Optic for an endoscope/borescope having high resolution and narrow field of view
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsGary F. Stone, James E. Trebes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optic having optimized high spatial resolution, minimal nonlinear magnification distortion while at the same time having a limited chromatic focal shift or chromatic aberrations. The optic located at the distal end of an endoscopic inspection tool permits a high resolution, narrow field of view image for medical diagnostic applications, compared to conventional optics for endoscopic instruments which provide a wide field of view, low resolution image. The image coverage is over a narrow (<20 degrees) field of view with very low optical distortion (<5% pin cushion or barrel distortion. The optic is also optimized for best color correction as well as to aid medical diagnostics.
Claims18
In an inspection tool utilizing an optic at a distal end, the improvement comprising:
- said optic being a doublet comprising two different glass types cemented together wherein said doublet is constructed to image colors at a common optical plane with limited chromatic focal shift and limited lateral color shift.
A high resolution, narrow field of view optic, comprising:
- a doublet having a narrow (<20 degrees) field of view with low optical distortion (<5% pin cushion or barrel distortion).
A method for fabricating an optic having a field of view of <20 degrees and an optical distortion of >5%, with resolution of <100 microns, and a working distance of <2 mm, comprising:
- providing two glass members comprising different glass types, and
- cementing the glass member together to form a doublet such that colors are imaged at a common optical plane with limited chromatic focal shift and limited lateral color shift.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.