All The Claims

What are claimed are:

1. A solid-state image pickup device, comprising:
a semiconductor substrate having a two-dimensional plane on a surface thereof;
photoelectric converter elements arranged in a matrix configuration having rows and columns, and formed in said two-dimensional plane;
one vertical charge transfer channel region formed in said semiconductor substrate for each of the columns of said photoelectric converter elements, adjacent to said each column;
two charge transfer electrodes so disposed over said vertical charge transfer channel regions for each of the rows of said photoelectric converter elements as to intersect said vertical charge transfer channel regions;
an array of color filters each of which is formed for each of said photoelectric converter elements over said each photoelectric converter element, said array including color layouts each of which includes n rows of said color filters; and
a drive circuit for conducting a readout operation in which (m*n) rows of photoelectric converter elements are classified as one set, a plurality of units of photoelectric converter element rows which are symmetrically distributed are respectively selected from said sets of photoelectric converter element rows, and electric charge is read from said plural units of photoelectric converter element rows to be fed to said vertical charge transfer channel regions,
said readout operation comprising:
a first readout operation for reading electric charge from a first group of photoelectric converter element rows which have an asymmetric distribution, into said vertical charge transfer channel regions;
a j-row transfer operation for transferring the electric charge for j rows after said first readout operation; and
a second readout operation for reading electric charge from a second group of photoelectric converter element rows which have an asymmetric distribution at positions to which the electric charge is transferred by said j-row transfer operation, into said vertical charge transfer channel regions, and for adding the electric charges to each other in said vertical charge transfer channel regions,
said first and second readout operations reading electric charge from two rows included in one unit of photoelectric converter element rows.
2. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein:
said n is two;
said m is four; and
said selected units selected by said readout operation are two units per said set.
3. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 2, wherein:
said selected units are obtained from every second unit;
said first readout operation is conducted for a second row of a first selected first unit and for a first row of a second selected unit; and
said second readout operation is conducted for a first row of said first selected first unit and for a second row of said second selected unit.
4. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein:
said n is three;
said m is six;
said selected units are three units per said set;
said drive circuit is capable of conducting after said second readout operation:
a j-row transfer operation for transferring the electric charge for j rows; and
a third readout operation for reading electric charge from a third group of photoelectric converter element rows which have an asymmetric distribution at positions to which the electric charge is transferred by said j-row transfer operation, into said vertical charge transfer channel regions, and for adding the electric charge to each other in said vertical charge transfer channel regions.
5. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 4, wherein:
said selected units are obtained from every second unit;
said first readout operation is conducted for mutually different rows of selected first, second, and third units; and
said first, second, and third readout operations read electric charge from a first row, a second row, and a third row of said selected first, second, and third units, respectively.
6. A method of controlling a solid-state image pickup device comprising a semiconductor substrate having a two-dimensional plane on a surface thereof, photoelectric converter elements arranged in a matrix configuration having rows and columns, and formed in said two-dimensional plane, one vertical charge transfer channel region formed in said semiconductor substrate for each of the columns of said photoelectric converter elements, adjacent to said each column, two charge transfer electrodes so disposed over said vertical charge transfer channel regions for each of the rows of said photoelectric converter elements as to intersect said vertical charge transfer channel regions, and an array of color filters each of which is formed for each of said photoelectric converter elements over said each photoelectric converter element, said array including color layouts each of which includes n rows of said color filters, said method comprising the steps of;
(a) classifying (m*n) rows of photoelectric converter elements as one set, selecting a plurality of units of photoelectric converter element rows, which are symmetrically distributed, respectively from said sets of photoelectric converter element rows, reading electric charge from a first group of photoelectric converter element rows which have an asymmetric distribution in said unit thus selected and feeding the electric charge into said vertical charge transfer channel regions;
(b) transferring the electric charge for j rows after said readout step (a); and
(c) reading electric charge from a second group of photoelectric converter element rows which have an asymmetric distribution at positions to which the electric charge is transferred by said transfer step (b), feeding the electric charge to said vertical charge transfer channel regions, and adding the electric charges to each other in said vertical charge transfer channel regions,
said first and second readout steps (a) and (c) reading electric charge from two rows contained in one unit of photoelectric converter element rows.
7. The method of controlling a solid-state image pickup device according to claim 6, wherein:
said n is two;
said m is four; and
said selected units selected by said readout step (a) are two units per said set.
8. The method of controlling a solid-state image pickup device according to claim 7, wherein:
said selected units are obtained from every second unit;
said readout step (a) is conducted for a second row of a first selected first unit and for a first row of a second selected unit; and
said readout step (c) is conducted for a first row of said first selected first unit and for a second row of said second selected unit.
9. The method of controlling a solid-state image pickup device according to claim 6, wherein:
said n is three;
said m is six; and
said selected units are three units per said set, said method further comprising the steps of;
(d) transferring the electric charge for j rows after said second readout step (c); and
(e) reading electric charge from a third group of photoelectric converter element rows which have an asymmetric distribution at positions to which the electric charge is transferred by said j-row transfer step (d), feeding the electric charge to said vertical charge transfer channel regions, and adding the electric charge to each other in said vertical charge transfer channel regions.
10. The method of controlling a solid-state image pickup device according to claim 9, wherein:
said selected units are obtained from every second unit;
said readout step (a) is conducted for mutually different rows of selected first, second, and third units; and
said steps (a), (c), and (e) read electric charge from a first row, a second row, and a third row of said selected first, second, and third units, respectively.
11. A solid-state image pickup device, comprising:
a semiconductor substrate having a two-dimensional plane on a surface thereof;
a plurality of photoelectric converter elements arranged in the two-dimensional plane in a matrix configuration having rows and columns;
an array of color filters including one color layout of two rows as one unit, said unit being repeatedly arranged in said array in a column direction, in which one color filter thereof is formed over each of said photoelectric converter elements, said two rows including a row of a first color layout of color filters arranged in a row direction and a row of a second color layout of color filters arranged in a row direction, said second color layout being different from said first color layout;
one vertical charge transfer channel region formed in said semiconductor substrate for each of the columns of said photoelectric converter elements, adjacent to said each column;
a plurality of vertical charge transfer electrodes in which two vertical charge transfer electrodes are disposed over said vertical charge transfer channel regions for each of the rows of said photoelectric converter elements; and
a drive circuit capable of applying readout pulse voltages to
said vertical charge transfer electrodes corresponding to said photoelectric converter element row having said first color layout in a first photoelectric converter element row pair of two photoelectric converter element rows adjacent to each other in a column direction and to
said vertical charge transfer electrodes corresponding to said photoelectric converter element row having said second color layout in a second photoelectric converter element row pair of two photoelectric converter element rows adjacent to each other in a column direction, said second photoelectric converter element row pair being at a position apart from said first photoelectric converter element row pair by two photoelectric converter element rows in the column direction.
12. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 11, further comprising a variable barrier formed in said semiconductor substrate below said photoelectric converter elements,
said variable barrier being capable of modulating an amount of electric charge accumulable in each of said photoelectric converter elements.
13. A solid-state image pickup device, comprising:
a semiconductor substrate having a two-dimensional plane on a surface thereof;
a plurality of photoelectric converter elements arranged in the two-dimensional plane in a matrix configuration having rows and columns;
an array of color filters including one color layout of n rows as one unit, said unit being repeatedly arranged in a row direction in said array, said n rows ranging from a first row to an n-th row respectively having mutually different color layouts in the row direction in which one color filter of said array is formed over each of said photoelectric converter elements;
one vertical charge transfer channel region formed in said semiconductor substrate for each of the columns of said photoelectric converter elements, adjacent to said each column;
a plurality of vertical charge transfer electrodes in which two vertical charge transfer electrodes are disposed over said vertical charge transfer channel regions for each of the rows of said photoelectric converter elements; and
a drive circuit capable of independently applying readout pulse voltages to
said vertical charge transfer electrodes included in said photoelectric converter element rows having mutually different color layouts between said photoelectric converter element row units, said photoelectric converter element rows being included in a set of n rows including
a first photoelectric converter element row having said first color layout, said first row being selected from said first photoelectric converter element row unit including n rows succeeding one after another in a column direction and
second to n-th photoelectric converter element rows sequentially formed at positions beginning at a position apart from said first photoelectric converter element row unit by (2n) photoelectric converter element rows in the column direction.
14. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 13, further comprising a variable barrier formed in said semiconductor substrate below said photoelectric converter elements,
said variable barrier being capable of modulating an amount of electric charge accumulable in each of said photoelectric converter elements to n times an original amount thereof.
15. A method of controlling a solid-state image pickup device, comprising a semiconductor substrate having a two-dimensional plane on a surface thereof; a plurality of photoelectric converter elements arranged in the two-dimensional plane in a matrix configuration having rows and columns; an array of color filters including one color layout of two rows as one unit, said unit being repeatedly arranged in said array in a column direction, said two rows including a row of a first color layout of color filters arranged in a row direction in which one color filter thereof is formed over each of said photoelectric converter elements and a row of a second color layout of color filters arranged in a row direction, said second color layout being different from said first color layout; one vertical charge transfer channel region formed in said semiconductor substrate for each of the columns of said photoelectric converter elements, adjacent to said each column; a plurality of vertical charge transfer electrodes in which two vertical charge transfer electrodes are disposed over said vertical charge transfer channel regions for each of the rows of said photoelectric converter elements; and a drive circuit capable of applying readout pulse voltages to said vertical charge transfer electrodes corresponding to said photoelectric converter element row having said first color layout in a first photoelectric converter element row pair of two photoelectric converter element rows succeeding one after another in a column direction and to said vertical charge transfer electrodes corresponding to said photoelectric converter element row having said second color layout in a second photoelectric converter element row pair of two photoelectric converter element rows contiguous to each other in a column direction, said second photoelectric converter element row pair being at a position apart from said first photoelectric converter element row pair by two photoelectric converter element rows in the column direction, said method comprising the steps of:
a) classifying said vertical charge transfer electrodes into sets each of which includes 16 vertical charge transfer electrodes as one set, said 16 vertical charge transfer electrodes ranging from a first vertical charge transfer electrode to a 16th vertical charge transfer electrode succeeding one after another, and
applying readout pulse voltages to
said vertical charge transfer electrodes belonging to said photoelectric converter element row having said first color layout of said first photoelectric converter element row pair including two rows adjacent to each other in the column direction, said first row pair being selected from each said set and to
said vertical charge transfer electrodes belonging to said photoelectric converter element row having said second color layout different from said first color layout of said second photoelectric converter element row pair including two rows adjacent to each other in the column direction, said row pair being formed in positions beginning at a position apart from said first photoelectric converter element row pair by four photoelectric converter element rows in the column direction;
b) transferring the signal charge read out by said step a) through said vertical charge transfer channel regions for four photoelectric converter element rows in column direction;
c) applying readout pulse voltages to said vertical charge transfer electrodes belonging to said photoelectric converter element rows of said first and second photoelectric converter element row pairs, said photoelectric converter element rows being not used to read the electric charge therefrom in said step a); and
d) transferring the electric charge read out in said step c) and the electric charge read out in said step a) in said vertical charge transfer channel regions.
16. The method of controlling a solid-state image pickup device according to claim 15, wherein said device further comprises a variable barrier formed in said semiconductor substrate, said variable barrier being capable of modulating an amount of electric charge accumulable in each of said photoelectric converter elements, said method further comprising the step of
X) modulating by said variable barrier an amount of electric charge accumulable in each of said photoelectric converter elements to one half of an original amount thereof before said step a).
