Diffractive waveplate lenses and applications

• US 10,557,977 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2018
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beam Engineering For Advanced Measurements Co.
• Original Assignee: Beam Engineering For Advanced Measurements Co.
• Inventors: Tabirian, Nelson V., Serak, Svetlana, Uskova, Olena, Roberts, David E., Tabirian, Anna, Steeves, Diane, Kimball, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Kianni, Kaveh C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, Hung Q
• Application Number:
  US16/220,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20200025986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 385 11, 385 14, 385 33, 385124, 385129
• 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

Methods, systems and devices for diffractive waveplate lens and mirror systems allowing electronically focusing light at different focal planes. The system can be incorporated into a variety of optical schemes for providing electrical control of transmission. In another embodiment, the system comprises diffractive waveplates of different functionality to provide a system for controlling not only focusing but other propagation properties of light including direction, phase profile, and intensity distribution.

Claims

1. An optical system comprising:

a light source;

a flat mirror having a quarter wave plate deposited on the flat mirror;

one or more diffractive waveplates with switchable optical power for receiving the light from the light source, said one or more diffractive wave plates are selected from a group consisting of cylindrical diffractive waveplate lenses, cycloidal diffractive waveplates, axial diffractive waveplates, axicon diffractive waveplates, beam shaping diffractive waveplates, and arrays of diffractive waveplates; and

one or more switching devices for selectively switching the optical power of said one or more diffractive waveplates to provide an electrically controlled diffraction property in reflected light;

the flat mirror to provide an electrically controlled diffraction property in reflected light.

2. The optical system as in claim 1 wherein said light source is fiber coupled.

3. The optical system as in claim 1, wherein said one or more diffractive waveplates have an optical axis orientation that is modulated in one or both transverse directions parallel to a substrate.

4. The optical system as in claim 1 wherein said one or more switching devices for selectively switching the optical power of said optical system include variable phase retardation plates.

5. The optical system as in claim 4 wherein said one or more diffractive waveplates are deposited on a surface of at least one of the variable phase retardation plates.

6. The optical system as in claim 1, wherein a cylinder axes in alternating cylindrical diffractive waveplate lenses are rotated with respect to each other.

7. An optical imaging system with multiple focal lengths comprising:

a generally unpolarized and non-monochromatic light source;

one or more diffractive waveplates with switchable optical power for receiving the light from the generally unpolarized and non-monochromatic light source, said one or more diffractive wave plates are selected from a group consisting of diffractive waveplate lenses, cycloidal diffractive waveplates, axial diffractive waveplates, axicon diffractive waveplates, beam shaping diffractive waveplates, and arrays of diffractive waveplates;

a substrate in the optical imaging system; and

one or more switching devices for selectively switching the optical power of said one or more diffractive waveplates.

8. The optical imaging system as in claim 7 wherein said one or more switching devices for selectively switching the optical power of said optical image system include variable phase retardation plates.