Optical Lens System

Abstract

Wide-angle, deep-field, close-focusing optical systems are disclosed. According to one aspect, the optical system comprises a negative lens unit and a relay lens. The negative lens unit accepts radiation from an object in space. The relay lens is coupled to the negative lens unit. The negative lens unit and the relay lens are aligned on an optical axis in that order. The negative lens unit forms a first image on the relay lens to form a final image at a final image plane at a distance from the relay lens. The relay lens may comprise a zoom lens or zoom lens components, which may be movable.

1 . A wide-angle, deep-field, close-focusing optical system, comprising:
 a negative lens unit as an objective lens of said system for accepting radiation from an object in space, said negative lens unit being negative in function and producing an image of the object that is oriented for forming a final image of said optical system;   a macro relay lens, said negative lens unit and said macro relay lens being aligned on an optical axis of the optical system in that order from the object, said macro relay lens forming said final image at a final image plane at a distance from said macro relay lens; and   a lens barrel coupled between said negative lens unit and said macro relay lens.   
     
     
         2 . The optical system according to  claim 1 , wherein said macro relay lens is configured in fixed alignment with said negative lens unit. 
     
     
         3 . The optical system according to  claim 1 , wherein said final image plane comprises film in a camera or a charge-coupled device (“CCD”) of a digital or video camera. 
     
     
         4 . The optical system according to  claim 1 , further comprising focusing and aperture controls located within said macro relay lens. 
     
     
         5 . The optical system according to  claim 1 , wherein said lens barrel is 30.5 cm (1 foot), 45.7 cm (18 inches) or 61.0 cm (2 feet). 
     
     
         6 . The optical system according to  claim 1 , wherein said length of said lens barrel is determined by factors including the diameter of the negative lens unit's aperture, the power of the macro relay lens, and the film or video format used. 
     
     
         7 . The optical system according to  claim 1 , further comprising optical axis deviation optics located between said negative lens unit and said macro relay lens for causing deviation of the optical axis of the optical system. 
     
     
         8 . The optical system according to  claim 7 , further comprising a rotatable lens barrel coupled to said optical axis deviation optics and said macro relay lens. 
     
     
         9 . The optical system according to  claim 1 , wherein said macro relay lens comprises a zoom lens. 
     
     
         10 . The optical system according to  claim 9 , wherein said zoom lens is movable. 
     
     
         11 . The optical system according to  claim 1 , wherein said macro relay lens comprises zoom lens components. 
     
     
         12 . The optical system according to  claim 11 , wherein said zoom lens components are movable. 
     
     
         13 . The optical system according to  claim 1 , wherein said negative lens unit comprises a negative lens. 
     
     
         14 . The optical system according to  claim 1 , wherein said negative lens unit comprises a negative lens cluster. 
     
     
         15 . The optical system according to  claim 14 , wherein said negative lens cluster comprises a plano-concave lens, a concave-concave lens, and a doublet lens. 
     
     
         16 . An attachment-type deep focus lens system for a camera, comprising the wide-angle, deep-field, close-focusing optical system according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A camera, comprising:
 a housing;   an image capturing mechanism disposed within said housing; and   a wide-angle, deep-field, close focusing optical system in accordance with  claim 1  coupled to said housing.   
     
     
         18 . The camera according to  claim 17 , wherein said optical system is coupled to said housing so that an optical axis of said optical system is perpendicular to a film plane of said image capturing mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The camera according to  claim 17 , wherein said image capturing mechanism comprises analog film. 
     
     
         20 . The camera according to  claim 17 , wherein said image capturing mechanism comprises a charge coupled device (CCD). 
     
     
         21 . A wide-angle, deep-field, close-focusing optical system, comprising:
 a negative lens unit as an objective lens of said system for accepting radiation from an object in space, said negative lens unit being negative in function and producing an image of the object that is oriented for forming a final image of said optical system; and   a macro relay lens coupled to said negative lens unit, said negative lens unit and said macro relay lens being aligned on an optical axis of the optical system in that order from the object, said macro relay lens forming said final image at a final image plane at a distance from said macro relay lens;   wherein focusing and aperture controls are located within said macro relay lens.   
     
     
         22 . The optical system according to  claim 21 , further comprising a lens barrel coupled between said negative lens unit and said macro relay lens. 
     
     
         23 . A probe-type deep focus lens system for video and/or cine cameras, comprising:
 a wide-angle, deep-field, close-focusing optical system according to  claim 21 ; and   a lens barrel coupled between said negative lens unit and said macro relay lens of said wide-angle, deep field, close-focusing optical system.   
     
     
         24 . A wide-angle, deep-field, close-focusing optical system, comprising:
 a negative lens unit as an objective lens of said system for accepting radiation from an object in space, said negative lens unit being negative in function and producing an image of the object that is oriented for forming a final image of said optical system;   a macro relay lens coupled to said negative lens unit, said negative lens unit and said macro relay lens being aligned on an optical axis of the optical system in that order from the object, said macro relay lens forming said final image at a final image plane at a distance from said macro relay lens; and   optical axis deviation optics located between said negative lens unit and said macro relay lens for causing deviation of the optical axis of the optical system.   
     
     
         25 . The optical system according to  claim 24 , wherein said optical axis deviation optics comprises a dispersion prism. 
     
     
         26 . The optical system according to  claim 25 , wherein said dispersion prism is a 60-degree dispersion prism. 
     
     
         27 . The optical system according to  claim 24 , wherein said optical axis deviation optics are rotatably provided on the optical axis of the optical system. 
     
     
         28 . The optical system according to  claim 24 , wherein said lens barrel is a rotatable lens barrel coupled to said optical axis deviation optics and said macro relay lens. 
     
     
         29 . A wide-angle, deep-field, close-focusing optical system, comprising:
 a negative lens unit comprising a negative lens cluster as an objective lens of said system for accepting radiation from an object in space, said negative lens cluster comprising a plano-concave lens, a concave-concave lens, and a doublet lens, said negative lens unit being negative in function and producing an image of the object that is oriented for forming a final image of said optical system; and   a macro relay lens coupled to said negative lens unit, said negative lens unit and said macro relay lens being aligned on an optical axis of the optical system in that order from the object, said macro relay lens forming said final image at a final image plane at a distance from said macro relay lens.   
     
     
         30 . The optical system according to  claim 29 , wherein said negative lens cluster comprises a movable zoom lens component. 
     
     
         31 . The optical system according to  claim 29 , wherein said negative lens cluster comprises positive and negative lens elements, but the combination of lens elements remains negative in function. 
     
     
         32 . The optical system according to  claim 20 , further comprising a barrel housing in which said plano-concave lens, said concave-concave lens, and said doublet lens are housed.