Digital cameras abstract
Optical systems for use in digital cameras are provided. The systems
can be switched between three optical paths (1,2,3): a first path
(1) for through-the-lens (TTL) viewing; a second path (2) for recalling
previously taken pictures from a microdisplay (16); and a third
path (3) in which pictures are taken using an electronic sensor
(15), e.g., a CMOS sensor. The optical systems employ a zoom objective
lens unit (10), e.g., a 3:1 zoom, an erector lens unit (12), and
an eye lens unit (13). They can also employ an image size adjusting
lens unit (11) for equalizing the TTL and recalled images presented
to the user. To facilitate integration with the electronic components
of a digital camera and to provide a "book" format for
the camera, the first and second optical paths (1,2) lie in a single
plane and each includes two folding mirrors (17,20 for the first
path; 18,20 for the second path) and the third optical path (3)
has a single folding mirror (19) so that a portion of that path
is in the single plane and a portion is orthogonal to that plane.
Digital cameras claims
What is claimed is:
1. An optical system which can be switched between a first optical
path, a second optical path, and a third optical path, said system
comprising:
(A) an objective lens unit having a positive optical power;
(B) an erector lens unit having a positive optical power;
(C) an eye lens unit having a positive optical power;
(D) a sensor unit;
(E) a display unit; and
(F) optical means for switching the optical system between said
first, second, and thrid optical paths;
wherein
(i) the first optical path comprises, in order, the objective lens
unit, the erector lens unit, and the eye lens unit;
(ii) the second optical path comprises, in order, the display unit
and the eye lens unit; and
(iii) the tird optical path comorises, in order, the objective
lens unit and the sensor unit.
2. An optical system which can be switched between a first optical
path, a second optical path, said system comprising:
(A) an objective lens unit having a positive optical power;
(B) an erector lens unit having a positive optical power;
(C) an eye lens unit having a positive optical power;
(D) a display unit; and
(E) optical means for switching the optical system between the
first and second optical paths;
wherein:
(i) the first optical path comprises, in order, the objective lens
unit, the erector lens unit, and the eye lens unit; and
(ii) the second optical path comprises, in order, the display unit
and the eye lens unit.
3. An optical system which can be switched between a first optical
path and a third optical path, said system comprising:
(A) an objective lens unit having a positive optical power;
(B) an erector lens unit having a positive optical power;
(C) an eye lens unit having a positive optical power;
(D) a sensor unit; and
(E) optical means for switching the optical system between said
first and third optical paths;
wherein:
(i) the first optical path comprises, in order, the objective lens
unit, the erector lens unit, and the eye lens unit; and
(ii) the third optical path comprises, in order, the objective
lens unit and the sensor unit.
4. The optical system of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the first optical
path lies in a single plane.
5. The optical system of claim 1 or 2 wherein the first and second
optical paths lie in a single plane.
6. The optical system of claim 1 or 3 wherein the first optical
path and a first portion of the third optical path lies in a single
plane and a second portion of the third optical path is orthogonal
to the single plane.
7. An optical system which has a first optical path which defines
an optical axis, said optical system comprising in order:
(A) an objective lens unit having a positive optical power;
(B) an erector lens unit having a positive optical power; and
(C) an eye lens unit having a positive optical power;
wherein:
(i) the optical axis lies in a plane and has first and second folds
which define a first optical axis portion, a second optical axis
portion, and a third optical axis portion;
(ii) the first and third optical axis portions are parallel but
not collinear;
(iii) the second optical axis portion is perpendicular to the first
and the third optical axis portions, with the first optical axis
portion extended in one direction from the second optical axis portion
and the third optical axis portion extended in the opposite direction
from the second optical axis portion; and
(iv) the optical axis of the objective first lens unit is collinear
with the first optical axis portion, the optical axis of the erector
lens unit is collinear with the second optical axis portion, and
the optical axis of the eye lens unit is collinear with the third
optical axis portion.
8. The optical system of claim 7 wherein:
(a) the length of the first optical axis portion between the object
end of the objective first lens unit and the first fold is L.sub.1,
the length of the second optical axis portion between the two folds
is L.sub.2, and the length of the third optical axis portion between
the second fold and the image end of the eye lens unit is L.sub.3
; and
(b) 1.25(L.sub.1 +L.sub.3).gtoreq.L.sub.2.gtoreq.0.75(L.sub.1 +L.sub.3).
9. The optical system of claim 8 wherein:
10. The optical system of claim 8 wherein: L.sub.2.ltoreq.10 cm.
11. The optical system of claim 8 wherein: L.sub.2.ltoreq.8 cm.
12. The optical system of claim 1, 2, 3, or 7 wherein the positive
optical power of the objective lens unit can be varied.
13. The optical system of claim 12 wherein the positive optical
power of the objective lens unit can be varied over a range such
that the ratio of the strongest optical power to the weakest optical
power is approximately 3:1.
14. The optical system of claim 12 wherein the objective lens unit
has:
(a) a wide angle focal length f.sub.MIN ;
(b) a long conjugate and a short conjugate; and
(c) an exit pupil distance D.sub.EP in short conjugate space;
where:
15. The optical system of claim 14 wherein:
16. The optical system of claim 12 wherein the objective lens unit
has:
(a) a wide angle focal length f.sub.MIN ;
(b) a long conjugate and a short conjugate; and
(c) a back focal length D.sub.BF in short conjugate space;
where:
17. The optical system of claim 16 wherein:
18. The optical system of claim 12 wherein the objective lens unit
has a long conjugate and a short conjugate and wherein, in order
from said long conjugate to said short conjugate, said unit comprises:
(a) a first lens unit having a focal length f.sub.1 ; and
(b) a second lens unit that moves to effect a change in the optical
power of the objective lens unit, said second lens unit having a
focal length f.sub.2 ;
wherein:
19. The optical system of claim 18 wherein:
20. The optical system of claim 18 wherein:
21. The optical system of claim 20 wherein:
22. The optical system of claim 18 wherein:
(a) the first lens unit comprises two lens elements, each of which
has two aspherical surfaces; and
(b) the second lens unit comprises two lens elements, each of which
has two aspherical surfaces.
23. The optical system of claim 18 wherein the first lens unit
moves for compensating or focusing or both compensating and focusing.
24. The optical system of claim 18 wherein the objective lens unit
comprises an aperture stop which is located between the first and
second lens units, said aperture stop being closer to the second
lens unit than to the first lens unit.
25. The optical system of claim 18 wherein, in order from said
long conjugate to said short conjugate, the first lens unit consists
of a negative lens element, a positive lens element, and a negative
lens element.
26. The optical system of claim 1 or 2 wherein the second optical
path comprises the erector lens unit between the display unit and
the eye lens unit.
27. The optical system of claim 1, 2, 3, or 7 wherein the erector
lens unit comprises a diffractive surface which provides correction
of chromatic aberrations.
28. The optical system of claim 1, 2, 3, or 7 wherein the erector
lens unit comprises a positive surface at both its image and object
sides and a negative internal surface.
29. The optical system of claim 1, 2, 3, or 7 further comprising
an image size adjusting lens unit located in the first optical path
between the objective lens unit and the erector lens unit.
30. The optical system of claim 29 wherein:
(a) the objective lens unit forms an intermediate image in the
first optical path between the objective lens unit and the erector
lens unit;
(b) the image size adjusting lens unit is located between the objective
lens unit and the intermediate image; and
(c) the image size adjusting lens unit has a positive optical power;
whereby the image size adjusting lens unit reduces the size of
the intermediate image.
31. The optical system of claim 29 wherein the image size adjusting
lens unit comprises at least one positive lens element and at least
one negative lens element.
32. The optical system of claim 1, 2, 3, or 7 wherein:
(a) the objective lens unit forms an intermediate image in the
first optical path; and
(b) the system comprises a field stop in the first optical path
substantially at the location of the intermediate image.
33. The optical system of claim 1, 2, 3, or 7 wherein the eye lens
unit consists of a single lens element.
34. The optical system of claim 1, 2, 3, or 7 wherein the eye lens
unit has a focal length which is greater than 10 millimeters and
less than 15 millimeters.
35. The optical system of claim 1 or 3 wherein:
(a) the system further comprises a sensor lens unit; and
(b) the third optical path comprises said sensor lens unit between
said objective lens unit and said sensor unit.
36. The optical system of claim 35 wherein the sensor lens unit
reduces the sensitivity of the system to manufacturing variations.
37. The optical system of claim 35 wherein the sensor lens unit
consists of a positive lens element.
38. The optical system of claim 1 wherein the optical means for
switching comprises:
(a) a first moveable mirror having a home position and a moved
position, said mirror directing light from the objective lens unit
towards the erector lens unit when in its home position and allowing
light to pass from the objective lens unit towards the sensor unit
when in its moved position; and
(b) a second moveable mirror having a home position and a moved
position, said mirror allowing light to pass from the first moveable
mirror towards the erector lens unit when in its home position and
directing light from the display unit towards the erector unit when
in its moved position; wherein:
(1) the first and second moveable mirrors are in their home positions
when the system is switched to the first optical path;
(2) the first moveable mirror is in its moved position when the
system is switched to the third optical path; and
(3) the second moveable mirror is in its moved position when the
system is switched to the second optical path.
39. The optical system of claim 38 wherein the system further comprises:
(a) a first fixed mirror for directing light from the objective
lens unit towards the sensor unit when the system is switched to
the third optical path; and
(b) a second fixed mirror for directing light from the erector
lens unit towards the eye lens unit when the system is switched
to the first or second optical paths.
40. The optical system of claim 39 wherein:
(a) the first moveable mirror comprises means for allowing light
to reach the sensor unit when the first moveable mirror is in its
home position at a level sufficient to permit auto-focusing; and
(b) first fixed mirror is a cold mirror.
41. An optical system comprising:
(A) a zoom lens which has a long conjugate and a short conjugate
and, in order from said long conjugate to said short conjugate,
comprises:
(i) a first lens unit having a focal length f.sub.1, said first
lens unit comprising two lens elements, each of which has two aspherical
surfaces;
(ii) a second lens unit that moves to effect a change in the optical
power of the zoom lens, said second lens unit having a focal length
f.sub.2 and comprising two lens elements, each of which has two
aspherical surfaces; and
(iii) a third lens unit; and
(B) a sensor unit adjacent to the third lens unit.
42. The optical system of claim 41 wherein the first lens unit
moves for compensating or focusing or both compensating and focusing.
43. The optical system of claim 41 wherein the zoom lens comprises
an aperture stop which is located between the first and second lens
units, said aperture stop being closer to the second lens unit than
to the first lens unit.
44. The optical system of claim 41 wherein, in order from said
long conjugate to said short conjugate, the first lens unit consists
of a negative lens element, a positive lens element, and a negative
lens element.
45. The optical system of claim 41 wherein the zoom lens has:
(a) a wide angle focal length f.sub.MIN ; and
(b) an exit pupil distance D.sub.EP in short conjugate space;
where:
46. The optical system of claim 45 wherein:
47. The optical system of claim 41 wherein:
(a) the zoom lens unit has a wide angle focal length f.sub.MIN
; and
(b) the first and second lens units have a back focal length D.sub.BF
in short conjugate space;
where:
48. The optical system of claim 47 wherein:
49. The optical system of claim 41 wherein:
50. The optical system of claim 41 wherein:
51. The optical system of claim 41 wherein:
52. The optical system of claim 51 wherein:
53. A zoom lens which has a long conjugate and a short conjugate
and, in order from said long conjugate to said short conjugate,
comprises:
(a) a first lens unit having a focal length f.sub.1, said first
lens unit comprising two lens elements, each of which has two aspherical
surfaces; and
(b) a second lens unit that moves to effect a change in the optical
power of the zoom lens, said second lens unit having a focal length
f.sub.2 and comprising two lens elements, each of which has two
aspherical surfaces;
wherein:
54. The zoom lens of claim 53 wherein the first lens unit moves
for compensating or focusing or both compensating and focusing.
55. The zoom lens of claim 53 wherein the lens comprises an aperture
stop which is located between the first and second lens units, said
aperture stop being closer to the second lens unit than to the first
lens unit.
56. The zoom lens of claim 53 wherein, in order from said long
conjugate to said short conjugate, the first lens unit consists
of a negative lens element, a positive lens element, and a negative
lens element.
57. The zoom lens of claim 53 wherein the lens has:
(a) a wide angle focal length f.sub.MIN ; and
(b) an exit pupil distance D.sub.EP in short conjugate space;
where:
58. The zoom lens of claim 57 wherein:
59. The zoom lens of claim 53 wherein the lens has:
(a) a wide angle focal length f.sub.MIN ; and
(b) a back focal length D.sub.BF in short conjugate space;
where:
60. The zoom lens of claim 59 wherein:
61. The zoom lens of claim 53 wherein:
62. The zoom lens of claim 61 wherein:
63. An optical system comprising:
(A) a zoom lens which has a long conjugate and a short conjugate,
a wide angle focal length f.sub.MIN, and, in order from said long
conjugate to said short conjugate, comprises: p2 (i) a first lens
unit having a focal length f.sub.1 ;
(ii) a second lens unit that moves to effect a change in the optical
power of the zoom lens, said second lens unit having a focal length
f.sub.2 ; and
(iii) a third lens unit which comprises at least one aspheric surface;
and
(B) a sensor unit adjacent to the third lens unit;
wherein:
where D.sub.BF is the back focal length of said first and second
lens units in short conjugate space.
64. The optical system of claim 63 wherein the first lens unit
moves for compensating or focusing or both compensating and focusing.
65. The optical system of claim 63 wherein the zoom lens comprises
an aperture stop which is located between the first and second lens
units, said aperture stop being closer to the second lens unit than
to the first lens unit.
66. The optical system of claim 63 wherein:
67. The optical system of claim 63 wherein the zoom lens has an
exit pupil distance D.sub.EP in short conjugate space and wherein:
68. The optical system of claim 67 wherein:
69. The optical system of claim 63 wherein:
70. The optical system of claim 63 wherein:
71. The optical system of claim 70 wherein:
72. An optical system comprising:
(A) a zoom lens which has a long conjugate and a short conjugate
and, in order from said long conjugate to said short conjugate,
comprises:
(i) a first lens unit having a focal length f.sub.1, said first
lens unit comprising two lens elements, each of which has two aspherical
surfaces;
(ii) a second lens unit that moves to effect a change in the optical
power of the zoom lens, said second lens unit having a focal length
f.sub.2 and comprising two lens elements, each of which has two
aspherical surfaces; and
(iii) a third lens unit; and
(B) a sensor unit adjacent to the third lens unit;
wherein the third lens unit consists of a positive lens element.
73. An optical system comprising:
(A) a zoom lens which has a long conjugate and a short conjugate,
a wide angle focal length f.sub.MIN, and, in order from said long
conjugate to said short conjugate, comprises:
(i) a first lens unit having a focal length f.sub.1 ;
(ii) a second lens unit that moves to effect a change in the optical
power of the zoom lens, said second lens unit having a focal length
f.sub.2 ; and
(iii) a third lens unit which comprises at least one aspheric surface;
and
(B) a sensor unit adjacent to the third lens unit;
wherein:
where D.sub.BF is the back focal length of said first and second
lens units in short conjugate space;
and wherein the third lens unit consists of a positive lens element.
