Freeform gradient-index optics and methods of designing same
US11782192B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Grant date | Oct 10, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B27/0062
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A GRIN optic having an optical axis (z-direction) and a GRIN profile varying in the x and y-directions, the profile having one or more discontinuities extending in the x-y direction. The discontinuities may form a non-closed shape or have a non-smooth rectilinear shape. The GRIN optic may have plane-parallel surfaces. A method of designing a GRIN optic which includes mapping discretized elements in the light output specification to array elements of a linear GRIN array elements, identifying for each array element, a base refractive index n0, a gradient magnitude α, and a gradient direction θG capable of directing a beamlet from the light source to a corresponding location in the light output specification, and constructing a piecewise-continuous freeform GRIN profile of the GRIN optic by integrating the discrete linear GRIN array elements into a continuous refractive index profile.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.