Patent ID: 6259568
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
An optical system for imaging an object with continuously variable magnification comprising:an imaging plane disposed perpendicular to an optical axis of the system for imaging a region of said object thereon;imaging optics disposed on the object side of said imaging plane; wherein said imaging optics and said imaging plane are constructed and arranged to move along the optical axis for focusing and for adjusting the magnification of an image appearing on the imaging plane;a first optical element disposed on the object side of said imaging optics, wherein said first optical element is constructed and arranged to take up wide-angled optical radiation emanating from an object and selectively transmit a portion of this radiation which passes through a specified focal or nodal point of said first optical element; and,a second optical element positioned along the axis between the first optical element and said imaging optics so that said radiation passing through said specified focal or nodal point forms a first image of said object on an interim image plane disposed between the second optical element and the imaging optics;whereby said first image can be projected by the imaging optics onto said imaging plane with continuously variable magnification.