Optical viewing device
US5359453A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 1993 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B23/2469
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A low cost optical viewing device for viewing a remote location comprises three sections of an objective lens, relay lens and eye piece. However, in contrast to prior art optical viewing devices, all three sections of the present invention are free of conventional and relatively expensive glass rods. The preclusion of the glass rods leads to an overall lower cost (e.g., disposable) optical viewing device (e.g., borescope and endoscope). In addition, the optical viewing device of the present invention achieves lower cost by the use of molded plastic lenses rather than the more expensive glass lenses used in prior art devices. In accordance with still another important feature of this invention, the method of illuminating the remote location to be viewed is accomplished by using low cost plastic optical fibers which are twisted so that the field of illumination is increased and may be tailored to match (or be no less than) the size of the field of view of the optical viewing device. Still another significant feature of the present invention is its low weight as compared to prior art devices. This low weight is obtained both through the use of lightweight plastic lenses as well as by …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.