U.S. patent application number 11/492084 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-01 for zoom optical system.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJINON CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Tetsuya Ori.
Application Number | 20070024987 11/492084 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37694010 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070024987 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ori; Tetsuya |
February 1, 2007 |
ZOOM OPTICAL SYSTEM
Abstract
A zoom optical system includes three lens groups, arranged as
follows from the object side: a first lens group having positive
refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive
power, and a third lens group having positive refractive power. The
first lens group includes, arranged as follows along the optical
axis, a lens element having negative refractive power, a prism for
bending the optical axis, and a lens element having positive
refractive power. The second and third lens groups are movable
along the optical axis for zooming with only the third lens group
reversing its direction of movement along the optical axis during
zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end. The third
lens group includes a stop, a cemented lens component, and at least
one aspheric surface that may be made of plastic. The first lens
group also includes at least one aspheric surface.
Inventors: |
Ori; Tetsuya; (Koshigaya
City, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARNOLD INTERNATIONAL
P. O. BOX 129
GREAT FALLS
VA
22066-0129
US
|
Assignee: |
FUJINON CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
37694010 |
Appl. No.: |
11/492084 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
359/690 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 15/143105
20190801 |
Class at
Publication: |
359/690 |
International
Class: |
G02B 15/14 20060101
G02B015/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 28, 2005 |
JP |
2005-219296 |
Claims
1. A zoom optical system having an object side and an image side
and comprising, arranged along an optical axis in order from the
object side as follows: a first lens group having positive
refractive power that includes a prism for bending the optical axis
and at least one lens element having positive refractive power; a
second lens group having negative refractive power; and a third
lens group having positive refractive power; wherein said second
lens group and said third lens group move along the optical axis
during zooming and said third lens group moves along the optical
axis toward the object side and then toward the image side during
zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end.
2. The zoom optical system of claim 1, wherein the zoom optical
system includes an image surface on the image side and the
following condition is satisfied: 0<(Lm-Lt)/Fw<0.2 where Lm
is the distance along the optical axis from the vertex of the most
object-side lens surface of the third lens group to the image
surface when the third lens group is nearest the object side during
zooming; Lt is the distance along the optical axis from the vertex
of the most object-side lens surface of the third lens group to the
image surface at the telephoto end of the zoom range; and Fw is the
focal length of the zoom optical system at the wide-angle end of
the zoom range.
3. The zoom optical system of claim 1, wherein said third lens
group includes a stop for controlling the amount of light that
passes through the zoom optical system.
4. The zoom optical system of claim 2, wherein said third lens
group includes a stop for controlling the amount of light that
passes through the zoom optical system.
5. The zoom optical system of claim 1, wherein said first lens
group includes, arranged along the optical axis in order from the
object side as follows: a lens element having negative refractive
power; a prism; and said lens element having positive refractive
power.
6. The zoom optical system of claim 2, wherein said first lens
group includes, arranged along the optical axis in order from the
object side as follows: a lens element having negative refractive
power; a prism; and said lens element having positive refractive
power.
7. The zoom optical system of claim 3, wherein said first lens
group includes, arranged along the optical axis in order from the
object side as follows: a lens element having negative refractive
power; a prism; and said lens element having positive refractive
power.
8. The zoom optical system of claim 5, wherein said lens element
having positive refractive power includes at least one aspheric
surface.
9. The zoom optical system of claim 6, wherein said lens element
having positive refractive power includes at least one aspheric
surface.
10. The zoom optical system of claim 7, wherein said lens element
having positive refractive power includes at least one aspheric
surface.
11. The zoom optical system of claim 1, wherein said third lens
group comprises: a first lens component that includes a lens
element having positive refractive power that is cemented on its
image side to a lens element having negative refractive power; and
a second lens component that is a lens element and that is on the
image side of said first lens component.
12. The zoom optical system of claim 2, wherein said third lens
group comprises: a first lens component that includes a lens
element having positive refractive power that is cemented on its
image side to a lens element having negative refractive power; and
a second lens component that is a lens element and that is on the
image side of said first lens component.