17. A method of controlling a solid-state image pickup device, comprising a semiconductor substrate having a two-dimensional plane on a surface thereof; a plurality of photoelectric converter elements arranged in the two-dimensional plane in a matrix configuration having rows and columns; an array of color filters including one color layout of n rows as one unit, said unit being repeatedly arranged in a row direction in said array, said n rows ranging from a first row to an n-th row respectively having mutually different color layouts in the row direction in which one color filter of said array is formed over each of said photoelectric converter elements; one vertical charge transfer channel region formed in said semiconductor substrate for each of the columns of said photoelectric converter elements, adjacent to said each column; a plurality of vertical charge transfer electrodes in which two vertical charge transfer electrodes are disposed over said vertical charge transfer channel regions for each of the rows of said photoelectric converter elements; and a drive circuit capable of independently applying readout pulse voltages to said vertical charge transfer electrodes included in said photoelectric converter element rows having mutually different color layouts in said photoelectric converter element row units, said photoelectric converter element rows being included in a set of n rows including
a first photoelectric converter element row having said first color layout, said first row being selected from said first photoelectric converter element row unit including n rows succeeding one after another in a column direction and
second to n-th photoelectric converter element rows sequentially formed at positions beginning at a position apart from said first photoelectric converter element row unit by (2n) photoelectric converter element rows in the column direction, said method comprising the steps of:
a) classifying said vertical charge transfer electrodes into sets each of which includes (4n) vertical charge transfer electrodes as one set, and
independently applying readout pulse voltages to said vertical charge transfer electrodes included in said photoelectric converter element rows having mutually different color layouts in said photoelectric converter element row units, said photoelectric converter element rows being included in a set of n rows including
a first photoelectric converter element row having said first color layout, and second to n-th photoelectric converter element rows at positions beginning at a position apart from said first photoelectric converter element row unit by (2n) photoelectric converter element rows in the column direction and at a same pitch;

b) transferring signal charge read out by said step a) through said vertical charge transfer channel regions for (2n) photoelectric converter element rows in column direction; and
c) conducting a readout operation and a transfer operation for said vertical charge transfer electrodes belonging to said photoelectric converter element rows of said photoelectric converter element row unit including said first to n-th photoelectric converter element row pairs, said photoelectric converter element rows being not used to read the electric charge therefrom in said step a).
18. The method of controlling a solid-state image pickup device according to claim 17, wherein said device further comprises a variable barrier formed in said semiconductor substrate, said variable barrier being capable of modulating an amount of electric charge accumulable in each of said photoelectric converter elements, said method further comprising the step of
X) controlling said variable barrier to modulate an amount of electric charge accumulable in each of said photoelectric converter elements to 1n of an original amount thereof before said step a).

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. An imaging lens for an image pickup device formed of only two lens components, in order from the object side, a first lens component and a second lens component, wherein:
an aperture diaphragm is on the object side of the first lens component;
the object-side lens surface of the first lens component is aspheric;
the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is aspheric;
the object-side lens surface of the second lens component is aspheric and the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the object-side lens surface of the second lens component is convex;
the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is aspheric; and
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of at least one of the object-side lens surface of the first lens component, the image-side lens surface of the first lens component, and the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave.
2. The imaging lens of claim 1, wherein:
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the object-side lens surface of the first lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is convex; and
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave.
3. The imaging lens of claim 1, wherein:
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the object-side lens surface of the first lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the object-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave; and
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is convex.
4. The imaging lens of claim 1, wherein:
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the object-side lens surface of the first lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the object-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration of the intermediate portion of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave; and
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is convex.
5. The imaging lens of claim 1, wherein:
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the object-side lens surface of the first lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the object-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration of the intermediate portion of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave; and
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is convex.
6. The imaging lens of claim 1, wherein:
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the object-side lens surface of the first lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the object-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave; and
a lens surface configuration near the periphery of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is convex.
7. The imaging lens of claim 1 wherein:
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the object-side lens surface of the first lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the object-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave; and
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is convex.
8. The imaging lens of claim 1, wherein:
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the object-side lens surface of the first lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the object-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave and
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is convex.
9. The imaging lens of claim 1, wherein the first lens component includes only one lens element and the second lens component includes only one lens element and the following condition is satisfied:
12>1.5
where
1 is the Abbe number of the lens material of the first lens element at the d-line of 587.6 nm, and
2 is the Abbe number of the lens material of the second lens element at the d-line of 587.6 nm.
10. The imaging lens of claim 1, wherein:
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the object-side lens surface of the first lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the object-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave; and
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is convex.
11. The imaging lens of claim 1, wherein:
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the object-side lens surface of the first lens component is convex;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the first lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the periphery of the object-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration near the optical axis of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave;
the lens surface configuration of the intermediate portion of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is convex; and
a lens surface configuration near the periphery of the image-side lens surface of the second lens component is concave.
12. The imaging lens of claim 1, wherein the first lens component includes only one lens element and the second lens component includes only one lens element.
13. The imaging lens of claim 2, wherein the first lens component includes only one lens element and the second lens component includes only one lens element.
14. The imaging lens of claim 3, wherein the first lens component includes only one lens element and the second lens component includes only one lens element.
15. The imaging lens of claim 4, wherein the first lens component includes only one lens element and the second lens component includes only one lens element.
16. The imaging lens of claim 5, wherein the first lens component includes only one lens element and the second lens component includes only one lens element.
17. The imaging lens of claim 6, wherein the first lens component includes only one lens element and the second lens component includes only one lens element.
18. The imaging lens of claim 7, wherein the first lens component includes only one lens element and the second lens component includes only one lens element.
19. The imaging lens of claim 8, wherein the first lens component includes only one lens element and the second lens component includes only one lens element.

1. A pig for movement within a pipeline comprising:
a cylindrical housing;
at least first and second annular elements circumferentially mounted to the housing and extending outwards for engagement with a pipeline;
an internal flow cavity passing longitudinally through the housing;
a gate capable of being opened, positioned within the internal flow cavity, obstructing flow through the internal flow cavity; and
a locking device connected to the gate, preventing it from being opened, the locking device being releasable to open the gate in the event the pig becomes stuck.
2. The pig of claim 1 further comprising:
an unlocking device mounted adjacent the locking device for releasing the locking device; and
a sensing device capable of receiving a signal indicating the pig is stuck, wherein the signal will activate the unlocking device thereby releasing the locking device, permitting the gate to open.
3. The pig of claim 1 wherein the gate is capable of rotation about an axis perpendicular to the internal flow cavity.
4. The pig of claim 1 wherein the locking device comprises a rod that engages the gate.
5. The pig of claim 2 wherein the unlocking device comprises at least one cutter that severs the locking device.
6. The pig of claim 5 further comprising a hydraulic accumulator for storing hydraulic fluid connected to power the cutter.
7. The pig of claim 1 further comprising a pinger mounted to the pig for tracking and locating the pig within the pipeline.
8. The pig of claim 2 wherein the sensing device comprises a pressure switch that senses pressure on an upstream end of the pig.
9. The pig of claim 1 wherein the sensing device is capable of receiving an electromagnetic signal from an operator to release the locking device.
10. A pig for movement within a pipeline comprising:
a cylindrical housing;
at least first and second annular elements circumferentially mounted to the housing and extending outwards for engagement with the pipeline;
an internal flow cavity passing longitudinally through the housing;
a gate positioned within the internal flow cavity and mounted to a shaft that is perpendicular to the internal flow cavity, the gate and shaft being capable of rotation;
a locking device that engages the gate to prevent the gate from rotating and opening;
an unlocking device adjacent the locking device; and
a sensing device that senses when the pig is stuck in the pipeline and causes the unlocking device to release the locking device.
11. The pig of claim 10 wherein the locking device comprises a rod that passes through a hole in the gate, thereby preventing the gate from rotating and opening.
12. The pig of claim 11 wherein the unlocking device comprises a cutter that severs the rod in response to receiving a signal from the sensing device.
13. The pig of claim 12 wherein the cutter is hydraulically powered.
14. The pig of claim 13 further comprising a hydraulic accumulator for storing hydraulic fluid and supplying hydraulic fluid to the cutter.
