Freeform diffractive optical element (DOE) for use in an optical transmitter and method of designing and manufacturing the freeform DOE
US10649157B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 2018 |
| Grant date | May 12, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P90/02
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A freeform DOE for use in an optical transmitter and a method of designing and manufacturing the DOE are provided. The freeform DOE is capable of achieving the same, or nearly the same, functionality as that of a glass DOE, but has a design that has been transformed to make the surface profile of the DOE compatible with a molding process that can be used to manufacture the DOE with high quality at low costs. The method of designing and manufacturing the DOE includes preselecting a CGH that will obtain a target freeform DOE design, using a preselected smoothing function to smooth the surface profile of the target freeform DOE design to transform the design into a DOE design that is compatible with a molding process, and using a fabrication process to manufacture a freeform DOE that is based on the transformed DOE design.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.