Patent · US Expired

Imaging device and digital camera using the imaging device

US6754446B2 · kind B2 · utility

42Cited by
4References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 2002
Grant dateJun 22, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 20, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B5/04
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An imaging device has a zoom lens system comprising a plurality of lens units and forming an optical image of an object so as to be continuously and optically zoomable by varying a distance between the lens units; and an image sensing element converting the optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electric signal, wherein the zoom lens system comprises from the object side: a first lens unit having positive optical power as a whole and including a reflecting surface that bends a luminous flux substantially 90 degrees; a second lens unit having negative optical power and disposed with a variable air space from the first lens unit; a third lens unit having positive optical power and disposed with a variable air space from the second lens unit; a fourth lens unit having positive optical power and disposed with a variable air space from the third lens unit; and a fifth lens unit disposed with a variable air space from the fourth lens unit, and wherein zooming is optically performed by varying the air spaces between the lens units.

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