13. The zoom optical system of claim 3, wherein said third lens
group comprises: a first lens component that includes a lens
element having positive refractive power that is cemented on its
image side to a lens element having negative refractive power; and
a second lens component that is a lens element and that is on the
image side of said first lens component.
14. The zoom optical system of claim 5, wherein said third lens
group comprises: a first lens component that includes a lens
element having positive refractive power that is cemented on its
image side to a lens element having negative refractive power; and
a second lens component that is a lens element and that is on the
image side of said first lens component.
15. The zoom optical system of claim 8, wherein said third lens
group comprises: a first lens component that includes a lens
element having positive refractive power that is cemented on its
image side to a lens element having negative refractive power; and
a second lens component that is a lens element and that is on the
image side of said first lens component.
16. The zoom optical system of claim 11, wherein at least one
surface of said second lens component is an aspheric surface.
17. The zoom optical system of claim 12, wherein at least one
surface of said second lens component is an aspheric surface.
18. The zoom optical system of claim 16, wherein said second lens
component is made of plastic.
19. The zoom optical system of claim 17, wherein said second lens
component is made of plastic.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a zoom optical system used
in an image pickup device such as a portable telephone, a portable
computer, or a similar device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Recently, in devices such as portable telephones and
portable computers, picture image information is incorporated in an
image pickup device. In an image recording or photographic optical
system used in such an image pickup device, it is necessary to make
the optical system light-weight and compact in order to obtain the
desired portability. When the optical axis of an objective lens
extends in the thickness direction of an image pickup device, a
technique for reducing the thickness of the casing of the device
has been developed that uses a prism to bend the optical axis of
the optical system.
[0003] On the other hand, additional functionality is also
desirable in image recording and photographic optical systems used
in such image pickup devices, and image recording and photographic
optical systems that include a zoom function have been proposed,
for example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2004-264585
and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2000-131610.
[0004] However, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application
2004-264585, in the case of forming the zoom lens of three lens
groups With the third lens group from the object side being movable
both for zooming and for focusing, the third lens group is moved
continuously toward the object side during zooming toward the
telephoto end so that the distance between the second lens group
and the third lens group becomes small. Thus, little distance is
left for assuring sufficient movement of the third lens group for
focusing. Particularly, in short-distance photography, focusing
movement becomes greater at the telephoto end than at the
wide-angle end so that the focusing lens, which in this case is the
third lens group, requires increased movement. That is, large
movements are required at the telephoto end. Japanese Laid-Open
Patent Application 2000-131610 operates differently with a zoom
lens that includes four lens groups, but the use of the four lens
groups limits miniaturization and reduction of the costs of the
zoom lens.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates to a zoom optical system that
is small, that has an inexpensive construction, that assures
sufficient movement of the third lens group from the object side
for focusing as desired, and that is capable of short-distance
photography at the telephoto end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given below and the accompanying drawings,
which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not
limitative of the present invention, wherein:
[0007] FIGS. 1A-1B show the cross-sectional views of the zoom
optical system of Embodiment 1 at the wide-angle end and at the
telephoto end, respectively;
[0008] FIGS. 2A-2D show the spherical aberration, astigmatism,
distortion, and lateral color, respectively, of the zoom optical
system of Embodiment 1 at the wide-angle end;
[0009] FIGS. 2E-2H show the spherical aberration, astigmatism,
distortion, and lateral color, respectively, of the zoom optical
system of Embodiment 1 at the telephoto end;
[0010] FIG. 3A-3B show cross-sectional views of the zoom optical
system of Embodiment 2 at the wide-angle end and at the telephoto
end, respectively;
[0011] FIGS. 4A-4D show the spherical aberration, astigmatism,
distortion, and lateral color, respectively, of the zoom optical
system of Embodiment 2 at the wide-angle end; and
[0012] FIGS. 4E-4H show the spherical aberration, astigmatism,
distortion, and lateral color, respectively, of the zoom optical
system of Embodiments 2 at the telephoto end.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] A general description of the zoom optical system of the
present invention that pertains to disclosed embodiments of the
invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1A-1B that
show Embodiment 1. In FIG. 1A, the object side of the zoom optical
system is at the left where the reference symbol X indicates the
optical axis of the zoom optical system. The image pickup plane,
indicated by reference symbol 1 in FIG. 1A, is on the image side of
the zoom optical system. In FIG. 1A, lens elements are referenced
by the letter L with a subscript number denoting their order from
the object side of the zoom optical system along the optical axis
X, from L.sub.1 to L.sub.7. Similarly, the radii of curvature of
the optical surfaces are referenced by the letter R with a
subscript number denoting their order from the object side of the
zoom optical system, from R.sub.1 to R.sub.18. The on-axis surface
spacings along the optical axis X of the various optical surfaces
are referenced by the letter D with a subscript number denoting
their order from the object side of the zoom optical system, from
D.sub.1 to D.sub.17. In the same manner, three lens groups are
labeled G.sub.1, G.sub.2, and G.sub.3 in order from the object side
of the zoom optical system, and the optical components belonging to
each lens group are indicated by brackets adjacent the labels
G.sub.1, G.sub.2, and G.sub.3.
[0014] The term "lens group" is defined in terms of "lens elements"
and "lens components" as explained herein. The term "lens element"
is herein defined as a single transparent mass of refractive
material having two opposed refracting surfaces, which surfaces are
positioned at least generally transversely of the optical axis of
the zoom optical system. The term "lens component" is herein
defined as (a) a single lens element spaced so far from any
adjacent lens element that the spacing cannot be neglected in
computing the optical image forming properties of the lens elements
or (b) two or more lens elements that have their adjacent lens
surfaces either in full overall contact or overall so close
together that the spacings between adjacent lens surfaces of the
different lens elements are so small that the spacings can be
neglected in computing the optical image forming properties of the
two or more lens elements. Thus, some lens elements may also be
lens components. Therefore, the terms "lens element" and "lens
component" should not be taken as mutually exclusive terms. In
fact, the terms may frequently be used to describe a single lens
element in accordance with part (a) above of the definition of a
"lens component." The term "lens group" is herein defined as an
assembly of one or more lens components in optical series and with
no intervening lens components along an optical axis that during
zooming is movable as a single unit relative to another lens
component or other lens components.
[0015] The zoom optical system of the present invention includes,
arranged in order from the object side, a first lens group G.sub.1
having positive refractive power, a second lens group G.sub.2
having negative refractive power, and a third lens group G.sub.3
having positive refractive power.
[0016] A light beam incident along the optical axis X from the
object side passes through lens groups G.sub.1, G.sub.2, and
G.sub.3 and is imaged on the image pickup plane 1 where an image
pickup element, such as a CCD, is located. Moreover, a cover glass
4, which may also include a filter element, is arranged between the
third lens group G.sub.3 and the image pickup plane 1.
[0017] While FIG. 1A shows the positions of lens groups G.sub.1,
G.sub.2, and G.sub.3 at the wide-angle end, lines adjacent
reference symbols G.sub.2 and G.sub.3 indicate the locus of points
of movement of lens groups G.sub.2 and G.sub.3 along the optical
axis X during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end,
with FIG. 1B showing the positions of the lens groups at the
telephoto end. The straight line adjacent reference symbol G.sub.2
indicates that lens group G.sub.2 moves continuously toward the
image side during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto
end. The line adjacent reference symbol G.sub.3 is convex upward,
that is, convex toward the object side, and indicates that the
third lens group G.sub.3 moves first toward the object side and
then back toward the image side during zooming from the wide-angle
end to the telephoto end. The second lens group G.sub.2 and the
third lens group G.sub.3 generally become closer together during
zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, and the
movements enable the third lens group G.sub.3 having positive
refractive power to move properly also for focusing adjustment,
simplifying the construction and movements required so that costs
can be reduced and particularly enabling short-distance photography
at the telephoto end.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1A, the first lens group G.sub.1 includes,
arranged in order from the object side, a first lens element
L.sub.1 having negative refractive power, a prism 2 for bending the
optical axis, and a second lens element L.sub.2 having positive
refractive power. Miniaturization and cost reduction can be
achieved by arranging at least one lens element having negative
refractive power on the object side of the prism 2 so as to
decrease the diameter of the light beam to the prism 2 and thus
reduce the required size of the prism 2. It is preferable that a
lens element having positive refractive power of the first lens
group G.sub.1 include an aspheric surface, and when an aspheric
lens element is used as the second lens element L.sub.2, field
curvature and distortion can be well corrected.
