flexure on a periphery of a selected one of the openings and being aligned with the corresponding selected one of the optical planes.

A method for making a lens barrel structure, comprising:

• providing a plurality of lens barrels;
• providing at lease one transverse lens barrel connecting a lens barrel;
• providing a support structure to support the plurality of lens barrels;
• and
• providing flexures to resiliently secure the plurality of lens barrels to the support structure.

A method of making a lens barrel structure, comprising:

• providing a plurality of lens barrels;
• providing a support structure to support the plurality of lens barrels;
• and
• providing flexures to resiliently secure the plurality of lens barrels to the support structure,
• wherein the step of providing a support structure further comprises a step of providing a base support platform firmly supporting base portions of the lens barrels and an upper support platform, and
• wherein the step of providing flexures comprises a step of securing upper portions of the lens barrels to the upper support platform.