Diffractive waveplate lenses and applications

• US 10,274,650 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2015
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beam Engineering For Advanced Measurements Co., United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, U.S. Government
• Original Assignee: Beam Engineering For Advanced Measurements Co.
• Inventors: Tabirian, Nelson V., Serak, Svetlana V., Roberts, David E., Tabirian, Anna, Steeves, Diane M., Kimball, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdur, Rahman
• Application Number:
  US14/688,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20160209560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 35948901, 35948906, 35948907, 35948915
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1618 Multifocal lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1654 Diffractive lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4205 having a diffractive optical element [DOE] contributing to image formation, e.g. whereby modulation transfer function MTF or optical aberrations are relevant
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4211 correcting chromatic aberrations G02B27/0056, G02B27/4222, G02B27/4227 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4216 correcting geometrical aberrations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4261 having a diffractive element with major polarization dependent properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0081 having one or more elements with analytic function to create variable power variable magnification in general G02B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/10 Bifocal lenses; Multifocal lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/001 Axicons, waxicons, reflaxicons
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1828 having means for producing variable diffraction controlling the direction of light by means of one or more diffracting elements G02B26/0808; acousto-optical elements G02F1/11, G02F1/33; electro- or magneto-optical diffraction G02F1/292, G02F1/2955
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1833 comprising birefringent materials birefringent elements per se G02B5/3083
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3083 Birefringent or phase retarding elements G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/024 with polarisation maintaining properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3534 the optical element being diffractive, i.e. a grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3592 Means for removing polarization dependence of the switching means, i.e. polarization insensitive switching light guides coupling with polarization selective and adjusting means G02B6/27
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/16 Laminated or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/20 Diffractive and Fresnel lenses or lens portions
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/022 Ophthalmic lenses having special refractive features achieved by special materials or material structures G02C7/049 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/061 Spectacle lenses with progressively varying focal power
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/086 Auxiliary lenses located directly on a main spectacle lens or in the immediate vicinity of main spectacles
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/10 : Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/12 : Polarisers

Abstract

Optical lenses, systems, devices and methods for fabricating and manufacturing diffractive waveplate lenses that allow setting the focal length sign of an optical system by positioning the lens with its front or back surface with respect to an incoming circular polarized light beam. Applications for the lenses include optical systems comprising fibers, diode lasers, waveplates, polarizers, and variable lenses, particularly, in the form of a set of polymer films with re-attachable adhesive layers. And providing a flat mirror with concave or convex function due to diffractive waveplate lens coating.

Claims

1. An optical system with positive or negative focusing power for a circular polarized input beam, the system comprising:

an optical substrate; and

a diffractive waveplate lens with a flat front surface and a back surface adjacent to the optical substrate, one of the front surface and the back surface of the diffractive waveplate lens positioned to receive the circular polarized input optical beam to output defocused and focused beams from the circular polarized input beam; and

a circular polarizer for providing selection of one of the defocused and the focused beams at the output of the diffractive waveplate lens, wherein the optical system is used for the positive or the negative focusing power for the circular polarized input beam.

2. The optical system as in claim 1 wherein components of said optical system are integrated onto the same substrate.

3. The optical system as in claim 1 wherein said optical substrate is a refractive lens and said diffractive waveplate is switchable between a diffractive state and a non-diffractive state.

4. The optical system as in claim 3 wherein said refractive lens is birefringent.

5. The optical system as in claim 1 wherein said optical substrate is a quarter waveplate film providing only one of focusing or defocusing for a linear polarized light propagated through the diffractive waveplate lens.

6. The optical system as in claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises:

a mirror and a quarter-wave retardation film.

7. The optical system as in claim 6 wherein said mirror and the quarter-wave retardation film are coatings on a flexible membrane.