Zoom lens system and image pickup apparatus having the same

A zoom lens system including, from the object side to the image side, a first lens unit and a second lens unit, where when zooming, the distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit changes. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the first lens unit includes a first lens element having negative optical power, and a second lens element having positive optical power.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a zoom lens system. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a zoom lens system suitable as an optical system for an image pickup apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, the technology of solid-state image sensors, such as a CCD, used in image pickup apparatuses, such as digital still cameras and camcorders, has made remarkable progress. In addition, the image pickup apparatuses have been reduced in size. Therefore, a compact, thin, and lightweight photographic lens system having improved optical performance is needed.

A two-unit zoom lens has relatively improved optical performance, and its entire lens system is small. The two-unit zoom lens includes, from the object side to the image side, a first lens unit having negative refractive power and a second lens unit having positive refractive power, and changes the distance (air space) between the two lens units to perform zooming.

The lens system of this two-unit zoom lens is composed of a relatively small number of lenses. Therefore, this two-unit zoom lens is commonly used in small lens systems.

A small two-unit zoom lens whose first lens unit consists of a negative lens and a positive lens and whose second lens unit consists of a positive lens and a negative lens is discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-273670, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-033810, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-052235 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,389).

A two-unit zoom lens whose second lens unit consists of a first lens subunit having positive refractive power and a second lens subunit having positive refractive power, the second lens subunit performing focusing, is discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-9997 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,987).

A three-unit zoom lens suitable for a small image pickup apparatus having a high-resolution image sensor, the zoom lens including three lens units having negative, positive, and positive refractive power respectively, is discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-147381 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,213) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-284177 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,337).

A small three-unit zoom lens whose second lens unit consists of a positive lens and a negative lens is discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-9999 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,818).

The two-unit zoom lenses and the three-unit zoom lenses discussed in the above documents can be improved in optical performance in order to be used for an image pickup apparatus using a high-resolution solid-state image sensor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a zoom lens system that is configured to be operatively connected to an image pickup apparatus (e.g., one using a solid-state image sensor), compact, and has excellent optical performance.

An exemplary embodiment includes, from the object side to the image side, a first lens unit having negative optical power and a second lens unit having positive optical power. The distance between the two lens units can change during zooming. The first lens unit can include a first lens element having negative optical power and a second lens element having positive optical power. In such a zoom lens system, the optical power of the two lens elements constituting the first lens unit and the material constituting the lens elements are set appropriately as described below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following description of exemplary embodiment(s) is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, its equivalents, or uses.

Processes, techniques, apparatus, and materials as known by one of ordinary skill in the art may not be discussed in detail but are intended to be part of the enabling description where appropriate. For example lens and lens units are discussed and any material or method that can be used to form lenses should fall within the scope of exemplary embodiments (e.g., glass, Si, or etching, molding). Additionally the actual size of the lens may not be discussed however any size from macro lenses to micro and nano lenses are intended to lie within the scope of exemplary embodiments (e.g., lenses with diameters of nanometer size, micro size, centimeter, and meter sizes).

Additionally exemplary embodiments are not limited to visual optical systems, for example the system can be designed for use with infrared and other wavelength systems. For example an infrared image pickup apparatus (e.g., a detector measuring infrared markings).

Exemplary embodiments can be used on various image pickup apparatus (e.g., solid-state image sensor, for example, a camcorder, a surveillance camera, equivalents, and other image pickup apparatus as known by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art) and are not limited to digital still cameras.

Zoom lens systems and image pickup apparatus incorporating zoom lens systems, according to at least a few exemplary embodiments, will now be described.

FIGS. 1A,1B, and1C illustrate lens sectional views of a zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 1 at the wide-angle end (short focal length end), the middle zoom position, and the telephoto end (long focal length end) respectively.FIGS. 2,3, and4illustrate aberration diagrams of the zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 1 at the wide-angle end, the middle zoom position, and the telephoto end respectively. The zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 1 has a zoom ratio of about 1.91, and an F number of approximately 3.28 to 4.69. Note that other exemplary embodiments can have various zoom ratios and F numbers and any discussion herein is not intended to limit exemplary embodiments to the quantities stated.

FIGS. 5A,5B, and5C illustrate lens sectional views of a zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 2 at the wide-angle end, the middle zoom position, and the telephoto end respectively.FIGS. 6,7, and8illustrate aberration diagrams of the zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 2 at the wide-angle end, the middle zoom position, and the telephoto end respectively. The zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 2 has a zoom ratio of 1.91, and an F number of approximately 3.28 to 4.67.

FIGS. 9A,9B, and9C illustrate lens sectional views of a zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 3 at the wide-angle end, the middle zoom position, and the telephoto end respectively.FIGS. 10,11, and12illustrate aberration diagrams of the zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 3 at the wide-angle end, the middle zoom position, and the telephoto end respectively. The zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 3 has a zoom ratio of 1.96, and an F number of approximately 3.28 to 4.54.

FIGS. 13A,13B, and13C illustrate lens sectional views of a zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 4 at the wide-angle end, the middle zoom position, and the telephoto end respectively.FIGS. 14,15, and16illustrate aberration diagrams of the zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 4 at the wide-angle end, the middle zoom position, and the telephoto end respectively. The zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 4 has a zoom ratio of 1.91, and an F number of approximately 3.28 to 4.83.

FIGS. 17A,17B, and17C illustrate lens sectional views of a zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 5 at the wide-angle end, the middle zoom position, and the telephoto end respectively.FIGS. 18,19, and20illustrate aberration diagrams of the zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 5 at the wide-angle end, the middle zoom position, and the telephoto end respectively. The zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 5 has a zoom ratio of 1.91, and an F number of approximately 2.88 to 4.07.

FIG. 21illustrates a schematic view of a digital still camera (image pickup apparatus) having a zoom lens system according to at least one exemplary embodiment.

The zoom lens of at least one exemplary embodiment can be a photographic lens system configured to be used in an image pickup apparatus. In each lens sectional view, the left side is the object side, and the right side is the image side.

In the lens sectional views ofFIGS. 1A to 1C,5A to5C,9A to9C,13A to13C, and17A to17C, reference character L1denotes a first lens unit having negative refractive power (optical power, which is the inverse of the focal length), reference character L2denotes a second lens unit having positive refractive power, and reference character L3denotes a third lens unit having positive refractive power. Reference character SP denotes an aperture stop, which is located on the object side of the second lens unit L2in exemplary embodiments 1 (FIGS. 1A–1C),2(FIGS. 5A–5C),3(FIGS. 9A–9C), and 5 (FIGS. 17A–17C), and on the image side of the second lens unit L2in exemplary embodiment 4 (FIGS. 13A–13C).

Reference character G denotes an optical block that is provided for design reasons and can correspond to an optical filter, a faceplate, a crystal low pass filter, or an infrared cut-off filter. Reference character IP denotes an image plane where a light-sensitive surface is placed. When the zoom lens is used, as a photographic optical system for a camcorder or a digital still camera, the light-sensitive surface corresponds to the imaging surface of a solid-state image sensor (photoelectric transducer) (e.g., a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor).

In each aberration diagram, reference characters d and g denote the d line and the g line respectively, and reference characters ΔM and ΔS denote the meridional image surface and the sagittal image surface respectively. The lateral chromatic aberration (chromatic aberration of magnification) is shown by the g line.

In each embodiment, the wide-angle end and the telephoto end mean the zoom positions where the lens unit for variable magnification (e.g., second lens unit) is at either end of its mechanically movable range on the optical axis.

In the zoom lenses of exemplary embodiments 1 to 4 illustrated inFIGS. 1A to 1C,5A to5C,9A to9C, and13A to13C, when zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the first lens unit L1can move in a curve convex toward the image side, and the second lens unit L2can move toward the object side.

In the zoom lens of exemplary embodiment 5 illustrated inFIGS. 17A to 17C, when zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the first lens unit L1can move in a curve convex toward the image side, the second lens unit L2can move toward the object side such that the distance from the second lens unit L2to the first lens unit L1decreases, and the third lens unit L3can move toward the object side such that the distance from the third lens unit L3to the second lens unit L2increases.

In at least one exemplary embodiment, the aperture stop SP can moves together with the second lens unit L2when zooming.

In the zoom lens of at least one exemplary embodiment, magnification variation can be performed by moving the second lens unit L2, with the movement of the image plane accompanying the magnification variation compensated by moving the first lens unit L1.

In exemplary embodiments 1 to 4, the first lens unit L1can be moved on the optical axis to focus. In exemplary embodiment 5, the third lens unit L3can be moved on the optical axis to focus.

Focusing by the first lens unit L1may be performed by using a locus as an extension of a cam locus for zooming formed in a staircase pattern.

In general, in order for a two-unit zoom lens and a three-unit zoom lens to have good optical performance throughout the entire zoom range, to reduce the number of lenses, and to reduce the thickness of the lens system, it is effective to use an aspherical surface in an appropriate part in the lens system.

In addition, it is appropriate to set the lens configuration of the second lens unit, which can travel a relatively long distance when zooming, and also set the lens configuration of the first lens unit, which can be configured to compensate the fluctuation of image plane due to magnification variation, so as to reduce the aberration fluctuation in zooming.

In at least one exemplary embodiment, the first lens unit L1can include a first lens element G11having negative refractive power and a second lens element G12having positive refractive power. The first lens element G11can have a meniscus shape, and its image side can be a concave aspherical surface. The second lens element G12can have a meniscus shape, and its object side can be a convex surface.

The second lens element G12can be formed of a material having an increased refractive index and an increased dispersion.

The second lens unit L2can include a third lens element G21, which can have positive refractive power and a fourth lens element G22, which can have negative refractive power. The third lens element G21can have a biconvex shape, and its object side can be an aspherical surface. The absolute value of the refractive power of the object-side surface can be greater than that of the image-side surface. The fourth lens element G22can have a meniscus shape, and its image side can be a concave aspherical surface. The absolute value of the refractive power of the image-side surface can be greater than that of the object-side surface.

The third lens element G21can be formed of a material having a reduced refractive index and a reduced dispersion, and the fourth lens element G22can be formed of a material having an increased refractive index and an increased dispersion.

Thus, the axial chromatic aberration can be well compensated.

In exemplary embodiment 5, the third lens unit L3can include a single lens element (fifth lens element) having positive refractive power.

At least one exemplary embodiment satisfies at least one of the following conditions. A different effect is obtained for each condition.

-0.6<f11×f12(f1)2<-0.2(1)7<v11-v12<15(2)1.8<N12(3)26<v12(4)45<v21-v22<50(5)1.5<R22a+R22bR22a-R22b<2.5(6)-0.39<Da/f1<-0.3(7)-2.4<f1/fw<-1.5(8)
Here, f11is the focal length of the first lens element G11, f12is the focal length of the second lens element G12, f1is the focal length of the first lens unit L1, fw is the focal length of the entire system at the wide-angle end, v11is the Abbe number of the material constituting the first lens element G11, ν12is the Abbe number of the material constituting the second lens element G12, N12is the refractive index of the material constituting the second lens element G12, ν21is the Abbe number of the material constituting the third lens element G21, ν22is the Abbe number of the material constituting the fourth lens element G22, R22ais the radius of curvature of the object-side surface of the fourth lens element G22, R22bis the radius of curvature of the image-side surface of the fourth lens element G22, and Da is the length on the optical axis from the most object-side surface to the most image-side surface (the distance between the surface vertexes) of the first lens unit L1.

In the above conditions, the Abbe numbers and the refractive indices are for the d line, where the d-line indicates the bright line spectrum of He atom. Abbe number νd is represented by the following formula:
νd=(Nd−1)/(NF−NC)

Nd is the refractive index of the material for the d line, NF is the refractive index of the material for the F line (refractive index for the wavelength hydrogen F (486.13 nm)), and NC is the refractive index of the material for the C line (refractive index of the material for the wavelength hydrogen C (656.27 nm)). Next, the technical meaning of each condition will be described.

Condition 1 relates to the focal lengths of the first lens element G11and the second lens element G12constituting the first lens unit L1. Condition 2 relates to the Abbe numbers of the materials constituting the first lens element G11and the second lens element G12constituting the first lens unit L1. In order to reduce the coma flare and improve chromatic aberration throughout the zoom range, at least one exemplary embodiment can satisfy both of conditions 1 and 2.

In order to appropriately strengthen the refractive powers of the two lenses constituting the first lens unit L1, and to maintain a balance of the chromatic aberration with the lenses having somewhat strong refractive powers, one may maintain the difference between the Abbe numbers of the materials of the two lenses constituting the first lens unit L1. Conditions for it are mathematically represented by conditions 1 and 2.

If the refractive powers of the lenses are too strong and f11×f12/(f1)2is above the upper limit of condition 1, it can be difficult to improve the oblique aberration in the wide-angle range. If the refractive powers of the lenses are too weak and f11×f12/(f1)2is below the lower limit of condition 1, the entire lens system may need to be large.

In a power arrangement in the range of condition 1, if ν11–ν12is above the upper limit of condition 2 or below the lower limit of condition 2, it can be difficult to improve the lateral chromatic aberration in the entire lens system. If ν11–ν12is above the upper limit of condition 2, one may weaken the refractive powers of the two lenses constituting the first lens unit L1in order to maintain a balance of the lateral chromatic aberration. As a result, condition 1 is not satisfied, and the coma flare can increase throughout the entire zoom range. If ν11–ν12is below the lower limit of condition 2, one may strengthen the refractive powers of the two lenses constituting the first lens unit L1, although it may be difficult to ensure the edge of the second lens element G12in the first lens unit L1.

Condition 3 relates to the refractive index of the material constituting the second lens element G12in the first lens unit L1. If the refractive index N12is below the lower limit of condition 3, the diameters of the lenses in the first lens unit L1may be large, and it can be difficult to reduce the coma flare in the wide-angle range.

Condition 4 relates to the Abbe number of the material constituting the second lens element G12in the first lens unit L1. If the Abbe number ν12is below the lower limit of condition 4, it can be difficult to improve the lateral chromatic aberration in the lens system.

Condition 5 relates to the Abbe numbers of the materials constituting the third lens element and the fourth lens element in the second lens unit L2. If the difference between the Abbe numbers (ν21–ν22) is not appropriate, that is to say, it is above the upper limit of condition 5 or below the lower limit of condition 5, it can be difficult to improve the axial chromatic aberration (longitudinal chromatic aberration) in the telephoto range.

Condition 6 relates to the shape factor of the fourth lens element G22in the second lens unit L2. If condition 6 is not satisfied, it can be difficult to reduce the coma flare in the periphery of the picture in the telephoto range.

Condition 7 relates to the sum of the thicknesses of lenses in the first lens unit L1and the distance between the lenses. If Da/f1is above the upper limit of condition 7, a large thickness of the first lens unit L1can cause the most object-side lens to be large, and consequently can cause the lens system to be large.

If the thickness of the first lens unit L1is small and Da/f1is below the lower limit of condition 7, a lens holder disposed between the first lens element G11and the second lens element G12may need to be thin, possibly decreasing the strength of the lens holder.

Condition 8 relates to the focal length f1of the first lens unit L1. If f1/fw is above the upper limit of condition 8, it can be difficult to improve the image plane curvature throughout the entire zoom range. If f1/fw is below the lower limit of condition 8, the total length of the zoom lens at the wide-angle end tends to be large.

In at least one exemplary embodiment, the numerical range of each condition can be as follows:

In the above exemplary embodiments, on the object side of the first lens unit L1, between the lens units, or on the image side of the third lens unit L3, a filter or a lens unit having small refractive power may be added.

As described above, the lens configuration of each lens unit, the position of the aspherical surface in each lens unit, how each lens unit moves when zooming, and how focusing is performed can be optimized in each embodiment. Thus, although the number of lenses can be reduced so as to shorten the total length of the zoom lens, in at least one exemplary embodiment, the zoom lens has a zoom ratio of about 2×, is bright, has improved optical performance, and can be operatively connected to a digital still camera.

Next, an exemplary embodiment of a digital still camera (image pickup apparatus) configured to use a zoom lens system in accordance with exemplary embodiments as a photographic optical system, will be described with reference toFIG. 21. InFIG. 21, reference numeral20denotes a camera main body, reference numeral21denotes a photographic optical system which includes a zoom lens system in accordance exemplary embodiments, reference numeral22denotes a solid-state image sensor (photoelectric transducer) (e.g., a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor) sensing an object image via the photographic optical system21, reference numeral23denotes a memory for recording the object image sensed by the image sensor22, and reference numeral24denotes a finder for observing the object image displayed on a display device (not shown, e.g., liquid crystal panel). The display device displays the object image formed on the image sensor22.

As described above, a zoom lens system according to exemplary embodiments can be used for an image pickup apparatus (e.g., a digital still camera), thereby achieving an image pickup apparatus that is compact, and has an improved optical performance.

Next, numerical embodiments corresponding to the exemplary embodiments will be shown. In each numerical embodiment, i shows the order of surfaces from the object side, Ri shows the radius of curvature of the ith surface, Di shows the distance between the ith surface and the (i+1)th surface (the lens thickness or the air space), and Ni and vi show the refractive index and the Abbe number for the d line respectively.

The two most image-side surfaces are the two planes constituting the optical block G.

When a displacement in the direction of the optical axis at a height from the optical axis (h) referenced to the surface vertex is x, the aspherical shape is represented by the following formula:

x=(h2/R)/[1+{1-(1+k)⁢(h/R)2}1/2]+A⁢⁢h2+Bh4+Ch6+Dh8+Eh10
where k is the conic constant, A, B, C, D, and E are the aspherical coefficients, and R is the paraxial radius of curvature.

Incidentally, “e-0x” means “x10−x”. Reference character f denotes the focal length, reference character Fno denotes the F-number, and reference character ω denotes the half angle of view.

Table 1 shows the relation between the conditions 1 to 8 and exemplary embodiments 1 to 5.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-203857 filed Jul. 9, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.