Glasses for the correction of chromatic and thermal optical aberations for lenses transmitting in the near, mid, and far-infrared spectrums

• US 10,294,143 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2015
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schott Corporation (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Schott Corporation (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Carlie, Nathan Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiese, Noah S
• Application Number:
  US14/937,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20160168015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 501 40
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/32 Non-oxide glass compositions, e.g. binary or ternary halides, sulfides or nitrides of germanium, selenium or tellurium
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/321 Chalcogenide glasses, e.g. containing S, Se, Te
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/323 containing halogen, e.g. chalcohalide glasses
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 4/10 for infrared transmitting glass
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0806 Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/14 for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation G02B13/008, G02B13/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/146 with corrections for use in multiple wavelength bands, such as infrared and visible light, e.g. FLIR systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0025 for optical correction, e.g. distorsion, aberration

Abstract

The invention relates to chalcogenide glass compositions for use in a lens system to balance thermal effects and chromatic effects and thereby provide an achromatic and athermal optical element that efficiently maintains achromatic performance across a broad temperature range. The glass composition is based on sulfur compounded with germanium, arsenic and/or gallium, and may further comprise halides of, for example, silver, zinc, or alkali metals. Alternatively, is based on selenium compounded with gallium, and preferably germanium, and contains chlorides and/or bromides of, for example, zinc, lead or alkali metals.

Claims

1. In a night vision device comprising an infrared optical element, an image enhancer or intensifier, and a phosphor or fluorescent display, the improvement wherein said infrared optical element comprises a lens made from a chalcogenide glass composition consisting essentially of (based on mol % of total moles):

2. A night vision device according to claim 1, wherein said composition contains 5.00-7.00 mol % Ga.

3. A night vision device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the gallium is replaced by indium in said composition.

4. A night vision device according to claim 1, wherein said composition contains 23.00-25.00 mol % Ge.

5. A night vision device according to claim 1, wherein said composition does not contain arsenic.

6. A night vision device according to claim 1, wherein said composition consists of (based on mol % of total moles):

7. In an infrared or thermal imaging system comprising an infrared optical element, a plurality of thermal sensors for detecting the infrared light and converting it into electrical signals, and a signal-processing unit for converting the electrical signals into a visual image, the improvement wherein said infrared optical element comprises a lens made from a chalcogenide glass composition consisting essentially of (based on mol % of total moles):

8. An infrared or thermal imaging system according to claim 7, wherein said composition contains 5.00-7.00 mol % Ga.

9. An infrared or thermal imaging system according to claim 7, wherein a portion of the gallium is replaced by indium in said composition.

10. An infrared or thermal imaging system according to claim 7, wherein said composition contains 23.00-25.00 mol % Ge.

11. An infrared or thermal imaging system according to claim 7, wherein said composition does not contain arsenic.

12. An infrared or thermal imaging system according to claim 7, wherein said composition consists of (based on mol % of total moles):

13. A doublet lens comprising an infrared lens paired with a corrective lens wherein said infrared lens is made of ZnSe, ZnS, Ge, GaAs, BaF₂, or chalcogenide glass, and said corrective lens is made from a chalcogenide glass composition consisting essentially of (based on mol % of total moles):

14. A doublet lens according to claim 13, wherein said composition contains 5.00-7.00 mol % Ga.

15. A doublet lens according to claim 13, wherein a portion of the gallium is replaced by indium in said composition.

16. A doublet lens according to claim 13, wherein said composition contains 23.00-25.00 mol % Ge.

17. A doublet lens according to claim 13, wherein said composition does not contain arsenic.

18. A doublet lens according to claim 13, wherein said composition consists of (based on mol % of total moles):

19. An infrared lens system comprising a first infrared lens and a focal corrector doublet lens comprising a pair of corrective lenses, wherein said first infrared lens is made of ZnSe, ZnS, Ge, GaAs, BaF₂, or chalcogenide glass, one of said pair of corrective lenses has a positive power and the other has a negative power, and at least one of said pair of corrective lens is made from a chalcogenide glass composition consisting essentially of (based on mol % of total moles):

20. An infrared lens system according to claim 19, wherein said composition contains 5.00-7.00 mol % Ga.

21. An infrared lens system according to claim 19, wherein a portion of the gallium is replaced by indium in said composition.

