COMPOSITE OPTICAL ELEMENT

• US 20090147363A1
• Filed: 06/06/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takano, Toshiaki, Murata, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 8,077,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/576
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/0073 Optical laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00769 Producing diffraction gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0037 with diffracting elements G02B27/0056 takes precedence; holographic optical elements G02B5/32; zone systems G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4238 in optical recording or readout devices optical pick-up devices such as for CD, DVD or BD reader or recorder using diffraction optics G11B7/1353
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4272 having plural diffractive elements positioned sequentially along the optical path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2007/0006 adapted for scanning different types of carrier, e.g. CD & DVD
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2007/13727 Compound lenses, i.e. two or more lenses co-operating to perform a function, e.g. compound objective lens including a solid immersion lens, positive and negative lenses either bonded together or with adjustable spacing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/1353 Diffractive elements, e.g. holograms or gratings diffraction gratings per se G02B5/18; holograms per se G02B5/32; grating systems G02B27/44
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/1374 Objective lenses optical objectives per se G02B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/13922 passive

Abstract

The present invention relates to composite optical elements, and particularly to a composite optical element in which second and third optical components are coupled to a first optical component.

The present invention is advantageous in enhancing optical properties.

A composite optical element (1) includes first, second and third optical components (10, 20, 30). The first optical component (10) has a lens surface (13). The second optical component (20) is coupled to the first optical component (10) at the lens surface (13) and has a lens surface (22) at a side opposite to a first coupling surface (21) at which the second optical component (20) is coupled to the first optical component (10). The third optical component (30) is coupled to the second optical component (20) at the lens surface (22) and has a lens surface (32) at a side opposite to a second coupling surface (31) at which the third optical component (30) is coupled to the second optical component (20). The lens surface (13) partially has a first uneven region (13a). The lens surface (22) partially has a third uneven region (22a). The lens surface (32) partially has a third uneven region (32a).

Claims

1. A composite optical element, comprising:

a first optical component having a first optical functional surface;

a second optical component coupled to the first optical component at the first optical functional surface and having a second optical functional surface at a side opposite to a first coupling surface of the second optical component at which the second optical component is coupled to the first optical component; and

a third optical component coupled to the second optical component at the second optical functional surface and having a third optical functional surface at a side opposite to a second coupling surface of the third optical component at which the third optical component is coupled to the second optical component,

wherein the first, second and third optical functional surfaces partially have first, second and third uneven regions, respectively.

2. The composite optical element of claim 1, wherein the first optical component has a fourth optical functional surface at a side opposite to the first optical functional surface, and

the fourth optical functional surface partially has a fourth uneven region.

3. The composite optical element of claim 2, further comprising a fourth optical component coupled to the first optical component at the fourth optical functional surface and having a fifth optical functional surface at a side opposite to a third coupling surface of the fourth optical component at which the fourth optical component is coupled to the first optical component,

the fifth optical functional surface partially has a fifth uneven region.

4. The composite optical element of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second and third uneven regions is at least one of a diffraction part, a lens array region including a plurality of concave or convex lens surfaces, a phase stepped region, and an antireflective region.

5. The composite optical element of claim 1, wherein the first optical component is made of first glass,

the second and third optical components are made of first and second resins, respectively, and

each of the first and second resins is an energy-curing resin.

6. The composite optical element of claim 5, wherein the first resin has a softening temperature lower than a glass transition temperature of the first glass and higher than a softening temperature of the second resin.

7. The composite optical element of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second resins is an energy-curing resin.