15. The pig of claim 10 further comprising a pinger mounted to the pig for tracking and locating the pig within the pipeline.
16. The pig of claim 10 wherein the sensing device comprises a pressure switch.
17. The pig of claim 10 wherein the sensing device is capable of receiving an electromagnetic signal from an operator to release the locking device.
18. A method for deploying a pig within a pipeline comprising:
(a) providing an internal cavity extending through the pig and placing a gate in the cavity;
(b) placing the pig in the pipeline with the gate closed, allowing the flow of the fluid to drive the pig through the pipeline; and
(c) if the pig becomes stuck in the pipeline, opening the gate to allow fluid to flow through the internal cavity.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein step (c) further comprises:
sending a signal to the pig if it becomes stuck, opening the gate.
20. The method according to claim 18, wherein step (b) further comprises locking the gate in a closed position with a locking device; and
wherein step (c) further comprises sending a signal to the pig, releasing the locking device.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An imaging lens comprising:
a first lens group;
a second lens group having positive refractive power; and
a third lens group having negative refractive power, which are arranged in order from an object side,
wherein the first lens group includes a former lens group having a negative lens in a most object side, a diaphragm, and a rear lens group,
wherein, when focusing is performed, the second lens group is moved in the optical axis direction,
wherein the imaging lens satisfies the following Conditional Equation:
\u22122.0<f3f<\u22120.8\u2003\u2003(1),
wherein
f3: a focal length of the third lens group, and
f: a focal length of a whole lens system.
2. The imaging lens according to claim 1, satisfying following Conditional Equation:
0.1<\u03b22<0.5\u2003\u2003(2)
1.0<\u03b23<2.5\u2003\u2003(3)
wherein
\u03b22: lateral magnification of the second lens group, and
\u03b23: lateral magnification of the third lens group.
3. The imaging lens according to claim 1,
wherein the rear lens group includes a negative lens and a positive lens, and satisfies following Conditional Equation:
\u03bd1Rp\u2212\u03bd1Rn>25\u2003\u2003(4)
wherein
\u03bd1Rp: Abbe number for \u201cd\u201d line of the positive lens of the rear lens group, and
\u03bd1Rn: Abbe number for \u201cd\u201d line of the negative lens of the rear lens group.
4. The imaging lens according to claim 1,
wherein the third lens group includes a negative lens in which an absolute value of a curvature radius of an image surface side is smaller than that of the object side.
5. The imaging lens according to claim 1,
wherein the third lens group includes a negative lens, and satisfies following Conditional Equation:
1<t3iR3b<4\u2003\u2003(5)
wherein
t3i: a length to an image surface from a surface apex of an image surface side of the negative lens of the third lens group, and
R3b: the curvature radius of the image surface side of the negative lens of the third lens group.
6. The imaging lens according to claim 1,
wherein the rear lens group is a cemented lens having a negative lens and a positive lens.
7. The imaging lens according to claim 1,
wherein the second lens group includes one positive lens.
8. The imaging lens according to claim 1,
wherein the diaphragm is arranged between the former lens group and the rear lens group of the first lens group.
9. An imaging apparatus comprising:
an imaging lens; and
an imaging device which outputs a photographing signal based on an optical image formed by the imaging lens,
wherein the imaging lens includes a first lens group, a second lens group having positive refractive power, a third lens group having negative refractive power, which are arranged in order from an object side,
wherein the first lens group includes a former lens group having a negative lens in a most object side, a diaphragm, and a rear lens group,
wherein, when focusing is performed, the second lens group is moved in an optical axis direction,
wherein the imaging lens satisfies the following Conditional Equation:
\u22122.0<f3f<\u22120.8\u2003\u2003(1),
wherein
f3: a focal length of the third lens group, and
f: a focal length of a whole lens system.
10. The imaging lens according to claim 9, satisfying following Conditional Equation:
0.1<\u03b22<0.5\u2003\u2003(2)
1.0<\u03b23<2.5\u2003\u2003(3)
wherein
\u03b22: lateral magnification of the second lens group, and
\u03b23: lateral magnification of the third lens group.