Flexible lens
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flexible lens assembly comprising:
- a long, flexible structural layer; and
a first optical layer coupled to the long, flexible structural layer, wherein the optical layer is shaped to achieve a desired optical characteristic, wherein the flexible lens assembly is at least several inches long, wherein the flexible lens assembly exhibits diffraction limited optical characteristics, and wherein the flexible lens assembly is capable of being flexed in at least 180°
arc while maintaining its diffraction limited optical characteristics.
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Abstract
A flexible lens assembly. The flexible lens assembly includes a long, flexible structural layer and a first optical layer coupled to the long, flexible structural layer. The optical layer is shaped to achieve a desired optical characteristic, wherein the flexible lens assembly exhibits diffraction limited optical characteristics, and wherein the flexible lens assembly is capable of being flexed in at least a 180° arc while maintaining its diffraction limited optical characteristics. In one preferred embodiment, the flexible lens assembly is a flexible cylinder lens.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A flexible lens assembly comprising:
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a long, flexible structural layer; and a first optical layer coupled to the long, flexible structural layer, wherein the optical layer is shaped to achieve a desired optical characteristic, wherein the flexible lens assembly is at least several inches long, wherein the flexible lens assembly exhibits diffraction limited optical characteristics, and wherein the flexible lens assembly is capable of being flexed in at least 180°
arc while maintaining its diffraction limited optical characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A flexible lens comprising:
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a long, thin, flexible structural layer constructed of a polymeric material, the structural layer being a longitudinally extending member having a first major surface and a second major surface, wherein the first major surface and second major surface are generally flat; and a first optical layer extending along the first major surface, wherein the first optical layer is shaped to exhibit a desired optical characteristic; wherein the flexible lens exhibits diffraction limited optical characteristics, and wherein the flexible lens is several inches in length and capable of flexing into a desired shape and being wrapped about a cylindrically shaped guide, wherein the flexible lens is capable of being flexed into a semi-circular shape and when the flexible lens is flexed into a semi-circular shape it maintains its diffraction limited optical characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A long, thin flexible cylinder lens comprising:
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a thin, flexible structural layer constructed of a polymeric material, the structural layer being a longitudinally extending member having a first major surface and a second major surface, wherein the first major surface and second major surface are generally flat; a first optical layer extending along the first major surface, wherein the first optical layer is shaped to exhibit a desired optical characteristic; and a second optical layer extending at least partially along the second major surface, wherein the second optical layer is shaped to exhibit a desired optical characteristic; wherein the first optical layer, the second optical layer, and the thin, flexible structural layer combine to form a long, thin, flexible cylinder lens which is capable of being flexed into a desired shape for achieving a desired optical characteristic, wherein the flexible lens is several inches in length, wherein the flexible lens exhibits diffraction limited optical characteristics, and wherein the flexible lens is capable of being flexed into an arc of at least 180°
while maintaining its diffraction limited optical characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification