Afocal Variation System (AVS™)

Infinity's instrument line comprises systems which logically extend from a patented focusing principle:  Afocal Variation.  The Afocal Variation System (AVS) is so effective as a means of focusing, that other devices are obsolete by comparison.  Imagine going to your local photo store and obtaining a telephoto lens.  Theoretically, you could saw it in half and (if space would permit) interface an AVS module.  The AVS itself would be a "self-effacing" addition, yet it would increase the focusing capacity of the telephoto by magnitudes. 

All this is to say, that the AVS system imparts internal focusing to all Infinity instruments so-equipped.  The greatest feature of AVS is that it allows optical systems to range front focus (conjugate) while allowing the rear focal conjugate to remain fixed.  This means that sensors—photo, video or visual—can be positioned without regard to the focusing requirements of the AVS-equipped instrument.  All of Infinity's instruments remain dimensionally constant once configured.  This feature is ideal for machine vision and custom applications where external dimensional changes are undesirable.

When the “afocal variation condition" is met, the effect of AVS is that, "whatever goes in, comes out.”  That is, AVS introduces virtually no perceptible aberrations on its own.  Going back to the example of cutting a telephoto lens in two, the interfaced AVS system would theoretically have little or no effect on the characteristics of that lens—unless the lens had been designed with a formula-specificity that precluded an interface in the first place—such as pre-positioned elements in the lens for control of aberrations, color, etc. which, through no fault of AVS, would be upset by such separation.   Consequently, AVS can be added to almost any optical system which will allow its incorporation—affecting the focus of virtually every system it interfaces.  AVS is the principle which has made Infinity instruments renowned for their technical excellence.

InFocus™

InFocus is Infinity's trademark for an AVS -equipped system which is set to focus pre- and post-infinity.  Infinity focus occurs not at the end of the AVS ' focusing ring rotation (though it can), but at somewhere near its center.  When introduced into an infinity-corrected microscope's optical path, InFocus allows the microscope to be deliberately defocused, necessitating a new mechanical focus and a new working distance to be established.  Model K2/S, Model KC and InfiniMax exclusively utilize the InFocus variant of AVS as their means of internal focus adjustment. The InFocus system has recieved an R&D 100 award.  Details on InFocus Products