(under subclass 642) Subject matter wherein the lens comprises a single section (i.e., component) having a plurality of optical pieces (i.e., elements) arranged in laminated series along the light path or optical axis of the lens with their adjacent refracting surfaces either in full overall contact or so closely spaced that such spacing does not enter into the lens computations.
(1) Note. Each "component" contains two refractive surfaces, arranged in series along the optical axis of the lens with their optical centers in alignment thereon, their planes perpendicular to such axis, and their axially extreme refracting surfaces so spaced along the optical axis that parallel light rays upon entering and passing through all of such components are refracted to a focus no more than one time.
(2) Note. The term "component" as applied to a lens designates either (1) a single transparent mass of refractive material having two opposed refracting surfaces or (2) a grouped plurality of such masses arranged in series along the optical axis of the lens with their adjacent refracting surfaces either in full overall contact or in spaced parallel relation with the spacing being of such small magnitude that it does not enter into the lens computations.
(3) Note. The two refractive surfaces of a "component" comprising a single mass or the two axially extreme refracting surfaces of a "component" comprising a plurality of masses have at least a portion thereof axially air-spaced from all other adjacent refracting surfaces that may be present in the lens.
(4) Note. The axial dimension of the air-spacing between either the opposed surfaces of the single mass "component" or the axially extreme surfaces of the "component" grouped plurality of masses, and the other adjacent refracting surfaces that may be present in the lens must be of sufficient magnitude to enter into the lens computations in order to limit the axial extent of the lens component.
(5) Note. The term "element" as applied to a lens designates any single transparent mass of refractive material having two opposed refracting surfaces, which surfaces are
disposed transversely of the optical axis of the lens and spaced therealong, i.e., any one of the masses in the above component definition regardless of its spacing from adjacent refracting surfaces that may be present in the lens.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 355, for lenses constructed of materials that transmit ultraviolet and infrared light.
647, for eyepieces having one component.
651, for projection type field curvature shaping lenses having less than four components.
661, for microscope objective having less than four components.
682, for variable magnification reverse tele-photo having seven or less components.
718, for nonspherical lens system having one component.
724, for lenses with annular zonal correcting elements.
741, for lenses with multipart elements or components.
748, for a telephoto lens having less than four components.
753, for wide angle lenses having five or less components.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
65, Glass Manufacturing, 387, for processes of forming an optical fiber directly connected to a lens; subclasses 37+ for processes of securing glass lens elements together.
351, Optics: Eye Examining, Vision Testing and Correcting,
159, for opthalmic lenses or blanks.
428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles,
415, 417, and 426+ for a nonstructural stock material product in the form of a composite web or sheet embodying a layer of glass or quartz next to another layer of material which may also be quartz or glass (subclasses 427 and 428).
