Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for focusing an objective

US3953863A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
12References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 27, 1973
Grant dateApr 27, 1976
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 27, 1993

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B27/40
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In a method for focusing a reproducing objective, such as may be used for measuring distances, wherein multiplication of the image of the entrance pupil is achieved by image-splitting optical elements mounted in the plane of the object image, the improvement comprising: Projecting the light fluxes from different parts of the pupil image plane on separate sets or groups of photoelectric receivers, deriving a signal from the comparison of the output signals from these receiver groups and using this signal as a criterion for focusing as a function of magnitude and sign. Apparatus for performing the method includes a grid of prisms or pyramids, and a beam splitter for directing light through two separate photoelectric receiver masks.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.