US5345336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Micro aspherical lens and fabricating method therefor and optical device
Assignee: Omron Corp
•
Filing: 1992-06-16
•
Granted: 1994-09-06
•
Expires: 2012-06-16
Abstract
Abstract An imaging device is formed by a transparent substrate having opposite surfaces on which are formed a plurality of micro aspherical lenses. The axes of the lenses on one surface coincide with the axes of respective lenses on the other surface. A two-dimensional micro lens array constructed by arranging converging lenses having a diameter of approximately several to several hundred micrometers is arranged ahead of a light source, thereby forming a multi-beam spot caused by diffraction in a distant position. A three-dimensional shape can be recognized with high precision by shape recognition means utilizing this multi-beam spot.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigeru Aoyama
- 👤 Tsukasa Yamashita
- 👤 Shiro Ogata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:16
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/0005; G03F7/001; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/0006; G02B3/0012; G02B3/0031; G02B3/02; G02B3/0037; G02B3/0056; G02B3/0062; G02B3/0068; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An imaging device comprising: a transparent substrate having opposite surfaces; a plurality of micro aspherical lenses, each of said micro aspherical lenses disposed upon a surface of said transparent substrate; said micro aspherical lenses arranged such that the optical axis of each of said micro aspherical lenses disposed on one of said opposite surfaces coincides with the optical axis of a respective micro aspherical lens disposed on the other of said opposite surfaces; said plurality of micro aspherical lenses provided in a plurality of rows on each of said opposite surfaces; and said plurality of micro aspherical lenses further provided in a zig-zag pattern on each of said opposite surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An imaging device comprising: a transparent substrate having opposite surfaces; a plurality of micro aspherical lenses, each of said micro aspherical lenses disposed upon a surface of said transparent substrate; said micro aspherical lenses arranged such that the optical axis of each of said micro aspherical lenses disposed on one of said opposite surfaces coincides with the optical axis of a respective micro aspherical lens disposed on the other of said opposite surfaces; said plurality of micro aspherical lenses provided in a plurality of rows on each of said opposite surfaces; and said plurality of micro aspherical lenses further provided in a zig-zag pattern on each of said opposite surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said micro aspherical lenses are manufactured by electron-beam lithography.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
An imaging device comprising: a transparent substrate having opposite surfaces; and, a plurality of diffraction type micro aspherical lenses, each of said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses disposed upon a surface of said transparent substrate; each of said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses arranged such that the optical axis of each of said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses disposed on one of said opposite surfaces coincides with the optical axis of a respective diffraction type micro aspherical lens disposed on the other of said opposite surfaces; and said plurality of diffraction type micro aspherical lenses arranged in a singular row on each of said opposite surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
An imaging device comprising: a transparent substrate having opposite surfaces; and, a plurality of diffraction type micro aspherical lenses, each of said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses disposed upon a surface of said transparent substrate; each of said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses arranged such that the optical axis of each of said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses disposed on one of said opposite surfaces coincides with the optical axis of a respective diffraction type micro aspherical lens disposed on the other of said opposite surfaces; and said plurality of diffraction type micro aspherical lenses arranged in a singular row on each of said opposite surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An imaging device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses are manufactured by electron-beam lithography.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
An imaging device comprising: a transparent substrate having opposite surfaces; a plurality of diffraction type micro aspherical lenses, each of said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses disposed upon a surface of said transparent substrate; each of said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses arranged such that the optical axis of each of said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses disposed on one of said opposite surfaces coincides with the optical axis of a respective diffraction type micro aspherical lens disposed on the other of said opposite surfaces; and said plurality of diffraction type micro aspherical lenses arranged in a plurality of rows on each of said opposite surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
An imaging device comprising: a transparent substrate having opposite surfaces; a plurality of diffraction type micro aspherical lenses, each of said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses disposed upon a surface of said transparent substrate; each of said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses arranged such that the optical axis of each of said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses disposed on one of said opposite surfaces coincides with the optical axis of a respective diffraction type micro aspherical lens disposed on the other of said opposite surfaces; and said plurality of diffraction type micro aspherical lenses arranged in a plurality of rows on each of said opposite surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An imaging device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said diffraction type micro aspherical lenses are manufactured by electron-beam lithography.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A multi-beam projector comprising a light source and a micro lens array having a plurality of micro aspherical lenses arranged two-dimensionally in a zig-zag pattern, said micro lens array receiving light from said light source and causing a plurality of light spots caused by diffraction to be formed in a position displaced therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A multi-beam projector comprising a light source and a micro lens array having a plurality of micro aspherical lenses arranged two-dimensionally in a zig-zag pattern, said micro lens array receiving light from said light source and causing a plurality of light spots caused by diffraction to be formed in a position displaced therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A multi-beam projector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said micro aspherical lenses are manufactured by electron-beam lithography.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A multi-beam projector as claimed in claim 7 further including a light receiver for receiving said light spots after reflection from an object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A multi-beam projector as claimed in claim 9 further including means responsive to said light receiver for determining the shape of said object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
A multi-beam projector comprising a light source and a micro lens array having a plurality of diffraction type micro aspherical lenses arranged in a two-dimensional manner, said micro lens array receiving light from said light source and causing a plurality of light spots caused by diffraction to be formed in a position displaced therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A multi-beam projector comprising a light source and a micro lens array having a plurality of diffraction type micro aspherical lenses arranged in a two-dimensional manner, said micro lens array receiving light from said light source and causing a plurality of light spots caused by diffraction to be formed in a position displaced therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A multi-beam projector as claimed in claim 11, wherein said micro aspherical lenses are manufactured by electron-beam lithography.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A multi-beam projector as claimed in claim 11 further including a light receiver for receiving said light spots after reflection from an object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A multi-beam projector as claimed in claim 13 further including means responsive to said light receiver for determining the shape of said object.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3580675A
Cited
US4305643A
Cited
JPS57185401A
Cited
US4515444A
Cited
US4572611A
Cited
US4689479A
Cited
JPS62161532A
Cited
JPS62161533A
Cited
US4877717A
Cited
US4842633A
Cited
US4813762A
Cited
JPH01261601A
Cited
US4888076A
Cited
US4948214A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-05 | 1998-03-07 | 1998-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-05 | 2002-03-07 | 2002-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-05 | 2006-03-07 | 2006-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |