HK1068685B - Imaging optical device, in particular binoculars or telescope - Google Patents

Description

Optical imaging device, in particular binocular or telescope

Technical Field

The invention relates to an optical imaging device, in particular binoculars or telescopes.

Background

Common optical devices of various designs have been widely used. For focusing, or for adjusting the object focus to be equal to the object distance, most of these known optical devices comprise optical components in their optical system which can be adjusted by an adjusting device. In this way, the observed object can be in focus.

The known optical device requires a more convenient design.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the invention, this object is achieved by an optical imaging device comprising: a housing; an optical system having at least two optical components, the relative distance of the two optical components being adjustable to set the focal length of the optical system; an adjustment device for adjusting the distance between the two optical components, the adjustment device being coupled to at least one of the two optical components; a detecting device for detecting the relative position of the optical components; a processor in signal communication with the detection device, the processor for converting position data obtained from the detection device to a focal length of the optical system; an output device in signal connection with the processor for readably displaying the converted focal length; and an energy supply device, in particular at least one battery, for the detection device, the processor and the output device.

It has been found according to the present invention that with a detectable relative position of the optical components, a focal length corresponding to the respective relative position of the optical components can be calculated and displayed by conversion, wherein the optical components can be adjusted in order to adjust the focal length of the optical system of the optical device. This conversion is known and can be obtained from the optical design of an optical system which is also known. This greatly increases the ease of operation of the optical device by which the user can automatically read his distance to the object being observed after focusing on the object.

The adjusting device comprises a movable adjusting body, in particular an adjusting wheel, and the detecting device comprises a potential sensor for detecting the current position of the adjusting body. An electric potential sensor can be manufactured at a low cost and provides accurate data on the current position of the adjustment body.

The potential sensor has simple structure: it comprises a wiper rigidly connected to at least one adjustable optical component, and a wiper contact fixed to the housing.

An output device in the form of a liquid crystal display requires less power. Even such output means may be illuminated if necessary.

An operating button for temporarily activating said detection means and/or said output means further reduces the need for electrical power for the optical device. Only the detection means or the output means may be selectively activated. The detection means are activated individually to detect the distance of the focused object in real time for subsequent readout. The separate activation of the output means ensures that the distance which may have been previously set is read out instantaneously.

A ribbon/flat cable for supplying power to the detection device forms a compact design. In particular, the housing structure of the existing optical device can be used.

Drawings

The details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a binocular mirror;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the binocular of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view showing internal details of the bridge of the binocular;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5, including other components of the binocular omitted to illustrate other internal details;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a wiper contact of a sensing device for sensing the relative position of the optical components of the binocular; and

fig. 10 is a partially enlarged view of fig. 8.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a binocular, which is designated as a whole by 1 and is used below as an example of an optical imaging device. The binocular 1 has a multi-part housing 2. The housing 2 includes: two substantially cylindrical tube holders 3 for the optical components of the optical system 2a of the binocular 1, symmetrically spaced apart; and a bridge 4 extending in the transverse direction of the two pipe frames 3 and joining them together. The operating part of the focusing wheel 5 protrudes upwards from the bridge 4.

As shown in particular in fig. 3 and 6, the focusing wheel 5 has an internal thread 6, by means of which it engages an external thread 7 of a focusing screw 8. An adjusting rod 9 is fixed centrally to the focusing screw 8 and extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the focusing screw 8. The free ends 9a of the adjustment levers 9 are provided with lenses of two symmetrical optical components of the optical system 2a of the binocular 1, respectively.

A wiper 10 of an electric potential sensor 11 is rigidly centered on the adjusting lever 9 to detect the position of the adjusting lever 9 relative to the rigid part of the bridge 4 of the housing 2. The wiper 10 is electrically connected to a wiper contact 12 fixed to the housing by five parallel contact fingers 10 a. The wiper contact 12 is signal-connected to the electronic unit 15 via a plug contact and a ribbon cable 13 (only part of which is shown in the drawing) and a plug contact 14 of a further electronic unit 15. A processor 16 is part of the electronics unit 15. A liquid crystal display 17 forms another part of the electronic unit 15.

