Adjustable apodized lens aperture
First Claim
1. An optical element comprising a photochromic material, the photochromic material being configured such that when the photochromic material is exposed to excitation energy an apodized aperture operable to transmit visible light through the optical element is formed, wherein variance of the excitation energy causes corresponding adjustment of the apodized aperture, and wherein the apodized aperture is characterized by a Gaussian radial transmission curve.
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Abstract
An adjustable apodized lens aperture is described which is constructed using photochromic material. As the excitation energy increases, the aperture constricts so as reduce the amount of light through the aperture. As the excitation energy decreases, the aperture dilates so as increase the amount of light through the aperture.
48 Citations
35 Claims
- 1. An optical element comprising a photochromic material, the photochromic material being configured such that when the photochromic material is exposed to excitation energy an apodized aperture operable to transmit visible light through the optical element is formed, wherein variance of the excitation energy causes corresponding adjustment of the apodized aperture, and wherein the apodized aperture is characterized by a Gaussian radial transmission curve.
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20. An optical element comprising a photochromic material, the photochromic material being configured such that when the photochromic material is exposed to excitation energy an apodized aperture operable to transmit visible light through the optical element is formed, wherein variance of the excitation energy causes corresponding adjustment of the apodized aperture, wherein the photochromic material includes a photochromic dye which is substantially uniformly distributed throughout the photochromic material, and wherein a thickness of the photochromic material increases along a radius of the apodized aperture, the optical element further comprising a plano-plano element and a plano-convex element, a convex surface of the plano-convex element having a point of contact with a flat surface of the plano-plano element, wherein the photochromic material is disposed between the plano-plano element and the plano-convex element around the point of contact such that the thickness of the photochromic material varies with the convex surface.
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21. An optical element comprising a photochromic material, the photochromic material being configured such that when the photochromic material is exposed to excitation energy an apodized aperture operable to transmit visible light through the optical element is formed, wherein variance of the excitation energy causes corresponding adjustment of the apodized aperture, wherein the photochromic material includes a photochromic dye which is substantially uniformly distributed throughout the photochromic material, and wherein a thickness of the photochromic material increases along a radius of the apodized aperture, the optical element further comprising a plano-plano element and a plano-convex element, a truncated convex surface of the plano-convex element having an area of contact with a flat surface of the plano-plano element, wherein the photochromic material is disposed between the plano-plano element and the plano-convex element around the area of contact such that the thickness of the photochromic material varies with the truncated convex surface.
- 22. An optical element comprising a photochromic material, the photochromic material being configured such that when the photochromic material is exposed to excitation energy an apodized aperture operable to transmit visible light through the optical element is formed, wherein variance of the excitation energy causes corresponding adjustment of the apodized aperture, and wherein the photochromic material includes a photochromic dye which is distributed throughout the photochromic material such that an active concentration of the photochromic dye increases along a radius of the apodized aperture.
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25. An optical element comprising a photochromic material, the photochromic material being configured such that when the photochromic material is exposed to excitation energy an apodized aperture operable to transmit visible light through the optical element is formed, wherein variance of the excitation energy causes corresponding adjustment of the apodized aperture, the optical element further comprising an ultraviolet (UV) blocking element configured to inhibit UV energy from impinging on at least a portion of a front surface of the photochromic material through which the visible light reaches the apodized aperture, wherein the UV blocking element has a transmission characteristic for UV energy which increases along a radius of the apodized aperture.
- 26. An optical element comprising a photochromic material, the photochromic material being configured such that when the photochromic material is exposed to excitation energy an apodized aperture operable to transmit visible light through the optical element is formed, wherein variance of the excitation energy causes corresponding adjustment of the apodized aperture, the optical element further comprising an ultraviolet (UV) blocking element configured to inhibit UV energy from impinging on at least a portion of a front surface of the photochromic material through which the visible light reaches the apodized aperture, wherein the UV blocking element blocks substantially all UV energy from impinging on the front surface of the photochromic material.
Specification