Patent · US Expired

Optical sensing system

US4864137A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
8References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 3, 1988
Grant dateSep 5, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 3, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B27/0025
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical sensing system is described which generally comprises an infrared sensor, and a curved diffraction-limited window disposed in front of the sensor such that the optical axis of the sensor is parallel to and displaced from the symmetry axis of the window. The window has an inner radius of curvature which is non-concentric with the outer radius of curvature in order to remove the optical power of the window. Additionally, the window is provided with an aspheric profile outer surface, in order to correct for spherical aberrations in the window. The window is made out of germanium and is particularly useful for a sensor which has an 8-12 micron infrared radiation detection band width.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.