Optical system
First Claim
1. An optical system comprisingat least two gradient index lenses of predetermined diameter,and spacer means between said lenses for increasing the light throughput transmitted through said lenses by substantial maximization of the optical invariant of said system,the image transmitted through said system being represented by a chief ray and an axial ray,a first said gradient index lens disposed uplight of said spacer means having a length preselected whereby at the downlight surface of said first lens a first of said rays has a slope of essentially zero and a second of said rays has a negative slope,said spacer means being of substantially homogeneous substance and affixed to the downlight surface of said first gradient index lens, said spacer means being adapted to transmit said rays received through said first lens essentially without refraction, and said spacer means having a length preselected to cause said ray that has a negative slope to intersect the center axis of said optical system approximately at the downlight surface of said substantially homogeneous spacer means,a second said gradient index lens affixed to the downlight surface of said substantially homogeneous spacer means, the transmitted image received at the first surface of said second gradient index lens thereby having a height substantially approaching the radius of said optical system,whereby the optical invariant of said second gradient index lens is substantially maximized for increased light throughput.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical system comprising at least two gradient index lenses further includes spacer means of substantially homogenous substance affixed therebetween to provide increased light throughput by substantial maximization of the optical invariant of the system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical system comprising
at least two gradient index lenses of predetermined diameter, and spacer means between said lenses for increasing the light throughput transmitted through said lenses by substantial maximization of the optical invariant of said system, the image transmitted through said system being represented by a chief ray and an axial ray, a first said gradient index lens disposed uplight of said spacer means having a length preselected whereby at the downlight surface of said first lens a first of said rays has a slope of essentially zero and a second of said rays has a negative slope, said spacer means being of substantially homogeneous substance and affixed to the downlight surface of said first gradient index lens, said spacer means being adapted to transmit said rays received through said first lens essentially without refraction, and said spacer means having a length preselected to cause said ray that has a negative slope to intersect the center axis of said optical system approximately at the downlight surface of said substantially homogeneous spacer means, a second said gradient index lens affixed to the downlight surface of said substantially homogeneous spacer means, the transmitted image received at the first surface of said second gradient index lens thereby having a height substantially approaching the radius of said optical system, whereby the optical invariant of said second gradient index lens is substantially maximized for increased light throughput.
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13. A method for increasing the light throughput transmitted through an optical system comprising at least two gradient index lenses of predetermined diameter by substantial maximization of the optical invarient of said system, the image transmitted through said system being represented by a chief ray and an axial ray,
said method comprising, providing, in said optical system, a first said gradient index lens, selecting the length of said first lens to cause, at the downlight surface of said lens, a first of said rays to have a slope of essentially zero and a second of said rays to have a negative slope, a spacer means of substantially homogeneous substance, selecting the length of said spacer means to cause, approximately at the downlight surface of said spacer means, the ray having the negative slope to intersect the center axis of said optical system, and a second said gradient index lens, affixing said spacer means to the downlight surface of said first gradient index lens, affixing said second lens to the downlight surface of said spacer means, receiving the rays transmitted through the downlight surface said first lens into said spacer means, and transmitting therethrough the rays received essentially without refraction, and receiving the rays transmitted through the downlight surface of said spacer means into said second lens, the transmitted image received at the uplight surface of said second gradient index lens thereby having a height substantially approaching the radius of said optical system, whereby the optical invariant of said second gradient index lens is substantially maximized for increased light throughput.
Specification