Back to results
US 7,889,434 B2Granted
Zoom lens for endoscopic devices
AssigneeSTM Medizintechnik Starnberg GmbH
InventorsFritz Pauker, Thomas Viehbach, Konstantin Bob
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A zoom lens for use in endoscopic devices, in which a plurality of lens units is arranged in a lens cylinder perpendicular to the center line thereof. Among the plurality of lens units at least one lens unit may be hydraulically adjustable in the axial direction of the lens cylinder so as to vary the focal length of the zoom lens. Furthermore, the focal length of individual lenses of the lens unit may be varied by pneumatically varying the shape of the lenses in order to vary the total focal length of the zoom lens in this way.
Claims25
A zoom lens for endoscopic devices comprising:
- a lens mount;
- a plurality of lens units including a fixed first lens unit, a second lens unit and a fixed third lens unit arranged in the lens mount at an axial distance from each other, wherein the second lens unit is movable relative to the first lens unit and the third lens unit,
- a first fluid chamber formed in the lens mount between the first lens unit and the second lens unit;
- a first fluid conduit coupled to the first fluid chamber;
- a second fluid chamber formed in the lens mount between the second lens unit and the third lens unit;
- and
- a second fluid conduit coupled to the second fluid chamber,
- wherein a focal length of the zoom lens is hydraulically and/or pneumatically variable by varying an amount of fluid in one or more of the first fluid chamber or the second fluid chamber via one or more of the first fluid conduit or the second fluid conduit, and wherein the distance between the second lens unit and the first lens unit and the distance between the second lens unit and the third lens unit are hydraulically variable and/or the focal length of the lens units is pneumatically variable
- wherein a spring element is arranged in each of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber between the plurality of lens units.
6 more elements
A zoom lens for endoscopic devices comprising:
- a lens mount;
- a plurality of lens units including a fixed first lens unit, a second lens unit and a fixed third lens unit arranged in the lens mount at an axial distance from each other, wherein the second lens unit is movable relative to the first lens unit and the third lens unit, wherein the second lens unit is hydraulically movable in an axial direction of the lens mount to vary the focal length of the zoom lens;
- a first fluid chamber formed in the lens mount between the first lens unit and the second lens unit;
- a first fluid conduit coupled to the first fluid chamber;
- a second fluid chamber formed in the lens mount between the second lens unit and the third lens unit;
- and
- a second fluid conduit coupled to the second fluid chamber, wherein a focal length of the zoom lens is hydraulically and/or pneumatically variable by varying an amount of fluid in one or more of the first fluid chamber or the second fluid chamber via one or more of the first fluid conduit or the second fluid conduit, and
- wherein a spring element is arranged in each of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber between the plurality of lens units.
5 more elements
A zoom lens for endoscopic devices comprising:
- a lens mount;
- a plurality of lens units including a first lens unit, a second lens unit, a third lens unit and a fourth lens unit arranged in the lens mount at an axial distance from each other,
- a first fluid chamber formed in the lens mount between the first lens unit and the second lens unit;
- a first fluid conduit coupled to the first fluid chamber;
- a second fluid chamber formed in the lens mount between the second lens unit and the third lens unit;
- a second fluid conduit coupled to the second fluid chamber;
- a third fluid chamber formed in the lens mount between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit;
- and
- a third fluid conduit coupled to the third fluid chamber,
- wherein the second lens unit and the third lens unit are axially moveable relative to the first lens unit and the fourth lens unit,
- wherein the first lens unit and the fourth lens unit are axially fixed,
- wherein a focal length of the zoom lens is hydraulically and/or pneumatically variable by varying an amount of fluid in one or more of the first fluid chamber, the second fluid chamber or the third fluid chamber via one or more of the first fluid conduit, the second fluid conduit or the third fluid conduit, and
- wherein a spring element is arranged in each of the first fluid chamber, the second fluid chamber, and the third fluid chamber between the plurality of lens units.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.