Quadaxial gradient index lens
US5796525A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 18, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/52
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An axially-based lens is provided, comprising two biaxial elements, each having entrance and exit surfaces. The exit surface of one of the elements is joined to the entrance surface of the other element, with one of the elements rotated at an angle with respect to the other. In a preferred embodiment, the angle of rotation is 90.degree.. The axially-based lens thus comprises four axial sub-elements, and is called a "quadaxial" lens herein. The axially-based lens element has the ability to gather and focus light to a spot with a minimum of spherical aberration and with a substantially uniform distribution of light intensity from center to periphery of the spot. In a preferred embodiment, the lens element focuses light to a square spot size.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.