Patent · US Expired

Panoramic zoom lens assembly

US4429957A · kind A · utility

47Cited by
7References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 30, 1981
Grant dateFeb 7, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 30, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03B37/06
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A panoramic zoom lens assembly of the type including a reflector lens spaced from the image plane of an optical recording device such as a film camera or video camera is disclosed. The zoom lens assembly includes a cylindrical housing having a transparent sidewall portion and an opaque sidewall portion with a reflector mounted in optical communication with the transparent sidewall zone. The reflector is provided with a symmetrical, reflective surface of revolution the axis of which is transverse to the image plane. An annular, objective lens assembly is mounted within the housing in a fixed position surrounded by the opaque housing sidewall portion. An intermediate annular lens is mounted within the housing for reciprocal movement along the reflector axis between the objective lens and the image plane. Displacement of the movable annular lens varies the focal length of the overall lens assembly. In a preferred embodiment, a third annular lens is mounted in a fixed position between the movable annular lens and the image plane whereby the assembly can be mounted directly onto a camera housing.

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