22. An infrared lens system according to claim 19, wherein said composition contains 23.00-25.00 mol % Ge.

23. An infrared lens system according to claim 19, wherein said composition does not contain arsenic.

24. An infrared lens system according to claim 19, wherein said composition consists of (based on mol % of total moles):

25. A chalcogenide glass comprising (based on mol % of total moles):

26. In a night vision device comprising an infrared optical element, an image enhancer or intensifier, and a phosphor or fluorescent display, the improvement wherein said infrared optical element comprises a lens made from a chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 25.

27. In an infrared or thermal imaging system comprising an infrared optical element, a plurality of thermal sensors for detecting the infrared light and converting it into electrical signals, and a signal-processing unit for converting the electrical signals into a visual image, the improvement wherein said infrared optical element comprises a lens made from a chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 25.

28. A doublet lens comprising an infrared lens paired with a corrective lens wherein said infrared lens is made of ZnSe, ZnS, Ge, GaAs, BaF₂, or chalcogenide glass, and said corrective lens is made from a chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 25.

29. An infrared lens system comprising a first infrared lens and a focal corrector doublet lens comprising a pair of corrective lenses, wherein said first infrared lens is made of ZnSe, ZnS, Ge, GaAs, BaF₂, or chalcogenide glass, one of said pair of corrective lenses has a positive power and the other has a negative power, and at least one of said pair of corrective lens is made from a chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 25.

30. In a night vision device comprising an infrared optical element, an image enhancer or intensifier, and a phosphor or fluorescent display, the improvement wherein said infrared optical element comprises a lens made from A chalcogenide glass composition that transmits near-, mid-, and/or far-infrared light comprising sulfur compounded with germanium, arsenic and/or gallium, wherein all or a portion of gallium can be replaced by indium, and said composition optionally contains halides of silver, copper (Cu⁺¹), cadmium, zinc, lead (Pb⁺²), alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, or rare earth metals,

wherein the total of the combined Ga and In content of said composition (based on mol % of total moles) 6.00-15.00 mol %, and the amount of Ge in said composition is 10.00-20.00 mol %.

31. In an infrared or thermal imaging system comprising an infrared optical element, a plurality of thermal sensors for detecting the infrared light and converting it into electrical signals, and a signal-processing unit for converting the electrical signals into a visual image, the improvement wherein said infrared optical element comprises a lens made from a chalcogenide glass composition that transmits near-, mid-, and/or far infrared light comprising sulfur compounded with germanium, arsenic and/or gallium, wherein all or a portion of gallium can be replaced by indium, and said composition optionally contains halides of silver, copper (Cu⁺¹), cadmium, zinc, lead (Pb⁺²), alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, or rare earth metals,

wherein the total of the combined Ga and In content of said composition (based on mol % of total moles) 6.00-15.00 mol %, and the amount of Ge in said composition is 10.00-20.00 mol %.

32. A doublet lens comprising an infrared lens paired with a corrective lens wherein said infrared lens is made of ZnSe, ZnS, Ge, GaAs, BaF₂, or chalcogenide glass, and said corrective lens is made from a chalcogenide glass composition that transmits near-, mid-, and/or far infrared light comprising sulfur compounded with germanium, arsenic and/or gallium, wherein all or a portion of gallium can be replaced by indium, and said composition optionally contains halides of silver, copper (Cu⁺¹), cadmium, zinc, lead (Pb⁺²), alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, or rare earth metals,

wherein the total of the combined Ga and In content of said composition (based on mol % of total moles) 6.00-15.00 mol %, and the amount of Ge in said composition is 10.00-20.00 mol %.

33. An infrared lens system comprising a first infrared lens and a focal corrector doublet lens comprising a pair of corrective lenses, wherein said first infrared lens is made of ZnSe, ZnS, Ge, GaAs, BaF₂, or chalcogenide glass, one of said pair of corrective lenses has a positive power and the other has a negative power, and at least one of said pair of corrective lens is made from a chalcogenide glass composition that transmits near-, mid-, and/or far infrared light comprising sulfur compounded with germanium, arsenic and/or gallium, wherein all or a portion of gallium can be replaced by indium, and said composition optionally contains halides of silver, copper (Cu⁺¹), cadmium, zinc, lead (Pb⁺²), alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, or rare earth metals,

wherein the total of the combined Ga and In content of said composition (based on mol % of total moles) 6.00-15.00 mol %, and the amount of Ge in said composition is 10.00-20.00 mol %.

34. A chalcogenide glass composition consisting essentially of (based on mol % of total moles):