Patent ID: 8102611

Claim:
An objective lens assembly comprising an objective lens cell having a threaded portion; an optical bench having a mating threaded portion for receiving the objective lens cell; and a biasing element for reducing backlash between the objective lens cell and the optical bench, wherein the biasing element includes a belleville washer or a snap ring washer; and the objective lens cell includes a first wall radially extending away from an axial neck portion, the optical bench includes a second wall radially extending toward the axial neck portion and oriented substantially parallel to the first wall, the biasing element circumferentially surrounds the axial neck portion of the objective lens cell, and the first wall and second wall define a gap for housing the biasing element; and when the objective lens cell is focused at a first distance from an object, the biasing element is in a relaxed mode of operation, and when the objective lens cell is focused at a second distance from the object, the biasing element is in a compressed mode of operation, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.