Superzone holographic mirror

Claim 2

A mirror having diffractive focusing power, said diffractive power being produced by a plurality of diffractive zones, said diffractive zones being terminated by optical steps, a first group of said diffractive zones having optical steps having heights equal to jλ/2 and a second group of said diffractive zones having optical steps having heights equal to kλ/2 where λ is a design wavelength of light of the mirror and j and k are unequal nonzero integers.

Claim 3

The mirror according to claim 1 wherein said mirror has an optic axis passing through a first diffractive zone and said first group of diffractive zones is adjacent said first zone and said second group of diffractive zones are separated from said first zone by said first group of zones, said zones of said first group having optical steps having heights equal to λ/2 and said zones of said second group having optical steps having heights equal to λ.

Claim 4

The mirror according to claim 2 wherein said zones are circular and concentric.

Claim 5

The mirror according to claim 2 wherein said zones are rectangular.

Claim 6

The mirror according to claim 2 further comprising a third group of diffractive zones separated from said first zone by said first and second groups of zones, said zones of said third group having optical steps having heights equal to 3λ/2.

Claim 7

The mirror according to claim 5 wherein said zones are circular and concentric.

Claim 8

The mirror according to claim 5 wherein said zones are rectangular.

Claim 9

The mirror according to claim 1 wherein said zones have circular contours.

Claim 10

The mirror according to claim 8 wherein said mirror has an optic axis passing through a first diffractive zone and said first group of diffractive zones is adjacent said first zone and said second group of diffractive zones are separated from said first zone by said first group of zones, said zones of said first group having optical steps having heights equal to λ/2 and said zones of said second group having optical steps having heights equal to λ.

Claim 11

The mirror according to claim 9 further comprising a third group of diffractive zones separated from said first zone by said first and second groups of zones, said zones of said third group having optical steps having heights equal to 3 λ/2.

Claim 12

The mirror according to claim 1 wherein said zones have linear contours.

Claim 13

The mirror according to claim 11 wherein said mirror has an optic axis passing through a first diffractive zone and said first group of diffractive zones is adjacent said first zone and said second group of diffractive zones are separated from said first zone by said first group of zones, said zones of said first group having optical steps having heights equal to λ/2 and said zones of said second group having optical steps having heights equal to λ.

Claim 14

The mirror according to claim 12 further comprising a third group of diffractive zones separated from said first zone by said first and second groups of zones, said zones of said third group having optical steps having heights equal to 3λ/2.

Claim 15

The mirror of claim 1 wherein said mirror is a first surface reflector.

Claim 16

The mirror of claim 14 wherein said mirror includes a polymeric body with a reflective metal coated thereon.

Claim 17

The mirror of claim 14 wherein said mirror includes a body of a reflective metal.

Claim 18

The mirror of claim 16 wherein said reflective metal is copper.

Claim 19

The mirror of claim 1 wherein said mirror is a second surface reflector.

Claim 20

The mirror of claim 18 wherein said mirror has a body that provides refractive power.

Claim 21

The mirror of claim 18 wherein said mirror includes a transparent body of a polymeric material with a reflective metal coated thereon.

Claim 22

A mirror having diffractive power, and object and image points at object and image distances from said mirror respectively, said diffractive power being produced by a plurality of diffractive zones, a first group of said diffractive zones having optical steps with heights selected such that a relative phase shift of 2jπ at said image point will be introduced between two light rays of a design wavelength emanating from a point source at said object point and striking said mirror immediately on opposite sides of one of said optical steps of said first group and a second group of said diffractive zones having optical steps with heights selected such that a relative phase shift of 2kπ at said image point will be introduced between two rays of light of said design wavelength emanating from a point source at said object point and striking said mirror immediately on opposite sides of one of said optical steps of said second group, where j and k are unequal nonzero integers.

Claim 23

A mirror having diffractive power, and object and image points at object and image distances from said mirror respectively, said diffractive power being produced by a plurality of diffractive zones, a first group of said diffractive zones having optical steps with heights selected such that a relative phase shift of 2jπ at said image point will be introduced between two light rays of a design wavelength emanating from a point source at said object point and striking said mirror immediately on opposite sides of one of said optical steps of said first group and a second group of said diffractive zones having optical steps with heights selected such that a relative phase shift of 2kπ at said image point will be introduced between two rays of light of said design wavelength emanating from a point source at said object point and striking said mirror immediately on opposite sides of one of said optical steps of said second group, where j and k are unequal nonzero integers.

Claim 24

The mirror according to claim 21 wherein said mirror has a first zone and an optical axis passing through said first zone, said first group of zones being adjacent said first zone and said second group of zones being separated from said first zone by said first group of zones, and j is equal to one and k is equal to two.

Claim 25

The mirror according to claim 22 wherein said zones are circular and concentric.

Claim 26

The mirror according to claim 22 wherein said zones are rectangular.

Claim 27

The mirror according to claim 21 further comprising a third group of diffractive zones, said third group being separated from said first zone by said first and second groups of zones, said zones of said third group having optical steps with heights such that a relative phase shift of 6π will be introduced at said image point between two rays of light of said design wavelength emanating from a point source at said object point and striking said mirror immediately on opposite sides of one of said optical steps of said third group.

Claim 28

The mirror according to claim 21 wherein said zones have circular contours.

Claim 29

The mirror according to claim 21 wherein said zones have linear contours.

Claim 30

The mirror of claim 21 wherein said object and image distances are both finite.

Claim 31

The mirror of claim 21 wherein said object distance is infinite.

Claim 32

The mirror of claim 21 wherein said image distance is infinite.

Claim 33

The mirror of claim 21 wherein said mirror is a first surface reflector.

Claim 34

The mirror of claim 31 wherein said mirror includes a polymeric body with a reflective metal coated thereon.

Claim 35

The mirror of claim 31 wherein said mirror includes a body of a reflective metal.

Claim 36

The mirror of claim 33 wherein said reflective metal is copper.

Claim 37

The mirror of claim 21 wherein said mirror is a second surface reflector.

Claim 38

The mirror of claim 35 wherein said mirror has a body that provides refractive power.

Claim 39

The mirror of claim 35 wherein said mirror includes a transparent body of a polymeric material with a reflective metal coated thereon.

Claim 40

A mirror having diffractive power, an object point and an image point, said diffractive power being produced by a plurality of diffractive zones, a first of said diffractive zones having an optical step with a height selected such that a relative phase shift of 2jπ at said image point will be introduced between two light rays of a design wavelength emanating from a point source at said object point and striking said mirror immediately on opposite sides of said optical step of said first zone and a second of said diffractive zones having an optical step with a height selected such that a relative phase shift of 2kπ at said image point will be introduced between two rays of light of said design wavelength emanating from a point source at said object point and striking said mirror immediately on opposite sides of said optical step of said second zone, where j and k are unequal nonzero integers.

Claim 41

A mirror having diffractive power, an object point and an image point, said diffractive power being produced by a plurality of diffractive zones, a first of said diffractive zones having an optical step with a height selected such that a relative phase shift of 2jπ at said image point will be introduced between two light rays of a design wavelength emanating from a point source at said object point and striking said mirror immediately on opposite sides of said optical step of said first zone and a second of said diffractive zones having an optical step with a height selected such that a relative phase shift of 2kπ at said image point will be introduced between two rays of light of said design wavelength emanating from a point source at said object point and striking said mirror immediately on opposite sides of said optical step of said second zone, where j and k are unequal nonzero integers.