Patent · US Expired

Gradient index optical element

US5349473A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
9References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 28, 1992
Grant dateSep 20, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 28, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B3/0087
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A gradient index optical element has at least one first metal dopant selected from the group consisting of La, Y, Ga, In, Ge, Sn, Zn, Zr, Ba, Ca, As, Sr, Gd and Be distributed at a concentration gradient in a glass medium. The concentration gradient of the first metal dopant defines a slope having a direction. At least one second metal dopant different from the first metal dopant and selected from the group consisting of Bi, Sb, Nb, Ti, Ta, Pb, Tl, Zr, In, Sn, Y, Ba, Ca and Sr is distributed at a concentration gradient in the glass medium. The concentration gradient of the second metal dopant defines a slope smaller than the slope of the concentration gradient of the first metal dopant. The slope of the concentration gradient of the second metal dopant is in the same direction as the slope of the concentration gradient of the first metal dopant. The thus obtained gradient index optical element has excellent chromatic aberration correction in which the Abbe number increases as the refractive index becomes large, or the change of the Abbe number is small as the refractive index increases.

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