The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 12, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 26, 1999
Robert Lee Thompson, Rogers, AR (US);
Pinotage, LLC, Rogers, AK (US);
Abstract
In one embodiment, an imaging unit to be mated with an image-producing scope via a coupler includes at least one imaging unit body, and an image sensor disposed within the at least one imaging unit body. The imaging unit further includes a refractive lens movably disposed within the at least one imaging unit body, and at least one first component adapted to receive an output from a focusing mechanism disposed on a body of the coupler. The at least one first component is configured and arranged so that movement of the focusing mechanism with respect to the coupler body causes the lens to move within the at least one imaging unit body to focus an image produced by the scope onto the image sensor. In another embodiment, a method for operating an imaging system including an image-producing scope, a refractive lens, and an image sensor involves providing a coupler that is free of the refractive lens. According to the method, the coupler is disposed between the scope and the image sensor, and a focusing mechanism disposed on a body of the coupler is moved to cause a position of the refractive lens to be adjusted to focus an image produced by the scope onto the image sensor.