Graded thickness optical element and method of manufacture therefor
First Claim
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1. A method of making a graded thickness optical element, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first layer having an aperture spaced above a substrate;
providing one or more materials on the substrate through the aperture in the first layer to form a graded thickness optical element that extends laterally beyond the aperture in at least one region; and
providing an intermediate layer between the first layer and the substrate wherein the intermediate layer has an aperture that extends laterally beyond the aperture in the first layer in at least one region; and
wherein the steps of providing the first layer and the intermediate layer include the steps of;
applying the intermediate layer adjacent the substrate;
applying the first layer adjacent the intermediate layer;
applying a third layer adjacent the first layer;
creating an aperture in the third layer;
creating an aperture in the first layer; and
creating an aperture in the intermediate layer, wherein the aperture in the intermediate layer extends laterally beyond the aperture in the first layer in the at least one region.
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Abstract
A graded optical element is provided that includes graded layers of optical material, wherein the layers may or may not have different indexes of refraction. A method for making such a graded thickness optical element is also provided. A masking layer is preferably spaced above a substrate, where the masking layer has at least one aperture therein. Optical material is then deposited on the substrate through the aperture in the masking layer to form a layer of refr material that extends laterally beyond the aperture in the masking layer in at least one region.
98 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of making a graded thickness optical element, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first layer having an aperture spaced above a substrate;
providing one or more materials on the substrate through the aperture in the first layer to form a graded thickness optical element that extends laterally beyond the aperture in at least one region; and
providing an intermediate layer between the first layer and the substrate wherein the intermediate layer has an aperture that extends laterally beyond the aperture in the first layer in at least one region; and
wherein the steps of providing the first layer and the intermediate layer include the steps of;
applying the intermediate layer adjacent the substrate;
applying the first layer adjacent the intermediate layer;
applying a third layer adjacent the first layer;
creating an aperture in the third layer;
creating an aperture in the first layer; and
creating an aperture in the intermediate layer, wherein the aperture in the intermediate layer extends laterally beyond the aperture in the first layer in the at least one region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of making a graded thickness optical element, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first layer having an aperture spaced above a substrate;
providing one or more materials on the substrate through the aperture in the first layer to form a graded thickness optical element that extends laterally beyond the aperture in at least one region; and
providing an intermediate layer between the first layer and the substrate wherein the intermediate layer has an aperture that extends laterally beyond the aperture in the first layer in at least one region, wherein the intermediate layer is a polymer. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method of making a graded thickness optical element, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first layer having an aperture spaced above a substrate; and
providing one or more materials on the substrate through the aperture in the first layer to form a graded thickness optical element that extends laterally beyond the aperture in at least one region; and
wherein;
the substrate includes an optical device under the optical layer;
the optical device is a light detector;
the light detector is a Resonant Cavity Photo Detector; and
the graded thickness optical element is a mirror that at least contributes to the reflectance of a top mirror of the Resonant Cavity Photo Detector. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method of making a graded thickness optical element, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first layer having an aperture spaced above a substrate; and
providing one or more materials on the substrate through the aperture in the first layer to form a graded thickness optical element that extends laterally beyond the aperture in at least one region; and
wherein the step of providing one or more materials to the substrate through the aperture in the first layer to form a graded thickness optical layer comprises the steps of;
depositing a first layer of refractive material having a first index of refraction; and
depositing a second layer of refractive material having a second index of refraction.
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11. A method of making a graded thickness optical element, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first layer having an aperture spaced above a substrate; and
providing one or more materials on the substrate through the aperture in the first layer to form a graded thickness optical element that extends laterally beyond the aperture in at least one region; and
wherein the step of providing one or more materials to the substrate through the aperture in the first layer to form a graded thickness optical layer comprises the steps of alternately depositing a layer of refractive material having a first index of refraction and depositing a layer of refractive material having a second index of refraction. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of making a graded thickness optical element, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first layer having an aperture spaced above a substrate;
providing one or more materials on the substrate through the aperture in the first layer to form a graded thickness optical element that extends laterally beyond the aperture in at least one region; and
providing an intermediate layer between the first layer and the substrate wherein the intermediate layer has an aperture that extends laterally beyond the aperture in the first layer in at least one region; and
wherein the first layer is a dielectric material.
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14. A method of making a graded thickness optical element, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first layer having an aperture spaced above a substrate; and
providing one or more materials on the substrate through the aperture in the first layer to form a graded thickness optical element that extends laterally beyond the aperture in at least one region; and
wherein;
the substrate includes an optical device under the optical layer;
the optical device is a light detector; and
the light detector is a Resonant Cavity Photo Detector.
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15. An optical element comprising:
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a plurality of refractive layers, each layer having a center region, an edge region and an index of refraction; and
wherein;
the center region of each layer is thicker than the edge region and selected layers have different indexes of refraction; and
at least one of the layers includes a dielectric material.
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Specification