Optical mechanism with indexing stage with at least one fixed diameter apodized aperture and method of making same

• US 8,734,033 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Walters, Robert W., Tang, Robert H., Seybert, Kevin W., Blackburn, Forrest R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, WB
• Application Number:
  US13/792,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20130259464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 396/505, 396/507, 359/738, 359/739, 359/885, 359/888, 427/164, 264/1.7
• US Class Current: 396/505
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/06 to obtain multicolour or other optical effects B05D5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/0073 Optical laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00865 Applying coatings; tinting; colouring printing, marking or copying processes B41M; identification in general G09F3/00; producing decorative effects in general B44C; positioning or marking of lenses B24B13/0055
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/14 Protective coatings, e.g. hard coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/02 for controlling the intensity of light G02B26/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/58 Optics for apodization or superresolution; Optical synthetic aperture systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/005 Diaphragms for cameras G03B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/205 Neutral density filters
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/04 Single movable plate with two or more apertures of graded size, e.g. sliding plate or pivoting plate

Abstract

An optical mechanism for a camera having a camera aperture includes an indexing stage movable between at least two distinct positions. At least a first fixed diameter apodized aperture is mounted on the stage and configured to be aligned with the camera aperture in one of the distinct positions of the indexing stage, and wherein the first fixed diameter apodized aperture is not aligned with the camera aperture in the other of the distinct positions of the indexing stage. The stage can include multiple fixed diameter apodized apertures of distinct effective diameters each of which can be selectively aligned with the camera aperture. The mechanism includes an actuator for moving the stage between each of said distinct positions. Methods for mass producing the fixed diameter apodized aperture are disclosed using dye diffusion into optical elements via various methods, and various casting and molding formation techniques.

Claims

1. An optical mechanism for a camera having a camera aperture, said optical mechanism comprising:

a. An indexing stage movable between at least two distinct positions;

b. At least a first fixed diameter apodized aperture mounted on the stage and configured to be aligned with the camera aperture in one of the distinct positions of the indexing stage, and wherein the first fixed diameter apodized aperture is not aligned with the camera aperture in the other of the distinct positions of the indexing stage; and

c. An actuator for moving the stage between each of said distinct positions.

2. The optical mechanism of claim 1 further including alignment mechanism configured to align the stage in each distinct position.

3. The optical mechanism of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a linear actuator.

4. The optical mechanism of claim 3, wherein the stage is configured for linear movement between each of the distinct positions.

5. The optical mechanism of claim 4, further including an alignment mechanism configured to align the stage in each of the distinct positions and wherein there are two distinct positions for the indexing stage.

6. The optical mechanism of claim 5, wherein there exactly one fixed diameter apodized aperture mounted on the indexing stage.

7. The optical mechanism of claim 6, wherein the optical element provides a resulting F-stop value of the camera of about F2.0 to about F11.0 with the stage in the one of the distinct positions and an F-stop value of the camera aperture in the other of the distinct positions.

8. The optical mechanism of claim 3, wherein the stage is configured for rotary movement between each of the distinct positions.

9. The optical mechanism of claim 8, further including an alignment mechanism configured to align the stage in each of the distinct positions and wherein there is at least two fixed diameter apodized apertures mounted on the indexing stage, each configured to be aligned with the camera aperture with the indexing stage in selected distinct positions.

10. The optical mechanism of claim 9, wherein there are at least three distinct positions for the indexing stage.

11. The optical mechanism of claim 10, wherein there are exactly two fixed diameter apodized apertures mounted on the indexing stage and wherein the optical element provides a resulting F-stop value of the camera of about F/2.0 to about F/4.0 with the stage in the one of the distinct positions, a resulting F-stop value of the camera of about F/4.5 to about F/7.5 with the stage in a second of the distinct positions and an F-stop value of about F/8.0 to about F/11.0 with the camera aperture in the third of the distinct positions.

12. The optical mechanism of claim 3, wherein the actuator is a rotary actuator and the stage is configured for rotary movement between each of the distinct positions.

13. The optical mechanism of claim 12, further including an alignment mechanism configured to align the stage in each of the distinct positions and wherein there is at least two fixed diameter apodized apertures mounted on the indexing stage, each configured to be aligned with the camera aperture with the indexing stage in selected distinct positions.

14. The optical mechanism of claim 13, wherein there are at least three distinct positions for the indexing stage.

15. The optical mechanism of claim 14, wherein there is at least three fixed diameter apodized apertures mounted on the indexing stage, each configured to be aligned with the camera aperture with the indexing stage in selected distinct positions.