The potential sensor 11 and the electronic unit 15 are supplied with electrical energy via two batteries 18 accommodated in the bridge 4 via electrical lines (not shown). The electronic unit 15 is operated by an operating button 19 projecting upward from the electronic unit 15.

The distance is measured with the binocular 1 in the following steps: the user aims binocular 1 at the object whose distance from the user is to be determined; and adjusts the optics of the binocular 1 by means of the focusing wheel 5 to bring the object into focus. To this end, the user turns the focusing wheel 5 to adjust the distance of these optical components from the adjacent optical components of the optical system 2a by mechanical connection of the focusing wheel 5 via the focusing screw 8, the adjustment lever 9 and the optical components mounted on the free end 9a to set the focal length of the optical system 2a of the binocular 1. Thus, the focusing wheel 5 serves as an adjusting means for setting the focal length. The position of the adjusting lever 9 relative to the rigid part of the bridge 4 of the housing 2, and thus the position of the adjustable optical component within the optical system 2a, is detected by means of the potential sensor 11. This electric potential sensor 11 serves as a means for detecting the relative position between the optical components of the optical system 2a of the binocular 1.

The voltage of the potential sensor 11 associated with this relative position is transmitted to the processor 16 of the electronic unit 15 via the ribbon cable 13. By means of a calibration table pre-recorded in the non-volatile/permanent memory of the electronic unit 15, the processor 16 converts the voltage of the potentiometric sensor 11, i.e. the position data obtained from this voltage, into the focal length of the binocular 1 corresponding to the current position of the optical components. The converted focal distance is then passed to the liquid crystal display 17 by the processor 16. The liquid crystal display 17 displays thereon the current focal distance, and thus the user's distance from the object being focused, for example in "meters" and "centimeters". The liquid crystal display 17 serves as an output device that readably displays the focal distance converted by the processor.

Once binocular 1 is focused on the object whose distance is to be measured, the user can activate liquid crystal display 17 by means of said operating buttons 19. Furthermore, the user can select the accuracy of the display and the type of unit (meter/foot) shown by operating the buttons 19. The liquid crystal display 17 also includes a battery indication for current battery charge feedback.

Before the operation of distance measurement is carried out, the binocular 1 can be adapted to the visual defects that the user may have. For this reason, the optical system 2a is adjusted to perform infinite focusing on both sides of the binocular 1. This can be achieved by observing, for example, an object that is far away and whose details are distinguishable. The distance measurement is then performed as described above.

The switching of the binocular 1 from the distance measuring mode to the calibration mode for correcting the user's visual defects or calibration and generating a calibration chart can be realized also by operating the buttons 19.

Claims (7)

1. An optical imaging apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

-a housing (2);

-an optical system (2a) having at least two optical components, the relative distance of which can be adjusted to set the focal length of the optical system (2 a);

-an adjustment device (5) for adjusting the distance between the two optical components, the adjustment device being coupled to at least one of the two optical components;

-a detection device (11) for detecting the relative position between said optical components;

-a processor (16) in signal connection with said detection means (11) for converting position data obtained from the detection means (11) into a focal length of said optical system;

-an output device (17) in signal connection with the processor (16) for readably displaying the converted focal distance; and

-an energy supply device for said detection device (11), processor (16) and output device (17),

-wherein the adjustment device (5) comprises a movable adjustment wheel, and the detection device (11) comprises an electric potential sensor for detecting the current position of the adjustment wheel,

-wherein the electric potential sensor of the detection device (11) comprises a wiper (10) rigidly connected to the at least one adjustable optical component, and a wiper contact (12) fixed to the housing (2).

2. An optical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the output device (17) is a liquid crystal display.

3. An optical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises an operating button (19) for temporarily activating said detecting means (11) and/or said output means (17).

4. An optical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection means (11) are powered by a ribbon cable (13).

5. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is a binocular.

6. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is a telescope.

7. An optical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy supply means is at least one battery (18).