Digital cameras description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to optical systems for digital cameras and,
in particular, to optical systems which permit through-the-lens
(TTL) viewing of a scene to be digitally recorded (photographed).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There exists a need in the art for digital cameras having some
and preferably all of the following properties:
(1) The camera is a TTL camera so that parallax problems are avoided,
thus making the scene viewed by the user and the scene recorded
by the camera as close to identical as possible.
(2) During picture composition (picture framing), the camera is
completely optical as opposed to being a combination of an optical
system and an electronic display, e.g., an LCD display. In this
way, the amount of electrical current used by the camera is minimized
and thus battery life is maximized. As known in the art, achieving
long battery life is one of the key problems in designing a successful
digital camera.
(3) The camera has a recall mode (also known as a review mode)
so that the user can view previously recorded images in real time.
(4) The recall mode uses an electronic display (display unit or
microdisplay) to reduce camera size and conserve battery power,
but still creates a large recalled image for viewing by the user,
i.e., an image which subtends a large angle at the user's eye. A
large recalled image is important since it allows the user to perform
recall without the need for, for example, reading glasses.
(5) The camera has a single eyepiece which is used in both the
TTL and recall modes. In this way, the user can perform recall without
taking his or her eye away from the position used to view the scene
to be photographed.
(6) The camera is a zoom camera with a focal length range of preferably
at least 2:1 and most preferably at least 3:1.
(7) The camera is ergonomic and is of relatively small size both
during use and storage.
(8) Although being small in overall size, the camera has a large
zoom space thus allowing the use of a negative-positive (NP) relaxed
zoom objective lens.
(9) The camera has a mechanical construction which is compatible
with production of high quality images. In the past, many digital
cameras have employed the classical layout of film cameras, namely,
a layout in which the optical axis of the camera is parallel to
the camera's shortest dimension. To provide for compact storage,
such digital cameras have had collapsible optics, i.e., a lens barrel
which was extended from the camera during picture taking and folded
back into the camera during storage. For zoom lenses, it is difficult
to maintain good optical performance with collapsible optics since
the collapsing action compromises concentricity and accurate positioning
of the optical elements making up the lens.
(10) To reduce manufacturing costs, the camera's optical system
employs relatively few optical elements and is designed to have
a low sensitivity to manufacturing variations (tolerances).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide
digital cameras which have some and preferably all of the above
features. It is also an object of the invention to achieve the foregoing
object through optical systems that are suitable for integration
with a digital camera's electronic components in an overall small
package.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, the invention in accordance
with a first aspect provides an optical system which can be switched
between a first optical path (1) and a second optical path (2),
said system comprising:
(A) an objective lens unit (10) having a positive optical power;
(B) an erector lens unit (12) having a positive optical power;
(C) an eye lens unit (13) having a positive optical power;
(D) a display unit (16); and
(E) optical means (17,18) for switching the optical system between
said the first (1) and second (2) optical paths;
wherein:
(i) the first optical path (1) comprises, in order, the objective
lens unit (10), the erector lens unit (12), and the eye lens unit
(13); and
(ii) the second optical path comprises, in order, the display unit
(16) and the eye lens unit (13).
In accordance with a second aspect, the invention provides an optical
system which can be switched between a first optical path (1), a
second optical path (2), and a third optical path (3), said system
comprising:
(A) an objective lens unit (10) having a positive optical power;
(B) an erector lens unit (12) having a positive optical power;
(C) an eye lens unit (13) having a positive optical power;
(D) a sensor unit (15);
(E) a display unit (16); and
(F) optical means (17,18) for switching the optical system between
said first (1), second (2), and third (3) optical paths;
wherein:
(i) the first optical path (1) comprises, in order, the objective
lens unit (10), the erector lens unit (12), and the eye lens unit
(13);
(ii) the second optical path (2) comprises, in order, the display
unit (16) and the eye lens unit (13); and
(iii) the third optical path (3) comprises, in order, the objective
lens unit (10) and the sensor unit (15).
In certain preferred embodiments of the foregoing two aspects of
the invention, the second optical path (2) comprises the erector
lens unit (12) between the display unit (16) and the eye lens unit
(13). The use of this unit in the second optical path, however,
is not required since the eye lens unit (13) and the display unit
(16) can be designed to operate without an erector lens unit, e.g.,
the display unit can display a reverted and inverted image and the
magnification of the eye lens unit and/or the size of the display
unit can be chosen so that the image of the display unit produced
by the eye lens unit subtends a sufficiently large angle at the
user's eye for ready viewing of recalled pictures.
In other preferred embodiments of the foregoing two aspects of
the invention, the system further comprises an image size adjusting
lens unit (11) located in the first optical path (1) between the
objective lens unit (10) and the erector lens unit (12).
In still further preferred embodiments of the foregoing two aspects
of the invention, the optical system has an optical axis (1,2) which
lies in a single plane for the first optical path (1) and the second
optical path (2).
