Precision double-sided aspheric element
First Claim
1. A precision optical element comprising first and second aspheric surfaces, said surfaces being single point machined by means of a diamond tool, and wherein said element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of germanium, zinc selenide, zinc sulphide, gallium arsenide, silicon and calcium fluoride.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A precision optical element is described, such as is used in thermal imaging systems in the infrared, manufactured by means of single point machining, with both of its surfaces having an aspheric form, with or without the addition of a diffractive optics pattern. The element is produced while held in a novel vacuum chuck, whose support surface has a width in the radial direction significantly less than the size of the element, and which is aspherically machined to match the aspheric first surface of the element. A method whereby such an element can be produced by means of single point machining, such as diamond turning or fly cutting, is also described. Also described are new optical system designs and applications using such double-sided aspheric elements, thereby providing significant improvement over currently available optical systems.
42 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A precision optical element comprising first and second aspheric surfaces, said surfaces being single point machined by means of a diamond tool, and wherein said element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of germanium, zinc selenide, zinc sulphide, gallium arsenide, silicon and calcium fluoride.
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6. A precision optical element comprising first and second aspheric surfaces, said surfaces being single point machined by means of a diamond tool, and wherein said element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of germanium, zinc selenide, zinc sulphide, gallium arsenide, silicon and calcium fluoride, and which further comprises a diffractive optics pattern on at least one of its surfaces.
- 7. An optical system comprising at least one precision optical element comprising two aspheric surfaces, said surfaces being single point machined by means of a diamond tool, and wherein said element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of germanium, zinc selenide, zinc sulphide, gallium arsenide, silicon and calcium fluoride.
- 11. A precision optical element comprising first and second aspheric surfaces, said first and second aspheric surfaces being formed by material removal, and wherein said element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of germanium, zinc selenide, zinc sulphide, gallium arsenide, silicon and calcium fluoride.
- 16. A precision optical element comprising first and second aspheric surfaces, said element being constructed of a non-molded infra-red transparent material.
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24. A precision optical element comprising first and second aspheric surfaces, said surfaces bearing indications of single point machining marks.
Specification