[0019] The second lens group G.sub.2 includes, arranged in order
from the object side, a biconcave third lens element L.sub.3 and a
fourth lens element L.sub.4 having positive refractive power.
[0020] The third lens group G.sub.3 includes, arranged in order
from the object side, a stop 3, a lens component that includes a
fifth lens element L.sub.5 having positive refractive power that is
cemented on its image side to a sixth lens element L.sub.6 having
negative refractive power, and another lens component that is a
lens element L.sub.7. It is preferable that the third lens group
G.sub.3 include a stop, shown as stop 3 in FIG. 1A, for controlling
the amount of light that passes through the zoom optical system.
The axial chromic aberration and the lateral color can be corrected
by such a construction, and the spherical aberration and field
curvature can be corrected by having the separate lens element
L.sub.7 include at least one aspheric surface. Moreover, because it
is easy to form the aspheric lens element, lens element L.sub.7,
and the cemented lens elements L.sub.5 and L.sub.6 so that their
opposed surfaces properly connect by forming the aspheric lens
element of plastic, the suppression of eccentricity within the
third lens group G.sub.3 and the stabilization of image quality of
the entire zoom optical system can thus be achieved.
[0021] The lens surface or surfaces that are aspheric are defined
using the following equation:
Z=[(Y.sup.2/R)/{1+(1-KY.sup.2/R.sup.2).sup.1/2}]+.SIGMA.(A.sub.iY.sup.i)
Equation (A) where [0022] Z is the length (in mm) of a line drawn
from a point on the aspheric lens surface at a distance Y from the
optical axis to the tangential plane of the aspheric surface
vertex, [0023] R is the radius of curvature (in mm) of the aspheric
lens surface on the optical axis, [0024] Y is the distance (in mm)
from the optical axis, [0025] K is the eccentricity, and [0026]
A.sub.i is the ith aspheric coefficient, and the summation extends
over i.
[0027] In embodiments of the invention disclosed below, only
aspheric coefficients A.sub.3-A.sub.12 are non-zero.
[0028] It is preferable that the zoom optical system of the present
invention satisfies the following Condition (1):
0<(Lm-Lt)/Fw<0.2 Condition (1) where [0029] Lm is the
distance along the optical axis X from the vertex of the most
object-side lens surface of the third lens group G.sub.3 to the
image surface when the third lens group G.sub.3 is nearest the
object side during zooming; [0030] Lt is the distance along the
optical axis X from the vertex of the most object-side lens surface
of the third lens group G.sub.3 to the image surface at the
telephoto end of the zoom range; and [0031] Fw is the focal length
of the zoom optical system at the wide-angle end of the zoom
range.
[0032] Condition (1) above relates to the movement of the third
lens group G.sub.3 during zooming, enables short-distance
photography at the telephoto end, and further increases the
light-receiving efficiency of a CCD image pickup element by
Condition (1) being satisfied. If the upper limit of Condition (1)
is not satisfied, the third lens group G.sub.3 comes too close to
the image side and the exit angle of light rays passing to the CCD
increases, reducing the light-receiving efficiency of the CCD. On
the other hand, if the lower limit of Condition (1) is not
satisfied, the distance between the second lens group G.sub.2 and
the third lens group G.sub.3 becomes too small during zooming, and
the amount of movement of the third lens group G.sub.3 required for
focusing cannot be ensured, particularly making short-distance
photography difficult.