In certain preferred embodiments of the second aspect of the invention,
a sensor lens unit (14) is located in the third optical path (3)
between the objection lens unit (10) and the sensor unit (15) and
serves to reduce the sensitivity of the system to manufacturing
variations.
In accordance with a third aspect, the invention provides an optical
system comprising:
(A) a zoom objective lens unit (10) which has a long conjugate
and a short conjugate and, in order from said long conjugate to
said short conjugate, comprises:
(i) a first lens unit (U.sub.1) having a focal length fi, said
first lens unit comprising two lens elements, each of which has
two aspherical surfaces;
(ii) a second lens unit (U.sub.2) that moves to effect a change
in the optical power of the zoom objective lens unit, said second
lens unit having a focal length f.sub.2 and comprising two lens
elements, each of which has two aspherical surfaces; and
(iii) a sensor lens unit (14); and
(B) a sensor unit (15) adjacent to the sensor lens unit (14). In
accordance with a fourth aspect, the invention provides a zoom lens
(10) which has a long conjugate and a short conjugate and, in order
from said long conjugate to said short conjugate, comprises:
(a) a first lens unit (U.sub.1) having a focal length f.sub.1,
said first lens unit comprising two lens elements, each of which
has two aspherical surfaces; and
(b) a second lens unit (U.sub.2) that moves to effect a change
in the optical power of the zoom lens, said second lens unit having
a focal length f.sub.2 and comprising two lens elements, each of
which has two aspherical surfaces;
wherein:
In certain preferred embodiments of the third and fourth aspects
of the invention, the zoom objective lens unit or zoom lens has:
(a) a wide angle focal length f.sub.MIN ; and
(b) an exit pupil distance D.sub.EP in short conjugate space;
where .vertline.D.sub.EP.vertline./f.sub.MIN.gtoreq.2.0 and preferably
.vertline.D.sub.EP.vertline./f.sub.MIN.gtoreq.2.5. As used herein,
"exit pupil distance in short conjugate space" is the
distance between the exit pupil and the image at f.sub.MIN.
In other preferred embodiments of the third and fourth aspects
of the invention, the combination of the first and second lens units
of the zoom objective lens unit or zoom lens has a back focal length
D.sub.BF in short conjugate space such that D.sub.BF /f.sub.MIN.gtoreq.1.0
and preferably D.sub.BF /f.sub.MIN.gtoreq.1.5.
In still further preferred embodiments of the third and fourth
aspects of the invention, .vertline.f.sub.1.vertline..apprxeq..vertline.f.sub.2.vertline.
e.g., .vertline.(.vertline.f.sub.2.vertline.-.vertline.f.sub. 1.vertline.).vertline./.vertline.f.sub.2.vertline.
is less than or equal to 0.2 and preferably is less than or equal
to 0.1.
In accordance with a fifth aspect, the invention provides a camera
which has an optical axis (1) and comprises:
(A) an objective lens unit (10) having a positive optical power;
(B) an erector lens unit (12) having a positive optical power;
and
(C) an eye lens unit (13) having a positive optical power;
wherein:
(i) the optical axis (1) lies in a plane and has first and second
folds (17,20) which define a first optical axis portion (22), a
second optical axis portion (23), and a third optical axis portion
(24);
(ii) the first (22) and third (24) optical axis portions are parallel
but not collinear;
(iii) the second optical axis portion (23) is perpendicular to
the first (22) and the third (24) optical axis portions, with the
first optical axis portion (22) extended in one direction from the
second optical axis portion (23) and the third optical axis portion
(24) extended in the opposite direction from the second optical
axis portion (23); and
(iv) the optical axis of the objective lens unit (10) is collinear
with the first optical axis portion (22), the optical axis of the
erector lens unit (12) is collinear with the second optical axis
portion (23), and the optical axis of the eye lens unit (13) is
collinear with the third optical axis portion (24).
In certain preferred embodiments of the fifth aspect of the invention,
the length of the first optical axis portion (22) between the object
end of the objective lens unit and the first fold (17) is L.sub.1,
the length of the second optical axis portion (23) between the two
folds (17,20) is L.sub.2, the length of the third optical axis portion
(24) between the second fold (20) and the image end of the eye lens
unit (13) is L.sub.3, and
More preferably, L.sub.1, L.sub.2, and L.sub.3 satisfy the relationship:
In the preferred embodiments of the invention, L.sub.2 is less
than or equal to 10 centimeters and preferably is less than or equal
to 8 centimeters.
The foregoing aspects of the invention can be used alone or, preferably,
in combination. When used in combination, digital cameras having
integrated electronics and optics and having all of the desired
features described above can be readily manufactured and used by
professional and amateur photographers to frame, record, and recall
high quality digital images.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Examples of zoom lens having a negative-positive (NP) configuration
and employing aspherical surfaces include:
(1) U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,412 to Tajima et al. which illustrates
the use of a single aspherical surface. While this approach can
help to improve the optical performance of a lens at low cost, the
use of one aspherical surface does not provide a very significant
improvement in a cost/performance analysis.
(2) U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,253 to Ogino illustrates the use of a thin
plastic substrate on a glass element to form an aspherical surface.
