Patent · US Expired

Dual purpose infrared lens assembly using diffractive optics

US5852516A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
54References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 23, 1997
Grant dateDec 22, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 23, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B5/1814
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An infrared zoom lens assembly (16) operative as either a continuous zoom or a two-position zoom lens. The infrared zoom lens assembly (16) includes a focusing component (33), a collecting component (37) and a diffracting component (41). The focusing component (33) includes a first focusing zoom lens (34) positioned at the same location at the ends of the zoom range and a second focusing zoom lens (36) movably mounted in the infrared zoom lens assembly (16). The diffracting component (41) may be used to correct color aberrations associated with an infrared waveband. The focusing component (33) and the collecting component (37) cooperate with the diffracting component (41) to focus infrared radiation at an image plane (15) of an infrared detector (18).

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