16. The optical mechanism of claim 15, wherein there are at least four distinct positions for the indexing stage.

17. The optical mechanism of claim 16, wherein there are exactly three fixed diameter apodized apertures mounted on the indexing stage and wherein the optical element provides a resulting F-stop value of the camera of about F/2.0 to about F/6.0 with the stage in the one of the distinct positions, a resulting F-stop value of the camera of about F/5.5 to about F/8.0 with the stage in a second of the distinct positions, a resulting F-stop value of the camera of about F/8.0 to about F/11.0 with the stage in a third of the distinct positions and an F-stop value of the camera aperture in the fourth of the distinct positions.

18. The optical mechanism of claim 1, wherein each fixed diameter apodized aperture includes dye diffused into an optical substrate.

19. The optical mechanism of claim 1, wherein each fixed diameter apodized aperture includes a clear topcoat.

20. The optical mechanism of claim 1, wherein each fixed diameter apodized aperture is molded with a dye containing optical substrate.

21. A method of making a fixed diameter apodized aperture comprising the steps of:

a. Providing an optical substrate for the apodized aperture;

b. Depositing a mask on the substrate;

c. Depositing a material containing an optical dye onto the substrate; and

d. Diffusing the optical dye into the optical substrate, wherein the dye will diffuse into the substrate at least partially under the mask when viewed from above the mask and the substrate, forming an apodized aperture.

22. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 21 wherein the effective diameter of the apodized aperture is determined by the effective diameter of the mask and the level of diffusion of step d.

23. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 21 wherein the mask is a substantially circular mask which is generally centered on the apodized aperture.

24. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 23 wherein the mask is an optical clear coat.

25. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 21 wherein the mask forms part of the apodized aperture.

26. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 21 wherein the mask is a substantially circular optical clear coat.

27. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 21 further including a planarizing step.

28. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 27, wherein the planarizing step includes the at least partial removal of the mask.

29. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 27, wherein the planarizing step includes the addition of a planarizing layer.

30. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 21, wherein a plurality of masks are applied to a single optical substrate for simultaneously forming multiple apertures.

31. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 21 wherein the optical substrate is formed from a material selected from the group of UV curable, Thermally curable, thermoplastics.

32. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 21 wherein the dye is formed from a material that absorbs light from 325 to 850 nm.

33. A method of making a fixed diameter apodized aperture comprising the steps of:

a. Providing an clear optical substrate for the apodized aperture,

b. Providing an dye containing optical substrate for the apodized aperture surrounding the clear optical substrate for the apodized aperture;

c. Diffusing the optical dye from the dye containing optical substrate into the clear optical substrate forming an apodized aperture.

34. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 33 wherein the effective diameter of the apodized aperture is determined by the effective diameter of the clear optical substrate and the level of diffusion of step c.

35. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 34 wherein the clear optical substrate is substantially circular and is generally centered on the apodized aperture.

36. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 33 wherein the clear optical substrate is substantially circular and is generally centered on the apodized aperture.

37. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 33 further including planarizing step.

38. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 33, wherein multiple apertures are simultaneously formed.

39. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 38 further including a planarizing step.

40. A method of making a fixed diameter apodized aperture comprising the steps of:

a. Providing an clear optical substrate for the apodized aperture having radially outwardly diverging sides from the top of the clear optical substrate to the bottom thereof,

b. casting an dye containing optical substrate for the apodized aperture surrounding the clear diverging side optical substrate for the apodized aperture.

41. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 40 wherein the effective diameter of the apodized aperture is determined by the effective diameter of the clear optical substrate and the shape of the diverging sides.

42. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 41 wherein the clear optical substrate is substantially circular and is generally centered on the apodized aperture.

43. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 40 wherein the clear optical substrate is substantially circular and is generally centered on the apodized aperture.

44. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 40 further including a planarizing step.

45. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 40, wherein multiple apertures are simultaneously formed.

46. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 45 further including a planarizing step.

47. A method of making a fixed diameter apodized aperture comprising the steps of:

a. Providing an clear optical substrate for the apodized aperture,

b. Providing an dye containing optical substrate for the apodized aperture surrounding the clear optical substrate for the apodized aperture; and

c. Simultaneously providing the clear optical substrate and the dye containing optical substrate in a manner allowing for diffusing the optical dye from the dye containing optical substrate into the clear optical substrate forming an apodized aperture.

48. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 47 wherein the effective diameter of the apodized aperture is determined by the effective diameter of the clear optical substrate and the level of diffusion of step c.

49. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 47 wherein the clear optical substrate is substantially circular and is generally centered on the apodized aperture.

50. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 47 wherein a pair of movable print heads are used for dispensing the dye containing optical substrate and the clear optical substrate.

51. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 47 wherein a pair of concentric dispensing nozzles are used for dispensing the dye containing optical substrate and the clear optical substrate.

52. The method of forming a fixed diameter apodized aperture according to claim 47 wherein the providing of the clear optical substrate and the dye containing optical substrate is in an injection molding operation.