[0033] Two embodiments of the present invention will now be
individually described with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1
[0034] FIGS. 1A-1B show cross-sectional views of the zoom optical
system of Embodiment 1 at the wide-angle end and at the telephoto
end, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1A, the zoom optical system of
Embodiment 1 includes, arranged in order from the object side, a
first lens group G.sub.1 having positive refractive power, a second
lens group G.sub.2 having negative refractive power, and a third
lens group G.sub.3 having positive refractive power. The straight
line adjacent reference symbol G.sub.2 and the convex upward line
adjacent reference symbol G.sub.3 taken together indicate that as
the second lens group G.sub.2 moves at a constant speed along the
optical axis X between the wide-angle end shown in FIG. 1A and the
telephoto end shown in FIG. 1B, the third lens group G.sub.3 moves
at a varying speed along the optical axis X.
[0035] In Embodiment 1, the first lens group G.sub.1 includes,
arranged in order from the object side, a first lens element
L.sub.1 having negative refractive power, a meniscus shape, and a
convex surface on the object side, a prism for bending the optical
axis, and a second lens element L.sub.2 having a biconvex shape
with two aspheric surfaces.
[0036] The second lens group G.sub.2 includes, arranged in order
from the object side, a third lens element L.sub.3 having a
biconcave shape with two aspheric surfaces and a fourth lens
element L.sub.4 having positive refractive power, a meniscus shape,
and a convex surface on the object side.
[0037] The third lens group G.sub.3 includes, arranged in order
from the object side, a fifth lens element L.sub.5 having a
biconvex shape, a sixth lens element L.sub.6 having a biconcave
shape, and a seventh lens element L.sub.7 having a biconvex shape
with two aspheric surfaces.
[0038] Table 1 below lists the surface number # (the stop 3
defining the eleventh surface), in order from the object side, the
radius of curvature R (in mm) of each surface on the optical axis,
the on-axis surface spacing D (in mm) except that the on-axis
surface spacings that vary with zooming are listed in Table 3
below, as well as the refractive index N.sub.d and the Abbe number
v.sub.d at the d-line (587.6 nm) of each optical element for
Embodiment 1. Note that although R is the on-axis radius of
curvature, for convenience of illustration, in FIG. 1A the lead
lines from the R reference symbols extend to the surfaces being
referenced but do not extend to the on-axis positions. Listed in
the bottom portion of Table 1 are the focal length f and the
f-number F.sub.NO at the wide-angle and telephoto ends, and the
maximum field angle 2.omega. at the wide-angle end and at the
telephoto end for Embodiment 1. Tables similar to those for
Embodiment 1 below will be used later to describe Embodiment 2 of
the present invention. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 # R D N.sub.d
.nu..sub.d 1 40.7061 0.75 1.80518 25.4 2 11.0003 2.73 3 .infin.
8.90 1.78590 44.2 4 .infin. 0.05 5* 15.5556 2.51 1.58809 60.4 6*
-17.4293 D.sub.6(variable) 7* -20.0619 0.80 1.80348 40.4 8* 6.2807
1.06 9 9.0982 1.70 1.92286 18.9 10 25.2351 D.sub.10(variable)
11(stop) .infin. 0.50 12 5.8040 3.71 1.84666 23.8 13 -5.8040 0.80
1.92286 18.9 14 4.9013 0.20 15* 5.4510 2.30 1.51007 56.2 16*
-29.9187 D.sub.16(variable) 17 .infin. 0.85 1.51680 64.2 18 .infin.
f = 6.67-18.85 F.sub.NO = 4.53-5.10 2.omega. =
60.4.degree.-21.4.degree. The lens surfaces with a * to the right
of the surface number in Table 1 are aspheric lens surfaces.
[0039] Table 2 below lists the values of the constant K and the
coefficients A.sub.3-A.sub.12 used in Equation (A) above for each
of the aspheric lens surfaces of Table 1. Aspheric coefficients
that are not present in Table 2 are zero. An "E" in the data
indicates that the number following the "E" is the exponent to the
base 10. For example, "1.0E-2" represents the number
1.0.times.10.sup.-2. TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 # K A.sub.3 A.sub.4
A.sub.5 A.sub.6 5 1.4912069 3.9208178E-5 2.7667705E-5 -4.9563963E-5
7.1616506E-6 6 -4.5561462 1.6307361E-4 -9.9910950E-5 -1.6903019E-5
-8.0880629E-7 7 -97.5840668 8.5228393E-4 -1.2350851E-3 1.3308189E-4
-1.8120603E-5 8 1.4976842 4.5258735E-4 5.1896427E-4 -5.5754680E-4
5.0146003E-5 15 5.0948807 -5.9417278E-4 -1.6108152E-3 -2.9546806E-3
1.0591787E-3 16 -9.9915499 -2.1756999E-4 1.3341972E-3 6.7729418E-5
-3.5289965E-4 A.sub.7 A.sub.8 A.sub.9 A.sub.10 A.sub.11 A.sub.12 5
-8.0528622E-7 3.0010886E-8 1.4064101E-8 2.2801412E-10
-1.3713204E-10 -8.6099389E-11 6 2.2953182E-7 1.3608465E-7
-4.7668751E-9 -2.4602899E-9 -2.9444038E-10 4.8229839E-12 7
7.2991718E-6 3.7584936E-7 -3.3012359E-7 2.3419032E-8 0 0 8
-5.2337496E-6 3.7703741E-6 -2.6762316E-7 -9.0003768E-8 0 0 15
8.2889684E-5 -1.5877049E-4 -8.6534314E-5 -8.2764803E-6 4.9781809E-5
-1.5962419E-5 16 8.2617933E-5 8.9294154E-5 8.4040112E-6
-2.1462606E-5 -6.5522234E-6 3.7610168E-6
[0040] In the zoom optical system of Embodiment 1, lens groups
G.sub.2 and G.sub.3 move along the optical axis during zooming to
vary the separations of the three lens groups in order to provide a
zoom ratio of about three. Therefore, the values of the on-axis
spacings D.sub.6, D.sub.10, and D.sub.16 vary. Table 3 below lists
the values of the variables D.sub.6, D.sub.10, and D.sub.16 (i.e.,
the group spacings) at the wide-angle end, at the middle position
at which the third lens group G.sub.3 reaches its object-most
position, and at the telephoto end with the zoom optical system
focused at infinity. TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Focal Length f (mm)
D.sub.6 D.sub.10 D.sub.16 6.67 0.35 15.40 12.45 16.47 8.39 4.64
15.17 18.85 10.26 3.30 14.64
[0041] Embodiment 1 satisfies Condition (1) above with a value of
(Lm-Lt)/Fw of 0.079. The entire length of the zoom optical system
is 55.06 mm.
[0042] FIGS. 2A-2D show the spherical aberration, astigmatism,
distortion, and lateral color, respectively, of the zoom optical
system of Embodiment 1 at the wide-angle end. FIGS. 2E-2H show the
spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion, and lateral color,
respectively, of the zoom optical system of Embodiment 1 at the
telephoto end. In FIGS. 2A and 2E, the spherical aberration (in mm)
is shown for the wavelengths 587.6 nm (the d-line), 460 nm, and 615
nm, and the f-number (F/ ) is shown. In the remaining figures,
.omega. is the half-field angle. In FIGS. 2B and 2F, the
astigmatism (in mm) is shown for both the sagittal image surface S
(solid line) and the tangential image surface T (broken line) and
is measured at 587.6 nm (the d-line). In FIGS. 2C and 2G,
distortion (in percent) is measured at 587.6 nm (the d-line). In
FIGS. 2D and 2H, the lateral color (in .mu.m) is shown for the
wavelengths 460 nm and 615 nm relative to 587.6 nm (the
d-line).
[0043] As is evident from FIGS. 2A-2H and from the numerical data
in the tables above, aberrations are extremely well corrected in
Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Embodiment 2
[0044] FIGS. 3A-3B show cross-sectional views of the zoom optical
system of Embodiment 2 at the wide-angle end and at the telephoto
end, respectively. Embodiment 2 is similar to Embodiment 1 and
therefore only the differences between Embodiment 2 and Embodiment
1 will be explained. Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in
having a third lens element in the second lens group G.sub.2, which
becomes the fifth lens element L.sub.5 as counted from the object
side of the zoom optical system. Embodiment 2 also differs from
Embodiment 1 in its lens element configuration by having different
radii of curvature of the lens surfaces, different aspheric
coefficients of the aspheric lens surfaces, different optical
element surface spacings, and some different refractive indexes and
Abbe numbers.
[0045] The second lens group G.sub.2 includes, arranged in order
from the object side, a third lens element L.sub.3 having a
biconcave shape and a lens component formed of a fourth lens
element L.sub.4 having a biconcave shape that is cemented to the
fifth lens element L.sub.5 that has a biconvex shape.
[0046] A main difference of Embodiment 2 from Embodiment 1 is that
the second lens group G.sub.2 includes three lens elements, rather
than two, and two of the three lens elements are cemented together.
Lateral color is particularly further improved by having a cemented
lens component in the second lens group G.sub.2.
[0047] Table 4 below lists the surface number # (the stop 3
defining the twelfth lens surface), in order from the object side,
the radius of curvature R (in mm) of each surface on the optical
axis, the on-axis surface spacing D (in mm) except that the on-axis
surface spacings that vary with zooming are listed in Table 6
below, as well as the refractive index N.sub.d and the Abbe number
v.sub.d at the d-line (587.6 nm) of each optical element for
Embodiment 2. Note that although R is the on-axis radius of
curvature, for convenience of illustration, in FIG. 3A the lead
lines from the R reference symbols extend to the surfaces being
referenced but do not extend to the on-axis positions. Listed in
the bottom portion of Table 4 are the focal length f and the
f-number F.sub.NO at the wide-angle and telephoto ends, and the
maximum field angle 2.omega. at the wide-angle end and at the
telephoto end for Embodiment 2. TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 # R D
N.sub.d .nu..sub.d 1 30.7982 0.75 1.80518 25.4 2 11.0001 2.90 3
.infin. 8.90 1.78590 44.2 4 .infin. 0.05 5* 15.0026 2.46 1.58809
60.4 6* -19.2166 D.sub.6(variable) 7 -24.3926 0.58 1.83400 37.2 8
8.4442 1.00 9 -23.7783 0.56 1.54814 45.8 10 8.3462 1.84 1.84666
23.8 11 -58.4469 D.sub.11(variable) 12(stop) .infin. 0.50 13 6.3023
3.71 1.84666 23.8 14 -10.2514 0.80 1.92286 18.9 15 4.8588 0.10 16*
4.3969 2.30 1.51007 56.2 17* -50.7759 D.sub.17(variable) 18 .infin.
0.85 1.51680 64.2 19 .infin. f = 6.66-18.85 F.sub.NO = 4.47-5.01
2.omega. = 60.6.degree.-21.2.degree. The lens surfaces with a * to
the right of the surface number in Table 4 are aspheric lens
surfaces.
