Achromatized and athermalized two-lens reimager

• US 5,978,132 A
• Filed: 10/14/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH
• Original Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
• Inventors: Ulrich, Wilhelm
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Curtis, Craig
• Application Number:
  US08/949,456
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 359/565, 359/355, 359/356, 359/362, 359/793, 359/794
• US Class Current: 359/355
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/14 for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation G02B13/008, G02B13/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0037 with diffracting elements G02B27/0056 takes precedence; holographic optical elements G02B5/32; zone systems G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4211 correcting chromatic aberrations G02B27/0056, G02B27/4222, G02B27/4227 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4277 being separated by an air space
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4283 having a diffractive element with major temperature dependent properties

Abstract

A reimager comprises precisely two positive lenses wherein the chromatic longitudinal aberration lies within the depth of focus and the thermal image position variation likewise lies within the depth of focus over a temperature range of more than ±30° (in the embodiment from -40° C. to +70° C.). Aspheric and diffractive surfaces are utilized and, if required, are joined on respective lens surfaces (31, 51, 53, 71, 73).

Claims

1. A reimager comprising:

precisely two positive lenses conjointly defining an optical axis and a depth of focus;

said two positive lenses further defining an intermediate image plane between said two positive lenses wherein an intermediate image of an object at infinity is generated by a first one of said two positive lenses and wherein said intermediate image is further imaged into an image plane by the second one of said two positive lenses; and

,

said positive lenses being configured so that said reimager has a chromatic longitudinal aberration within said depth of focus and has a thermal image position variation which is smaller than said depth of focus for temperature variations within a range of at least +30°

about an intermediate temperature value.

2. The reimager of claim 1, wherein said temperature range is greater than +50°

C. about said intermediate temperature value.

3. The reimager of claim 1, wherein one of said lenses is made of chalcogenide glass.

4. The reimager of claim 1, wherein one of said lenses is made of zinc sulfide.

5. The reimager of claim 1, wherein both of said lenses are made of the same material.

6. The reimager of claim 1, wherein said two lenses are devoid of diffractive surfaces.

7. The reimager of claim 1, wherein precisely one of said lenses has a diffractive surface.

8. The reimager of claim 7, wherein the diffractive surface is superposed on an aspherical surface.

9. The reimager of claim 1, comprising two diffractive surfaces.

10. The reimager of claim 8, wherein each of said diffractive surfaces is superposed on an aspherical surface.

11. The reimager of claim 1, wherein one of said lenses has a surface which has a diffractive structure rotationally symmetrical to said optical axis.

12. The reimager of claim 11, wherein said diffractive structure is of the kinoform type.

13. The reimager of claim 1, wherein said lenses comprise forward surfaces, which are configured as aspheric surfaces.

14. The reimager of claim 1, wherein said lenses comprise forward surfaces, which are configured as spheric surfaces.