Catadioptric lens barrel structure having a plurality of split lens barrels and a support structure supporting the split lens barrels

A lens barrel structure, comprising:

• a plurality of lens barrels, each lens barrel having an optical axis running along a length of the lens barrel, wherein at least one of the lens barrels comprises a plurality of sub-barrels serially oriented along the corresponding optical axis;
• and
• a support structure for supporting each of the plurality of lens barrels,
• wherein the support structure is made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of 6 ppm/° C. or below.

A lens barrel structure, comprising:

• a plurality of lens barrels, each lens barrel having an optical axis running along a length of the lens barrel, wherein each lens barrel comprises a plurality of sub-barrels physically separated and serially oriented along the corresponding optical axis;
• a support structure supporting each sub-barrel of the plurality of lens barrels;
• and
• at least one transverse lens barrel between one lens barrel and a next successive lens barrel, each transverse lens barrel comprising a pair of reflective elements for reflecting an image from the one lens barrel to the next successive lens barrel.

A lens barrel structure, comprising:

• a plurality of lens barrels, each lens barrel having an optical axis running along a length of the lens barrel, wherein at least one of the lens barrels comprises a plurality of sub-barrels serially oriented along the corresponding optical axis;
• support structure supporting each of the plurality of lens barrels;
• and
• at least one transverse lens barrel between one lens barrel and a next successive lens barrel, each transverse lens barrel comprising a pair of reflective elements for reflecting an image from the one lens barrel to the next successive lens barrel,
• wherein the at least one transverse lens barrel and the support structure are made of materials having coefficients of thermal expansion of 6 ppm/° C. or below.

A method for making a lens barrel structure, comprising:

• providing a plurality of lens barrels, each lens barrel having an optical axis running along a length of the lens barrel, wherein each lens barrel comprises physically separate, serially oriented sub-barrels, each sub-barrel having an optical sub-axis;
• disposing at least one transverse lens barrel between one lens barrel and the next successive lens barrel;
• aligning the optical sub-axis of each sub-barrel in a series with the optical axis of the corresponding lens barrel;
• and
• supporting each sub-barrel with a support structure.

A method for making a lens barrel structure, comprising:

• providing a plurality of lens barrels, each lens barrel having an optical axis running along a length of the lens barrel, wherein at least one of the lens barrels comprises physically separate, serially oriented sub-barrels, each sub-barrel having an optical sub-axis;
• aligning the optical sub-axis of each sub-barrel in a series with the optical axis of the corresponding lens barrel;
• and
• supporting each lens barrel with a support structure made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of 6 ppm/° C. or below.

A method for making a lens barrel structure, comprising:

• providing a plurality of lens barrels, each lens barrel having an optical axis running along a length of the lens barrel, wherein each lens barrel comprises physically separate, serially oriented sub-barrels, each sub-barrel having an optical sub-axis;
• aligning the optical sub-axis of each sub-barrel in a series with the optical axis of the corresponding lens barrel;
• and
• supporting each lens barrel,
• wherein the step of supporting each lens barrel further comprises the steps of:
• maintaining the plurality of lens barrels so that the plurality of optical axes remain substantially parallel;
• maintaining the plurality of lens barrels so that the distance separating one optical axis and the next successive optical axis remains substantially constant;
• and
• maintaining the plurality of sub-barrels so that the distance separating two sub-barrels in a series remains substantially constant.

A method for making a lens barrel structure, comprising:

• providing a plurality of lens barrels, each lens barrel having an optical axis running along a length of the lens barrel, wherein at least one of the lens barrels comprises physically separate, serially oriented sub-barrels, each sub-barrel having an optical sub-axis;
• disposing at least one transverse lens barrel between one lens barrel and the next successive lens barrel, each transverse lens barrel comprising a pair of reflective elements for reflecting an image from the one lens barrel to the next successive lens barrel;
• aligning the optical sub-axis of each sub-barrel in a series with the optical axis of the corresponding lens barrel;
• and
• supporting each lens barrel with a support structure,
• wherein the at least one transverse lens barrel and the support structure are made of materials having coefficients of thermal expansion of 6 ppm/° C. or below.