Hybrid micromirror array lens for reducing chromatic aberration

• US 7,489,434 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stereo D Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Angstrom, Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
• Inventors: Seo, Cheong Soo, Cho, Gyoung Il, Baek, Sang Hyune, Sohn, Jin Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; William C
• Application Number:
  US11/743,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20080273235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 359/198, 359/224, 359/225, 359/230, 359/290, 359/291, 359/298, 359/846, 359/850, 359/851, 359/853, 359/854, 359/872
• US Class Current: 359/290
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0025 for optical correction, e.g. distorsion, aberration

Abstract

This invention provides a Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens with reduced chromatic aberration over a broadband wavelength range of light. Conventional micromirror array lens uses phase matching condition. Therefore, the optical surface profile of Micromirror Array Lens using the same phase condition has a discontinuous surface profile. As the required optical power of Micromirror Array Lens is increased, the number of profile discontinuity of Micromirror Array Lens is increased. Therefore, the chromatic aberration is increased. To minimize the chromatic aberration, the number of profile discontinuity should be minimized. The number of discontinuity is reduced when the optical surface profile has a simulating base curve, called a translation contour with optical power. Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens is invented to reduce a large translational amount and chromatic aberration for large optical power lens.

Claims

1. A Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens comprising a plurality of micromirrors, wherein rotation and translation of each micromirror in the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens are controlled to have at least one optical surface profile, wherein the rotation of the micromirror is controlled to satisfy converging condition and the translation of the micromirror is controlled in order to have a translation contour with optical power and to satisfy periodic phase matching condition.

2. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 1, wherein each optical surface profile simulates a lens with predetermined optical properties.

3. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 2, wherein the optical surface profile is determined by rotation and translation of the micromirrors in the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens.

4. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 3, the optical surface profile has a translation contour purely determined by translation of the micromirrors.

5. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 2, wherein the optical property is a focal length of the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens.

6. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 2, wherein the optical property is an optical axis of the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens.

7. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 2, wherein the optical property is a field of view of the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens.

8. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 2, wherein the optical property is an aberration correction of the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens.

9. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 2, wherein the optical property is an optical power of the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens.

10. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 2, wherein the optical property is an optical magnification of the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens.

11. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 1, wherein the optical surface profile satisfies the periodic phase matching condition for one wavelength.

12. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 1, wherein the optical surface profile satisfies the periodic phase matching condition for effective wavelength.

13. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 1, wherein the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens has multiple optical surface profiles.

14. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 13, wherein the optical surface profile is changed.

15. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 14, wherein the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens changes its focal length by changing the optical surface profiles.

16. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 14, wherein the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens changes its optical axis by changing the optical surface profiles.

17. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 14, wherein the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens changes its field of view by changing the optical surface profiles.

18. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 14, wherein the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens changes its property for aberration correction by changing the optical surface profiles.

19. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 14, wherein the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens changes its optical power by changing the optical surface profiles.

20. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 14, wherein the optical power is changed by change of the translational contour.

21. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 14, wherein the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens changes its optical magnification by changing the optical surface profiles.

22. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 13, wherein the optical surface profiles satisfy the periodic phase matching condition for one wavelength.

23. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 13, wherein the optical surface profile satisfy the periodic phase matching condition for effective wavelength.

24. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 13, wherein each optical surface profile satisfies the periodic phase matching condition for corresponding wavelength.

25. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 24, wherein the corresponding wavelength is one of Red, Green, and Blue.

26. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 24, wherein the corresponding wavelength is one of Yellow, Cyan, and Magenta.

27. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 24, wherein the corresponding wavelength is least common multiple of Red, Green, and Blue.

28. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 24, wherein the corresponding wavelength is least common multiple of Yellow, Cyan, and Magenta.

29. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 13, wherein the optical surface profile is discretely controlled.

30. The Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens of claim 13, wherein each optical surface profile is formed by a common input signal to micromirrors in the Hybrid Micromirror Array Lens.