In this design, the benefit of a glass lens element is maintained
while the cost of adding the aspherical surface is modest. Only
one aspherical surface, however, does not offer a significant cost/performance
improvement.
(3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,897 to Ozawa is an example of using several
aspherical surfaces, but in this case there is only one aspherical
surface for any particular lens element. By restricting the application
of aspherical surfaces to one per lens element, the ability to reduce
sensitivity to manufacturing deviations by appropriate aberration
balancing is minimal.
(4) In Japanese Laid Open Application 7-225338, an NP design is
disclosed having two lens elements in the positive second lens unit
that are aspherical on both surfaces. The first unit, however, includes
only spherical elements, which makes the lens sensitive to manufacturing
variations. In addition, the optical power distribution of this
design is not adequate to provide for an extended exit pupil position
required by some sensor units, nor would this type of design allow
for the insertion of mirrors in the image space.
An example of the use of a relay lens unit to invert an image produced
by an objective lens is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,885 to Aoki.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A, 2A, and 3A are schematic diagrams illustrating the first
to third optical paths (first to third modes) of the digital cameras
of the invention, respectively.
FIGS. 1B, 2B, and 3B show suitable component layouts for the first
to third optical paths of FIGS. 1A, 2A, and 3A, respectively.
FIGS. 4 to 8 are schematic side views illustrating first and second
optical paths for optical systems constructed in accordance with
the invention.
FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, and
FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C are schematic side views illustrating third
optical paths for optical systems constructed in accordance with
the invention. In each figure, panels A, B, and C show the objective
lens unit (10) of the optical system in its short, intermediate,
and long focal length positions, respectively.
FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the folded optical path used when the optical
systems of invention are embodied in a digital camera. For ease
of illustration, except for mirror 18, FIGS. 4-12 are drawn for
a straight, rather than a folded, optical axis.
The foregoing drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute
part of the specification, illustrate the preferred embodiments
of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain
the principles of the invention. It is to be understood, of course,
that both the drawings and the description are explanatory only
and are not restrictive of the invention.
The reference numbers used in the drawings correspond to the following:
1 first optical path
2 second optical path
3 third optical path
4 front of camera
5 back of camera
6 right side of camera
7 left side of camera
8 top of camera
9 bottom of camera
10 objective lens unit
11 image size adjusting lens unit
12 erector lens unit
13 eye lens unit
14 sensor lens unit
15 sensor unit
16 display unit
17 first moveable mirror
18 second moveable mirror
19 first fixed mirror
20 second fixed mirror
21 field lens unit
22 first optical axis portion
23 second optical axis portion
24 third optical axis portion
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As discussed above, the present invention relates to optical systems
for digital cameras which preferably include the following five
lens units: (1) an objective lens unit, (2) a sensor lens unit,
(3) an erector lens unit, (4) an eye lens unit, and (5) an image
size adjusting lens unit. The optical systems also preferably include
a sensor unit, a display unit, and an optical switching system for
transferring the systems between their first, second, and third
optical paths. Preferred embodiments of these components of the
invention are as follows.
Objective Lens Unit and Sensor Lens Unit
The objective lens unit has a positive power and is preferably
of the zoom type, although a fixed focal length objective can be
used if desired. A variety of zoom or fixed focal length objective
lens units known in the art can be used in the practice of the invention.
When a zoom objective lens unit is used, the unit preferably has
the following paraxial characteristics:
(1) an effective focal length range of at least 2:1 and preferably
3:1;
(2) a relative aperture of approximately f/3 or faster at the wide
angle focal length;
(3) a semi-angular field of view of at least 30 degrees at the
wide angle focal length;
(4) a back focal distance (i.e., a distance in image space) sufficient
for insertion of two fold mirrors in perpendicular orientation (e.g.,
mirrors 17 and 19); and
(5) an extended exit pupil location so as to minimize the angle
of the principal rays at the image sensor.
In addition, the lens design must be suitable for mass production
at very low cost.
These requirements can be satisfied by a zoom lens design of the
negative-positive (NP) type where a negative first lens unit is
followed by a positive second lens unit. The first lens unit moves
for compensating or focusing or both compensating and focusing.
Movement of the second lens unit provides the internal magnification
change required to effect a change in focal length. Among other
reasons, such a negative-positive system is preferred since it is
the simplest form for producing an extended exit pupil as required
for some sensor units.
Moreover, it has been found that a negative-positive zoom objective
lens suitable for use in the optical systems of the invention can
achieve a 3:1 zoom range and still have a relaxed configuration,
i.e., a configuration in which the power of each unit is relatively
low and the magnitudes of the powers of the units are substantially
equal to each other. Such a relaxed configuration, in turn, means
that each unit can have a simple construction. In particular, a
relaxed construction automatically provides correction for field
curvature, assuming the two units are made of similar materials.
To reduce sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances, double aspheres
are used on at least one lens element in each unit and preferably
on at least two lens elements in each unit. In addition to performing
this function, the aspheres are also designed to correct the aberrations
of the system. As used herein, "double aspheres" means
a lens element having an asphere on each of its surfaces.
