Patent ID: 9323034
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: G02B

Claim Text:
1. An optical imaging system having variable lateral zoom comprising: primary optics configured to receive and direct incident electromagnetic radiation along an optical path from a viewed scene onto a focal plane to form a substantially planar intermediate image at the focal plane, the intermediate image having substantially uniform lateral magnification; an eyepiece optically coupled to the primary optics and configured to reimage the intermediate image along the optical path onto an image plane spaced away from the focal plane to produce an output image having variable lateral magnification, the eyepiece including a curvature enhancer positioned proximate the focal plane and configured to curve the focal plane to form a curved focal plane, and at least one variable focus lens configured to reimage the intermediate image formed at the curved focal plane onto the image plane; and a photo-sensitive detector positioned at the image plane, the eyepiece being positioned in the optical path between the primary optics and the detector, and the at least one variable focus lens or mirror being positioned between the curvature enhancer and the detector.