US5257133A
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US
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Re-imaging optical system employing refractive and diffractive optical elements
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1991-09-11
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Granted: 1993-10-26
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Expires: 2011-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A re-imaging optical system (36) is provided which utilizes a combination of refractive and diffractive optical elements. The system includes an objective lens group (38) for focusing an incoming beam of light to a first image plane. A relay lens group (40) refocuses the beam of light in a second image plane after it passes through the first image plane. The relay lens group (40) includes a diffractive optical element (48) for correcting aberrations introduced by the objective and relay lens groups. The diffractive optical element (48) eliminates a number of individual optical elements which would otherwise be required to correct aberrations, thereby reducing the total number of optical elements in the system. In the preferred embodiment, the diffractive optical element (48) comprises a binary optical element. The resulting system yields better image quality, better throughput, and a lighter, less bulky, re-imaging optical system (36).
Inventors
- 👤 Chungte W. Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:56
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/42; G02B27/4205; G02B27/4211; G02B13/00; G02B13/14; G02B27/0025; G02B27/0037; G02B27/4216; G02B5/00; G02B5/18; G02B5/1876
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A re-imaging optical system comprising: an objective lens means for focusing an incoming beam of light to a first image plane; a relay lens means for refocusing said beam of light in a second image plane after it has passed through said first image plane; and said relay lens means including a binary optical element which introduces magnifying power in addition to any magnifying power introduced by refraction in the relay lens, the binary optical element also correcting aberrations introduced by said objective and relay lens means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A re-imaging optical system comprising: an objective lens means for focusing an incoming beam of light to a first image plane; a relay lens means for refocusing said beam of light in a second image plane after it has passed through said first image plane; and said relay lens means including a binary optical element which introduces magnifying power in addition to any magnifying power introduced by refraction in the relay lens, the binary optical element also correcting aberrations introduced by said objective and relay lens means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The re-imaging optical system of claim 1 wherein said objective lens means and said relay lens means both contain similar optical elements which tend to balance out their respective aberrations according to the symmetry principle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The re-imaging optical system of claim 2 wherein said objective lens means and said relay lens means both contain silicon refractive lenses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The re-imaging optical system of claim 3 wherein said silicon lenses contained in said objective and relay lens means are both aspherical lenses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The re-imaging optical system of claim 1 wherein said relay optical lens means includes a germanium lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The re-imaging optical system of claim 1 wherein said binary optical element contains a Fresnel zone plate attached to a lens in said relay lens means, wherein said binary optical element provides chromatic aberration correction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The re-imaging optical system of claim 6 wherein said binary optical element also corrects spherochromatism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The re-imaging optical system of claim 6 wherein said binary optical element also corrects chromatic coma.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The re-imaging optical system of claim 1 wherein said beam of light is infrared light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
124 words
An optical system comprising: a first lens means for focusing an incoming beam of light to an image plane; a second lens means for receiving and refracting said beam of light after it passes through said image plane; said first and second lens means together being partially self correcting of aberrations according to the symmetry principle, whereby the aberrations in said first and second lens means tend to balance each other out; and a binary optical element in the path of said beam of light which introduces magnifying power in addition to any magnifying power introduced by refraction in the second lens means the binary optical element also correcting a portion of the optical aberrations not corrected by said first and second lens means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
124 words
An optical system comprising: a first lens means for focusing an incoming beam of light to an image plane; a second lens means for receiving and refracting said beam of light after it passes through said image plane; said first and second lens means together being partially self correcting of aberrations according to the symmetry principle, whereby the aberrations in said first and second lens means tend to balance each other out; and a binary optical element in the path of said beam of light which introduces magnifying power in addition to any magnifying power introduced by refraction in the second lens means the binary optical element also correcting a portion of the optical aberrations not corrected by said first and second lens means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical system of claim 10 further comprising a detector for receiving said beam of light after it is refracted by said second lens means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical system of claim 10 wherein said second lens means refocuses said beam of light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical system of claim 10 wherein said aberrations corrected by said first and second lens means include lateral color and coma.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical system of claim 13 wherein said portion of optical aberrations corrected by said binary optical element includes axial color.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical system of claim 10 wherein said first and second lens means both comprise silicon lenses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical system of claim 10 wherein said first and second lens means both comprise aspherical lenses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical system of claim 16 wherein said second optical system includes silicon and germanium lenses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
144 words
A re-imaging optical system comprising: an objective lens means for focusing an incoming beam of infrared light to a first image plane; a relay lens means for refocusing said beam of light in a second image plane after it has passes through said first image plane; said objective lens means and said relay lens means both containing silicon aspherical refractive lenses which tend to balance out their respective aberrations according to the symmetry principle; said relay lens means including a binary optical element including a Fresnel zone plate attached to a lens in said relay means; said binary optical element providing magnifying power in addition to any magnifying power introduced by refraction in the relay lens, the binary optical element also providing chromatic aberration correction; and a detector means for receiving said beam of light after it is refocused by said relay lens means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
144 words
A re-imaging optical system comprising: an objective lens means for focusing an incoming beam of infrared light to a first image plane; a relay lens means for refocusing said beam of light in a second image plane after it has passes through said first image plane; said objective lens means and said relay lens means both containing silicon aspherical refractive lenses which tend to balance out their respective aberrations according to the symmetry principle; said relay lens means including a binary optical element including a Fresnel zone plate attached to a lens in said relay means; said binary optical element providing magnifying power in addition to any magnifying power introduced by refraction in the relay lens, the binary optical element also providing chromatic aberration correction; and a detector means for receiving said beam of light after it is refocused by said relay lens means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-10-25 | 1997-04-26 | 1997-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-25 | 2001-04-26 | 2001-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-25 | 2005-04-26 | 2005-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |