US Patent 7466490 Objective optical system for an endoscope

An objective optical system is disclosed that is suitable for a high-precision endoscope that performs focusing by moving a single lens component. The objective optical system includes, in order from the object side, a front lens group, a middle lens group, and a rear lens group. The middle lens group is composed of two or more lens components, at least two of which have positive refractive power, and the lens component that is moved for focusing is in the middle lens group. Additionally, the objective optical system satisfies two specified conditions, and other conditions may apply.