Flexible lens

• US 6,002,524 A
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Imation Corporation (Glassbridge Enterprises, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schubert, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, JORDAN MARC
• Application Number:
  US08/939,842
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 359/206-216, 359/721, 359/708-712, 359/665-667, 359/642
• US Class Current: 359/642
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/125 Details of the optical system between the polygonal mirror and the image plane G02B26/123, G02B26/127 take precedence; F-Theta lenses G02B13/0005
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/06 with cylindrical or toric faces

Abstract

A flexible lens assembly. The flexible lens assembly includes a long, flexible structural layer and a first optical layer coupled to the long, flexible structural layer. The optical layer is shaped to achieve a desired optical characteristic, wherein the flexible lens assembly exhibits diffraction limited optical characteristics, and wherein the flexible lens assembly is capable of being flexed in at least a 180° arc while maintaining its diffraction limited optical characteristics. In one preferred embodiment, the flexible lens assembly is a flexible cylinder lens.

Claims

1. A flexible lens assembly comprising:

a long, flexible structural layer; and

a first optical layer coupled to the long, flexible structural layer, wherein the optical layer is shaped to achieve a desired optical characteristic, wherein the flexible lens assembly is at least several inches long, wherein the flexible lens assembly exhibits diffraction limited optical characteristics, and wherein the flexible lens assembly is capable of being flexed in at least 180°

arc while maintaining its diffraction limited optical characteristics.

2. The flexible lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible lens assembly is a cylinder lens.

3. The flexible lens assembly of claim 2, wherein the cylinder lens has a plano-convex shape.

4. The flexible lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural layer is made of a polymeric material.

5. The flexible lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural layer is made of glass.

6. The flexible lens assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second optical layer, wherein the long, flexible structural layer is coupled between the first optical layer and the second optical layer.

7. The flexible lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible lens is at least 6 inches long.

8. The flexible lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible lens exhibits flexible characteristics enabling the flexible lens to be wrapped around a guide.

9. The flexible lens assembly of claim 8, wherein the guide has a partial cylindrical shape.

10. The flexible lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the first optical layer is constructed from a photopolymer.

11. The flexible lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural layer is made of polyester.

12. The flexible lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural layer is made of polycarbonate.

13. A flexible lens comprising:

a long, thin, flexible structural layer constructed of a polymeric material, the structural layer being a longitudinally extending member having a first major surface and a second major surface, wherein the first major surface and second major surface are generally flat; and

a first optical layer extending along the first major surface, wherein the first optical layer is shaped to exhibit a desired optical characteristic;

wherein the flexible lens exhibits diffraction limited optical characteristics, and wherein the flexible lens is several inches in length and capable of flexing into a desired shape and being wrapped about a cylindrically shaped guide, wherein the flexible lens is capable of being flexed into a semi-circular shape and when the flexible lens is flexed into a semi-circular shape it maintains its diffraction limited optical characteristics.

14. The flexible lens of claim 13, further comprising a second optical layer extending along the second major surface.

15. The flexible lens of claim 13, wherein the first optical layer is constructed of a photo polymer.

16. The flexible lens of claim 13, wherein the first optical layer is rounded.

17. The flexible lens of claim 16, further comprising a second optical layer extending along the second major surface, wherein the second optical layer is flat.

18. The flexible lens of claim 13, wherein the flexible lens is a cylinder lens.

19. The flexible lens of claim 18, wherein the cylinder lens has a plano-convex shape.

20. The flexible lens of claim 13, wherein the flexible lens extends longitudinally at least 6 inches.

21. The flexible lens of claim 13, wherein the flexible lens has a thickness of less than 0.02 inches.

22. The flexible lens of claim 13, wherein the structural layer is constructed of a polymeric material.

23. The flexible lens of claim 22, wherein the polymeric material includes a polyester material.

24. The flexible lens of claim 22, wherein the polymeric material includes a polycarbonate material.

25. A long, thin flexible cylinder lens comprising:

a thin, flexible structural layer constructed of a polymeric material, the structural layer being a longitudinally extending member having a first major surface and a second major surface, wherein the first major surface and second major surface are generally flat;

a first optical layer extending along the first major surface, wherein the first optical layer is shaped to exhibit a desired optical characteristic; and

a second optical layer extending at least partially along the second major surface, wherein the second optical layer is shaped to exhibit a desired optical characteristic;

wherein the first optical layer, the second optical layer, and the thin, flexible structural layer combine to form a long, thin, flexible cylinder lens which is capable of being flexed into a desired shape for achieving a desired optical characteristic, wherein the flexible lens is several inches in length, wherein the flexible lens exhibits diffraction limited optical characteristics, and wherein the flexible lens is capable of being flexed into an arc of at least 180°

while maintaining its diffraction limited optical characteristics.

26. The flexible lens of claim 25, wherein the flexible lens is capable of being wrapped about a cylindrically shaped guide member.

27. The flexible lens of claim 25, wherein the flexible lens is a plano-convex cylinder lens.

28. The flexible lens of claim 25, wherein the first optical layer and the second optical layer are constructed from a photopolymer.