Lens assembly with switched ultra-narrow field-of-view configuration
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G02B-013/14
G02B-015/10
G02B-015/16
출원번호
US-0950437
(2015-11-24)
등록번호
US-10095008
(2018-10-09)
발명자
/ 주소
Fry, James A.
출원인 / 주소
Lockhead Martin Corporation
대리인 / 주소
Withrow & Terranova, PLLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
5
초록▼
A lens assembly includes a housing defining an interior volume having a substantially linear optical axis extending therethrough. A zoom group is disposed in the housing in an optical path segment on the optical path between a first lens and an aperture mechanism. The zoom group is movable between a
A lens assembly includes a housing defining an interior volume having a substantially linear optical axis extending therethrough. A zoom group is disposed in the housing in an optical path segment on the optical path between a first lens and an aperture mechanism. The zoom group is movable between a plurality of field-of-view (FOV) positions along the optical path segment. An ultra-narrow field-of-view (UNFOV) lens group is movable between a first UNFOV position outside the optical path and a second UNFOV position in the optical path segment. The lens assembly has a plurality of FOV configurations with the UNFOV lens group in the first UNFOV position, and a UNFOV configuration with the UNFOV lens group in the second UNFOV position. The lens assembly accommodates a number of different FOVs within a limited volume with a small number of lenses, and without folding or otherwise redirecting the optical path.
대표청구항▼
1. A lens assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior volume having a substantially linear optical axis extending therethrough;a first lens disposed in the housing on the optical axis;an aperture mechanism disposed in the housing on the optical axis, the first lens and the aperture mechanism
1. A lens assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior volume having a substantially linear optical axis extending therethrough;a first lens disposed in the housing on the optical axis;an aperture mechanism disposed in the housing on the optical axis, the first lens and the aperture mechanism defining an optical path segment therebetween;a zoom group disposed in the housing on the optical axis in the optical path segment, the zoom group movable between a plurality of field-of-view (FOV) positions along the optical path segment; andan ultra-narrow field-of-view (UNFOV) lens group movable between a first UNFOV position outside the optical axis and a second UNFOV position on the optical axis in the optical path segment;the lens assembly having a plurality of FOV configurations each comprising the zoom group disposed at one of the plurality of FOV positions, and wherein the UNFOV lens group is in the first UNFOV position; andthe lens assembly having a UNFOV configuration comprising the zoom group disposed at one of the plurality of FOV positions, and wherein the UNFOV lens group is in the second UNFOV position. 2. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of FOV configurations included a wide field-of-view (WFOV) configuration, a medium field-of-view (MFOV) configuration narrower than the WFOV configuration, and a narrow field-of-view (NFOV) configuration narrower than the MFOV configuration. 3. The lens assembly of claim 2, wherein the interior volume is less than 824 cubic inches (824 in3), and the optical path segment is less than 16.8 inches. 4. The lens assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the WFOV configuration, the MFOV configuration, the NFOV, configuration, and the UNFOV configuration is operable at a focal ratio of f/4.0, and each of the WFOV configuration, the MFOV configuration, and the NFOV configuration is operable at a focal ratio of f/2.5. 5. The lens assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the WFOV configuration, the MFOV configuration, the NFOV configuration, and the UNFOV configuration is operable in a medium-wave infrared (MWIR) band. 6. The lens assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the WFOV configuration, the MFOV configuration, the NFOV configuration, and the UNFOV configuration is operable in a long-wave infrared (LWIR) band. 7. The lens assembly of claim 2, wherein the zoom group comprises a first zoom group and a second zoom group, each of the first zoom group and second zoom group independently axially movable along the optical path segment. 8. The lens assembly of claim 7, wherein, in the WFOV configuration, the first zoom group is a first distance from the first lens, and the second zoom group is a second distance from the first lens greater than the first distance. 9. The lens assembly of claim 8, wherein, in the UNFOV configuration, the first zoom group is a third distance from the first lens, the second zoom group is a fourth distance from the first lens greater than the second distance, and the UNFOV lens group is a fifth distance from the first lens greater than the second distance and the third distance, and less than the fourth distance. 10. The lens assembly of claim 9, wherein, in the MFOV configuration, the first zoom group is a sixth distance from the first lens, and the second zoom group is a seventh distance from the first lens greater than the second distance and the sixth distance, and less than the fourth distance. 11. The lens assembly of claim 10, wherein, in the NFOV configuration, the first zoom group is an eighth distance from the first lens, and the second zoom group is a seventh distance from the first lens greater than the second distance and the eighth distance. 12. The lens assembly of claim 7, wherein, in the UNFOV configuration, the first zoom group is a first distance from the first lens, the second zoom group is a second distance from the first lens greater than the first distance, and the UNFOV lens group is a third distance from the first lens greater than the first distance, and less than the second distance. 13. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical path segment is devoid of a reflective optical element. 14. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the UNFOV lens group is configured to move between the first UNFOV position and the second UNFOV position along a path substantially normal to the optical axis. 15. The lens assembly of claim 14, wherein the UNFOV lens group is configured to rotate between the first UNFOV position and the second UNFOV position about a rotation axis substantially parallel to the optical axis. 16. The lens assembly of claim 14, wherein the zoom group comprises a first zoom group and a second zoom group, each of the first zoom group and second zoom group independently axially movable along the optical path segment, the second UNFOV position between the first zoom group and the second zoom group. 17. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the zoom group comprises a silicon lens. 18. The lens assembly of claim 17, wherein the silicon lens comprises float-zone silicon. 19. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the aperture mechanism is a variable aperture mechanism. 20. A method of operating a lens assembly, the method comprising: moving a zoom group disposed in an interior volume of a housing to a predetermined FOV position along an optical path segment extending between a first lens disposed in the housing and an aperture mechanism disposed in the housing on a substantially linear optical axis; andmoving a UNFOV lens group from a first UNFOV position outside the optical axis to a second UNFOV position on the optical axis in the optical path segment. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: moving the UNFOV lens group from the second UNFOV position on the optical axis in the optical path segment to the first UNFOV position outside the optical axis; andmoving the zoom group to a second predetermined FOV position corresponding to a predetermined FOV.
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