In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the objective
lens unit of the invention has some and preferably all of the following
structural features:
(1) The first lens unit consists in order from its object end of
a negative power first lens element, a positive power second lens
element, and a negative power third lens element.
(2) The objective lens unit includes an aperture stop which is
located between the first and second lens units. Preferably, the
aperture stop is closer to the second lens unit than to the first
lens unit, e.g., the aperture stop is placed in front of the second
lens unit.
(3) When in its wide field of view configuration, the first lens
unit can be moved towards a near object to focus on the object,
e.g., the first lens unit can be moved forward from its normal wide
field of view position by an additional 0.5 millimeters.
There are two basic characteristics of the zoom lenses of the invention
that distinguish them from the prior art: (1) the design is based
on the use of two aspherical surfaces for lens elements in order
to reduce sensitivity to manufacturing variations; and (2) the optical
power ratio of the negative and positive units is such that the
exit pupil position as measured from the image sensor is maximized.
A third ancillary characteristic is the use of the zoom objective
lenses in combination with a sensor lens unit 14 near or adjacent
to the image sensor 15 to further allow for decreased sensitivity
to manufacturing variations or to further extend the distance from
the sensor to the exit pupil.
In particular, the sensor lens unit can help correct distortion
and reduces manufacturing sensitivity of the objective lens unit.
Because it is located close to sensor unit 15, i.e., close to the
image, its manufacturing tolerances are not particularly critical.
Thus, in accordance with the invention, a low tolerance and thus
inexpensive lens unit is used to facilitate manufacture of a lens
unit (the objective lens unit) whose optical performance is critical
to the recordation of high quality digital images. The sensor lens
unit is preferably a single lens element of weak power, e.g., weak
positive power, having at least one aspheric surface.
Erector Lens Unit
The erector lens unit has a positive power and serves to invert
and revert the image produced by the objective lens unit during
TTL viewing of a scene to be photographed. Since this unit also
inverts and reverts the image of display unit 16 seen by the user,
the recalled pictures displayed by the display unit should be inverted
and reverted so that the final images seen by the user are neither
inverted nor reverted. Note that in some embodiments, the eye lens
unit can be used to view the display directly (see, for example,
the right hand embodiment of FIG. 5). In such a case, the recalled
image displayed by the display unit will not be an inverted and
reverted image.
The erector lens unit preferably has some and most preferably all
of the following characteristics:
(1) The unit works at an approximately 1:1 magnification.
(2) The unit provides aberration correction, including chromatic
aberration correction, for the eye lens unit so that the eye lens
unit can be, for example, a single lens element. The chromatic aberration
correction can be provided by, for example, employing lens elements
having different dispersions and/or through the use of a diffractive
surface.
(3) The unit, through its positive power, allows the eye lens unit
to have a longer effective focal length which, in turn, makes it
easier to provide the user with 18-20 millimeters of eye relief
as is desired in order to allow people who wear glasses to use the
optical system while wearing their glasses. Preferably, the combination
of the erector lens unit and the eye lens unit has an effective
focal length of between about 10 millimeters and about 17 millimeters,
with the erector lens unit having a long focal length and the eye
lens unit having a focal length between about 10 millimeters and
about 15 millimeters.
(4) The unit has nearly telecentric entrance and exit pupils. Such
telecentricity eliminates the need for a field lens between the
erector lens unit and the eye lens unit. It also allows for a reduction
in the power of the image size adjusting lens unit when used. Similarly,
if a field lens unit is used between the objective lens unit and
the erector lens unit instead of an image size adjusting lens unit,
then the telecentricity of the erector lens unit allows the power
of such a field lens unit to be reduced.
To achieve such telecentricity, the erector lens unit preferably
should have three subunits, e.g., three lens elements, to be able
to bend the principal rays, wherein the outer surfaces of the two
outer subunits each have positive power and at least one internal
surface that has negative power to correct field curvature. Note
that the negative surface can be on an overall positive lens element
(see, for example, FIG. 4).
Eve Lens Unit
The eye lens unit, which has a positive power, serves as a magnifier
of the intermediate real image formed by the erector lens unit.
The eye lens unit and the erector lens unit thus comprise a compound
microscope, with the eye lens unit forming an almost telecentric,
virtual image of the intermediate image produced by the erector
lens unit.
In some embodiments, the eye lens unit can be used to directly
view the display unit without the use of the erector lens unit (see,
for example, the right hand embodiment of FIG. 5). In this case,
the eye lens unit will preferably include multiple lens elements
to provide color correction for the image of the display unit.
When used with an erector lens unit, the eye lens unit is preferably
a single lens element and most preferably a single glass element
so that it is resistant to scratching.
Preferably, the eye lens unit is mounted in a diopter barrel so
that the user can adjust the location of the unit along the system's
optical axis to accommodate his or her individual vision capabilities.
Image Size Adjusting Lens Unit
The image size adjusting lens unit, when used, serves to provide
the user with a TTL image and a recall image of substantially the
same size.
Without a size adjusting lens unit, the TTL image will in general
be larger than the image of display unit 16, although in some cases
it could be smaller. As a result, the image of the display unit
will appear peculiar to the user since it will not fill the user's
full field of view. Accordingly, in most applications, the image
size adjusting lens unit serves to reduce the size of the TTL image,
although it can be used to increase the size of the TTL image if
that should be desired. In addition to adjusting image sizes, this
unit also functions as a field lens unit.
The unit is located in the vicinity of the intermediate image produced
by the objective lens unit. As illustrated by the examples presented
below, the image size adjusting lens unit is preferably located
either ahead of or behind the intermediate image. When located ahead
of the intermediate image, the unit can be thought of as performing
its size adjusting function by changing the effective focal length
of the objective lens unit; when located after the intermediate
image, it can be thought of as performing its function by changing
the combined focal length of the erector lens unit and the eye lens
unit. Although not preferred, the intermediate image can lie within
the image size adjusting unit.
The image size adjusting lens unit preferably includes negative
and positive power for color correction. Its focal length is defined
by the locations of the exit pupil of the objective lens unit and
the entrance pupil of the erector lens unit since the image size
adjusting lens unit's entrance and exit pupils need to correspond,
respectively, to those upstream and downstream pupils. As a result,
in order to perform its change of magnification function in image/object
space, the unit must have separated principal planes (principal
points). Thus, the unit cannot be a single thin lens.
The image size adjusting unit can include a field stop in the vicinity
of the intermediate image produced by the objective lens unit. A
field stop can be used even if an image size adjusting unit is not
used, again in the vicinity of the intermediate image. Similarly,
a field lens unit can be used in the vicinity of the intermediate
image without performing the function of adjusting the size of the
TTL image.
Sensor and Display Units
When the overall optical system is in its third mode (i.e., its
picture taking mode), the real image produced by the objective lens
unit is recorded by an electronic sensor associated with a suitable
computer memory. The sensor can be a CMOS or other suitable device
(e.g., a CCD device) for detecting electromagnetic radiation in
the visible range. In some applications of the invention, e.g.,
a digital night vision camera, the sensor will detect non-visible
electromagnetic radiation, e.g., infrared radiation.
When the overall optical system is in its second mode, previously
recorded pictures can be recalled from display unit 16. This unit
can take a variety of forms, e.g., it can be an LCD microdisplay,
including a reflective LCD microdisplay. The unit is associated
with the computer memory in which the previously recorded images
are stored and with a suitable electronic controller for allowing
the user to access one or more previously recorded images.
Optical Switching System
The optical switching system comprises moveable mirrors 17 and
18 in FIGS. 1-3, as well as fixed mirrors 19 and 20. The combination
of mirrors 17 and 20, as well as the combination of mirrors 18 and
20, constitutes a periscope which does not invert or revert the
image seen by the user. Accordingly, erector lens unit 12 is only
required because of the inversion and reversion introduced by objective
lens unit 10.
Movement of the moveable mirrors between their home positions and
their moved position can be accomplished by a variety of techniques
known in the art, e.g., rotating, sliding, flipping, etc. As shown
in FIGS. 1-3, the home position of moveable mirror 17 corresponds
to the optical path of FIG. 1, while the moved position corresponds
to the optical path of FIG. 3. For moveable mirror 18, the home
position corresponds to the optical path of FIG. 1, while the moved
position corresponds to the optical path of FIG. 2.
In practice, moveable mirrors 17 and 18 can move together, even
though only one of the mirrors needs to move to perform the desired
optical switching function. For example, when mirror 17 moves to
its moved position to switch the optical system to its third optical
path, mirror 18 can move to its position shown in FIG. 2. Conversely,
when mirror 18 moves to its moved position to switch the optical
system to its second path, mirror 17 can move to its FIG. 3 position.
Fixed mirror 19 is preferably a cold mirror which passes, rather
than reflects, infrared radiation, thus protecting sensor unit 15
from such radiation. In cases where auto-focusing is desired, moveable
mirror 17 can include a transparent portion, e.g., a transparent
stripe, which allows some light to reach sensor unit 15 during through-the-lens
viewing. As known in the art, by sensing this light, the focus of
the objective lens unit can be automatically adjusted.
Because the optical systems of the invention are used with digital
cameras which have a "book" format (see below), mirrors
17, 18, and 20 fold the optical axis along the long dimension of
the picture, rather than the short dimension, as is conventional.
Overall Camera Layout As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the digital
cameras in which the optical systems of the invention are used preferably
have a "book" format in which, during TTL viewing, light
enters the front 4 of the camera at one side (side 6 in FIG. 1A),
passes through objective lens unit 10, erector lens unit 12, and
eye lens unit 13, and then leaves the back 5 of the camera to enter
the user's eye at the camera's opposite side (side 7 in FIG. 1A).
The light takes this path while remaining in a single plane through
the use of two folding mirrors 17 and 20. To take a picture, one
of the two folding mirrors, e.g., mirror 17, is moved out of the
optical path, so that the light can reach fixed mirror 19 where
it is turned out of the common plane and directed towards sensor
unit 15.
A "book" format is desirable since it provides a compact
design while still allowing sufficient space for zooming without
the need for collapsible optics. It also provides a camera shape
which is easy for a user to hold steady while taking a picture. |