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:
Aug. 18, 2009
Filed:
Nov. 16, 2007
Mitsujiro Konno, Hino, JP;
Tatsuya Orihara, Hachioji, JP;
Mitsujiro Konno, Hino, JP;
Tatsuya Orihara, Hachioji, JP;
Olympus Medical Systems Corp., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An imaging optical system includes a spherical or nearly spherical viewing port, an objective lens that includes an aspheric surface and is formed as a single lens element, and a solid-state image sensor that receives an image formed by the imaging optical system. Specified conditions are satisfied by the imaging optical system and the objective lens so that an in-focus image having low distortion, sufficient contrast, and formed by light rays of restricted angles of incidence is formed even for an object in contact with the viewing port. The specified conditions relate to features of the imaging optical system such as focal length and f-number of the imaging optical system, astigmatism and distortion of the imaging optical system, and pixel pitch of the solid-state image sensor. An endoscope that includes the imaging optical system is also disclosed.