Athermalized and achromatized optical systems employing diffractive optical element
First Claim
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1. A method of simultaneously athermalizing and achromatizing an optical system, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an optical system;
(b) assembling a lens group of at least three lenses of different materials, said materials having different thermal glass constants;
(c) securing a diffractive optical element to one of the lenses in said lens group, wherein said diffractive optical element further comprises means for correcting chromatic aberration, said diffractive optical element associated with one of said first, second or third lenses, wherein an effective focal length ratio between said first lens and said second lens approximates a ratio of their respective first and second thermal glass constants said lenses and diffractive optical elements generally positioned on an optical axis defined by said first lens providing a compact system being simultaneously athermalized and achromatized; and
(d) positioning said lens group and said diffractive optical element to focus energy onto a focal plane within said optical system.
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Abstract
An athermalized and achromatized optical system (10, 30) has a lens group (12, 32) focusing energy on a focal plane (14, 42). The lens group (12, 32) includes at least two optical elements (22, 24, 26, 34, 36) of different material and a diffractive optical element (28, 40). The system (10, 30) enables athermalization and achromatization of the optical system.
40 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of simultaneously athermalizing and achromatizing an optical system, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an optical system; (b) assembling a lens group of at least three lenses of different materials, said materials having different thermal glass constants; (c) securing a diffractive optical element to one of the lenses in said lens group, wherein said diffractive optical element further comprises means for correcting chromatic aberration, said diffractive optical element associated with one of said first, second or third lenses, wherein an effective focal length ratio between said first lens and said second lens approximates a ratio of their respective first and second thermal glass constants said lenses and diffractive optical elements generally positioned on an optical axis defined by said first lens providing a compact system being simultaneously athermalized and achromatized; and (d) positioning said lens group and said diffractive optical element to focus energy onto a focal plane within said optical system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeRaytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
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Original AssigneeHughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
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InventorsChen, Chungte W.
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Primary Examiner(s)Sugarman, Scott J.
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Application NumberUS08/285,540Time in Patent Office1,205 DaysField of Search359/565, 359/566, 359/785, 359/793US Class Current359/565CPC Class CodesG02B 13/14 for use with infrared or ul...G02B 27/0037 with diffracting elements G...G02B 27/4211 correcting chromatic aberra...G02B 27/4283 having a diffractive elemen...G02B 7/028 with means for compensating...
