Diffractive optical element and optical system having the same

• US 6,480,332 B1
• Filed: 07/24/1998
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakai, Takehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Assaf, Fayez
• Application Number:
  US09/121,685
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 359/576, 359/566, 359/571, 359/569, 359/575
• US Class Current: 359/566
• 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 27/4211 correcting chromatic aberrations G02B27/0056, G02B27/4222, G02B27/4227 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4216 correcting geometrical aberrations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4272 having plural diffractive elements positioned sequentially along the optical path
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/008 with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/028 with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation

Abstract

In a diffractive optical element having a diffraction grating formed at an interface between different substances, a total sum of values obtained by multiplying rates of change in refractive index due to temperature variations of the substances by a grating thickness of the diffraction grating is smaller than a useful wavelength.

Claims

1. A diffractive optical element having a first diffraction grating surface formed at a boundary between first and second layers made of materials of different dispersions and a second diffraction grating surface formed at a boundary between the second layer and air to enhance diffraction efficiency of a design order over a wavelength region,

wherein at least one of the layers is made of a plastic resin material,

wherein, rates of change in refractive index due to temperature variation of the materials of the first and second layers are dn1/dt, respectively, a thickness of a first diffraction grating formed by the first layer is d1, a thickness of a second diffraction grating formed by the second layer having the first and second diffraction grating surfaces is d2, and

wherein said diffractive optical element satisfies the following conditions:

3. A diffractive optical element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said diffraction gratings include a diffraction grating in which a thickness thereof within one period monotonically decreases in one direction and a diffraction grating in which a thickness thereof within one period monotonically increases in the one direction.

4. A diffractive optical element according to claim 3, wherein, among the plurality of layers, if said diffractive optical element has an optical shape formed to monotonically increase the thickness within one period, at least one dispersion of the materials of the layer formed to monotonically decrease the thickness is larger than at least one dispersion of the materials of the layer formed to monotonically increase the thickness.

5. A diffractive optical element according to claim 3, wherein, among the plurality of layers, if said diffractive optical element has an optical shape formed to monotonically decrease the thickness within one period, at least one dispersion of the materials of the layer formed to monotonically increase the thickness is larger than at least one dispersion of the materials of the layer formed to monotonically decrease the thickness.

6. A diffractive optical element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said wavelength region is a visible spectrum.

7. A diffractive optical element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of layers are laminated on a base plate, and a layer which is in contact with the base plate, among the plurality of layers, is made of the same material as that of the base plate.

8. An optical system having a diffractive optical element according to one of claim 1 or 2.

9. An optical system according to claim 8, wherein said optical system is an image forming optical system.

10. An optical system according to claim 8, wherein said optical system is an observation optical system.

11. An optical system apparatus or an electronic apparatus having an optical system according to claim 8.

2. A diffractive optical element having diffraction gratings formed by a plurality of layers made of at least two kinds of materials of different dispersions to enhance diffraction efficiency of a design order over a wavelength region,

wherein at least one of the plurality of layers is made of a plastic resin material,

wherein, a rate of change in refractive index due to temperature variation of the material of the L-th layer is dnoL/dt, a thickness of the diffraction grating formed by the L-th layer is dL, and

wherein said diffractive optical element satisfies the following conditions: