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Abstract

An optical system is provided with a plurality of field of view optical groups for insertion into the optical path. The field of view optical groups each subtend a prescribed field of view angle and are rotatably mounted on a rotary assembly for insertion into an operational position in the optical path. The rotary assembly is provided with hard stop contacts which rotate along a path and interact with stationary stops to locate the optical groups in the operational position. Additionally, movable stops are reciprocated into the rotation path of the hard stop contacts to provide additional modes, including a calibration mode. The system is also provided with extender optical groups which can be inserted in the optical path to provide intermediate fields of view between those of the field of view optical groups, thereby doubling the total number of fields of view available. The intermediate fields of view ease the transitions between fields of view achieved by the field of view optical groups and provide an effective step zoom mode of operation with increased overall zoom ratio.

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First Claim