Glasses for the correction of chromatic and thermal optical aberations for lenses transmitting in the near, mid, and far-infrared sprectrums

• US 9,187,360 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2012
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schott Corporation (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Schott Corporation (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Carlie, Nathan Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiese, Noah
• Application Number:
  US13/452,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20130278999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 501/40
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/32 Non-oxide glass compositions, e.g. binary or ternary halides, sulfides or nitrides of germanium, selenium or tellurium
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/321 Chalcogenide glasses, e.g. containing S, Se, Te
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/323 containing halogen, e.g. chalcohalide glasses
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 4/10 for infrared transmitting glass
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0806 Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/14 for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation G02B13/008, G02B13/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/146 with corrections for use in multiple wavelength bands, such as infrared and visible light, e.g. FLIR systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0025 for optical correction, e.g. distorsion, aberration

Abstract

The invention relates to chalcogenide glass compositions for use in a lens system to balance thermal effects and chromatic effects and thereby provide an achromatic and athermal optical element that efficiently maintains achromatic performance across a broad temperature range. The glass composition is based on sulfur compounded with germanium, arsenic and/or gallium, and may further comprise halides of, for example, silver, zinc, or alkali metals. Alternatively, is based on selenium compounded with gallium, and preferably germanium, and contains chlorides and/or bromides of, for example, zinc, lead or alkali metals.

Claims

1. A chalcogenide glass composition comprising (based on mol % of total moles):

2. A chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 1, wherein said composition comprises (based on mol %):

3. A chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 2, wherein said composition comprises (based on mol %):

4. A chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 2, wherein said composition contains 30.00-65.00 mol % of selenium.

5. A chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 2, wherein said composition contains 15-25.00 mol % Ge.

6. A chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 2, wherein said composition contains 5-22.00 mol % Ga.

7. A chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 2, wherein a portion of the gallium is replaced by indium.

8. A chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 2, wherein said composition contains 6.00-15.00 mol % Hal¹.

9. A chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 2, wherein said composition contains 7.00-25.00 mol % Hal¹.

10. A chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 2, wherein said composition contains 7.00-15.00 mol % Hal¹.

11. A chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 2, wherein said composition contains 6.00-10.00 mol % Hal¹.

12. A chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 2, wherein said composition contains 7.00-10.00 mol % Hal¹.

13. A chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 2, wherein said composition contains 0 mol % Ge.

14. In a night vision device comprising an infrared optical element, an image enhancer or intensifier, and a phosphor or fluorescent display, the improvement wherein said infrared optical element comprises a lens made of from a chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 1.

15. In an infrared or thermal imaging system comprising an infrared optical element, a plurality of thermal sensors for detecting the infrared light and converting it into electrical signals, and a signal-processing unit for converting the electrical signals into a visual image, the improvement wherein said infrared optical element comprises a lens made of from a chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 1.

16. A doublet lens comprising an infrared lens paired with a corrective lens wherein said infrared lens is made of ZnSe, ZnS, Ge, GaAs, BaF₂, or chalcogenide glass, and said corrective lens made from a chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 1.

17. An infrared lens system comprising a first infrared lens and a focal corrector doublet lens comprising a pair of corrective lenses, wherein said first infrared lens is made of ZnSe, ZnS, Ge, GaAs, BaF₂, or chalcogenide glass, one of said pair of corrective lenses has a positive power and the other has a negative power, and at least one of said pair of corrective lens is made from a chalcogenide glass composition according to claim 1.