[0048] Table 5 below lists the values of the constant K and the
coefficients A.sub.3-A.sub.12 used in Equation (A) above for each
of the aspheric lens surfaces of Table 4. Aspheric coefficients
that are not present in Table 5 are zero. An "E" in the data
indicates that the number following the "E" is the exponent to the
base 10. For example, "1.0E-2" represents the number
1.0.times.10.sup.-2. TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 # K A.sub.3 A.sub.4
A.sub.5 A.sub.6 5 2.8205941 -1.4202532E-4 7.1781566E-5
-8.6863684E-5 1.4145887E-5 6 -1.4760056 7.3141867E-5 -1.4716244E-4
2.9762562E-5 1.9800893E-6 16 3.2382971 -2.2404145E-3 1.7562041E-3
-5.6192401E-3 2.1588192E-3 17 5.1685197 -9.9917874E-4 2.5854806E-3
4.4154191E-4 -4.0786940E-4 A.sub.7 A.sub.8 A.sub.9 A.sub.10
A.sub.11 A.sub.12 5 9.1188743E-7 4.6872439E-8 -2.5387916E-8
-1.0398101E-8 -1.1495803E-9 5.8358231E-10 6 4.0357352E-7
5.8136643E-8 -2.4487058E-8 -5.9287218E-9 -4.8049945E-10
4.4091685E-10 16 8.6049096E-6 -2.6483992E-4 -7.9361455E-5
-4.8978953E-6 6.6130382E-5 -2.2273502E-5 17 -6.0627627E-5
6.7449820E-5 5.2708384E-5 5.3740206E-6 -2.4370307E-5
5.8671554E-6
[0049] In the zoom optical system of Embodiment 2, lens groups
G.sub.2 and G.sub.3 move along the optical axis during zooming to
vary the separations of the three lens groups in order to provide a
zoom ratio of about three. Therefore, the values of the on-axis
spacings D.sub.6, D.sub.11, and D.sub.17 vary. Table 6 below lists
the values of the variables D.sub.6, D.sub.11, and D.sub.17 (i.e.,
the group spacings) at the wide-angle end, at the middle position
at which the third lens group G.sub.3 reaches its most object-side
position, and at the telephoto end with the zoom optical system
focused at infinity. TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Focal Length f (mm)
D.sub.6 D.sub.11 D.sub.17 6.66 0.35 14.74 12.68 16.26 8.04 4.46
15.27 18.85 10.07 3.10 14.60
[0050] Embodiment 2 satisfies Condition (1) above with a value of
(Lm-Lt)/Fw of 0.101. The entire length of the zoom optical system
is 55.07 mm.
[0051] FIGS. 4A-4D show the spherical aberration, astigmatism,
distortion, and lateral color, respectively, of the zoom optical
system of Embodiment 2 at the wide-angle end. FIGS. 4E-4H show the
spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion, and lateral color,
respectively, of the zoom optical system of Embodiment 2 at the
telephoto end. In FIGS. 4A and 4E, the spherical aberration (in mm)
is shown for the wavelengths 587.6 nm (the d-line), 460 nm, and 615
nm, and the f-number (F / ) is shown. In the remaining figures,
.omega. is the half-field angle. In FIGS. 4B and 4F, the
astigmatism (in mm) is shown for both the sagittal image surface S
(solid line) and the tangential image surface T (broken line) and
is measured at 587.6 nm (the d-line). In FIGS. 4C and 4G,
distortion (in percent) is measured at 587.6 nm (the d-line). In
FIGS. 4D and 4H, the lateral color (in .mu.m) is shown for the
wavelengths 460 nm and 615 nm relative to 587.6 nm (the
d-line).
[0052] As is evident from FIGS. 4A-4H and from the numerical data
in the tables above, aberrations, especially lateral color, are
well corrected in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0053] The zoom optical system of the present invention being thus
described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many
ways. For instance, values such as the radius of curvature R of
each of the lens elements, the surface spacing D, the refractive
index N.sub.d, as well as the Abbe number V.sub.d, are not limited
to the examples indicated in each of the aforementioned
embodiments, as other values can be adopted. Such variations are
not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the
invention. Rather, the scope of the invention shall be defined as
set forth in the following claims and their legal equivalents. All
such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art
are intended to be included within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *