AXIS-ADJUSTABLE OPTICAL DEVICE AND OPTICAL INSTRUMENT UTILIZING THE SAME

Abstract

An axis-adjustable optical device includes: a base; a first adjustment unit including a biasing component disposed between a support seat and the base, and a plurality of screw fasteners for coupling the support seat to the base; a second adjustment unit including a guide hoop coupled and pivotable relative to a pivot seat on the support seat; and a lens unit including a barrel that defines an optical axis, and that has a first segment having a universal coupling relation with a holding seat on the support seat, and a second segment having the guide hoop sleeved thereon. Pivotal movement of the guide hoop relative to the pivot seat drives movement of the barrel to adjust the optical axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of a conventional telescope;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of an optical instrument according to the present invention, illustrating an axis-adjustable optical device prior to axis adjustment, where an adjustable optical axis is not parallel to first and second optical axes;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an axis-adjustable optical device according to the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the axis-adjustable optical device;

FIG. 6 is an assembled sectional view of the axis-adjustable optical device;

FIG. 7 is a partly-exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a base of the axis-adjustable optical device to be coupled to a main body;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the axis-adjustable optical device corresponding to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, illustrating the axis-adjustable optical device prior to axis adjustment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 8, illustrating pivotal movement of a guide hoop relative to a pivot seat for adjusting the adjustable optical axis;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the preferred embodiment corresponding to FIG. 9, illustrating the adjustable optical axis parallel to the first and second optical axes in the first direction when observing in the third direction;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the preferred embodiment corresponding to FIG. 10, illustrating the adjustable optical axis is slightly tilted about the second direction (Y) relative to the first and second optical axes; and

FIG. 12 is a side view similar to FIG. 11, illustrating the adjustable optical axis parallel to the first and second optical axes in the first direction when observing in the second direction.

Claims

1. An axis-adjustable optical device comprising: a base having a mounting surface, said mounting surface extending in first and second directions that are perpendicular to each other;a first adjustment unit including a support seat, at least one first biasing component disposed between said support seat and said mounting surface of said base, and a plurality of first screw fasteners each extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions for coupling said support seat to said base;a second adjustment unit including a holding seat and a pivot seat that are coupled to said support seat and that are spaced apart from each other in the first direction, and a guide hoop that is coupled to said pivot seat and that is pivotable relative to said pivot seat about the first direction; anda lens unit including a barrel that extends in the first direction, that defines an optical axis, and that has a first segment and a second segment extending from said first segment, said first segment having a universal coupling relation with said holding seat of said second adjustment unit, said second segment having said guide hoop sleeved thereon;wherein pivotal movement of said guide hoop relative to said pivot seat drives movement of said barrel such that the optical axis is adjusted in the second and third directions.

2. The axis-adjustable optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first adjustment unit includes three of said first screw fasteners, a first pair of which being aligned in the first direction, and a second pair of which being aligned in the second direction.

3. The axis-adjustable optical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first adjustment unit includes three of said first biasing components, each of which is a resilient washer and has a respective one of said first screw fasteners extending therethrough.

4. The axis-adjustable optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said holding seat of said second adjustment unit extends from said support seat of said first adjustment unit in the third direction, and is formed with a curved notch;said lens unit further includes two wing plates respectively provided on two sides of said first segment of said barrel and extending in the second direction, one of said wing plates being formed with a circular hole, the other one of said wing plates being formed with an elongated hole; andsaid second adjustment unit further includes a resilient pad disposed in said curved notch and clamped between said holding seat and said first segment of said barrel, and two screws respectively extending through said circular and elongated holes, and engaging threadedly said holding seat.

5. The axis-adjustable optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot seat of said second adjustment unit includes an extension segment extending from said support seat of said first adjustment unit in the third direction, and a suspension segment extending from said extension segment in the second direction and formed with an axle hole that extends in the first direction, said guide hoop including a hoop part, and an axle that extends from said hoop part in the first direction and that is received in said axle hole such that said hoop part is pivotable relative to said suspension segment.

6. The axis-adjustable optical device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said guide hoop further includes a pivot ear projecting from said hoop part, said second adjustment unit further including a second biasing component disposed between said pivot ear and said extension segment of said pivot seat of said second adjustment unit, and a second screw fastener extending in the third direction sequentially through said pivot ear and said second biasing component, and engaging threadedly said extension segment.

7. An optical instrument comprising: a main body;a first lens device coupled to said main body and having a first optical axis that extends in a first direction; andan axis-adjustable optical device including: a base secured to said main body and having a mounting surface, said mounting surface extending in the first direction and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction;a first adjustment unit including a support seat, at least one first biasing component disposed between said support seat and said mounting surface of said base, and a plurality of first screw fasteners each extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions for coupling said support seat to said base;a second adjustment unit including a holding seat and a pivot seat that are coupled to said support seat and that are spaced apart from each other in the first direction, and a guide hoop that is coupled to said pivot seat and that is pivotable relative to said pivot seat about the first direction; anda lens unit including a barrel that extends in the first direction, that defines an adjustable optical axis, and that has a first segment and a second segment extending from said first segment, said first segment having a universal coupling relation with said holding seat of said second adjustment unit, said second segment having said guide hoop sleeved thereon;wherein pivotal movement of said guide hoop relative to said pivot seat drives movement of said barrel such that the adjustable optical axis is adjusted in the second and third directions.

8. The optical instrument as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a second lens device coupled to said main body, disposed parallel to said first lens device, and having a second optical axis that extends in the first direction.

9. The optical instrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein said axis-adjustable optical device is disposed adjacent to said first lens device, and projects from said main body in the second direction.

10. The optical instrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first adjustment unit of said axis-adjustable optical device includes three of said first screw fasteners, a first pair of which being aligned in the first direction, and a second pair of which being aligned in the second direction.

11. The optical instrument as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first adjustment unit of said axis-adjustable optical device includes three of said first biasing components, each of which is a resilient washer and has a respective one of said first screw fasteners extending therethrough.

12. The optical instrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said holding seat of said second adjustment unit of said axis-adjustable optical device extends from said support seat of said first adjustment unit in the third direction, and is formed with a curved notch;said lens unit of said axis-adjustable optical device further includes two wing plates respectively provided on two sides of said first segment of said barrel and extending in the second direction, one of said wing plates being formed with a circular hole, the other one of said wing plates being formed with an elongated hole; andsaid second adjustment unit of said axis-adjustable optical device further includes a resilient pad disposed in said curved notch and clamped between said holding seat and said first segment of said barrel, and two screws respectively extending through said circular and elongated holes, and engaging threadedly said holding seat.

13. The optical instrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pivot seat of said second adjustment unit of said axis-adjustable optical device includes an extension segment extending from said support seat of said first adjustment unit in the third direction, and a suspension segment extending from said extension segment in the second direction and formed with an axle hole that extends in the first direction, said guide hoop including a hoop part, and an axle that extends from said hoop part in the first direction and that is received in said axle hole such that said hoop part is pivotable relative to said suspension segment.

14. The optical instrument as claimed in claim 13, wherein said guide hoop further includes a pivot ear projecting from said hoop part, said second adjustment unit of said axis-adjustable optical device further including a second biasing component disposed between said pivot ear and said extension segment of said pivot seat of said second adjustment unit, and a second screw fastener extending in the third direction sequentially through said pivot ear and said second biasing component, and engaging threadedly said extension segment.