Conical split-image microscopic lens

US4277148A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• John E. Clegg · Orlando, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 24, 1980
• Grant date: Jul 7, 1981
• Expiry date: Nov 24, 2000

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B21/00
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The disclosure is a microscopic lens comprising three component lenses with concave and convex conical sections which refract light rays. Rays emanating from an object pass through five conical surfaces, first being refracted outward and separated to form a ring image, and then being refracted inward and rejoined to form an enlarged image. There is one outward refraction as opposed to three inward refractions, and it is the difference between these refractions that produces magnification of the object. Magnification produced by one conical microscopic lens is small, so a number of lenses are used to form multi-stage microscopes in which magnification increases at an exponential rate. Thus, though the initial stage lens might produce a small magnification of only 4.5.times., two stages will produce a magnification of 20.times., three stages 91.times., four stages 410.times., etc. Eight stages produce a magnification in excess of 100,000.times., which is in the range of magnification achieved by electron scanning microscopes. The use of multiple stages is possible because both the rays entering the lenses and the rays leaving the lenses are parallel.