Ellipsoidal solid immersion lens
US6181478A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB82Y10/00
- WIPO fieldMicro-structural and nano-technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A solid immersion lens (SIL) of refractive index n having an ellipsoidal surface portion defining a geometrical ellipsoid with geometrical foci F.sub.1, F.sub.2 along a major axis of length M. The ellipsoidal SIL (or ESIL) has an interface surface which is preferably flat and passes near or through the second geometrical focus F.sub.2. The geometrical foci F.sub.1, F.sub.2 are separated by a distance S=M/n, such that a collimated light beam propagating along the major axis M and entering the ESIL through the ellipsoidal surface portion converges to a focus substantially at the second geometrical focus F.sub.2. The ESIL finds application in optical systems such as microscopes and optical recording systems.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.