High performance telescopic etalon filters
US6181726A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 27, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 27, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/29358
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A Fabry-Perot etalon filter for use as a telescope filter and method for making such etalons is disclosed. Particularly, an air-gap etalon having a first etalon plate and a second etalon plate being separated by a plurality of spacers. Said separation defining a gap. Said spacers being cut from a small area of a spacer substrate which has been formed to a high degree of uniformity. As a result, the spacers have a high degree of uniform flatness, parallelism, and thickness. By optically contacting the spacers to the etalon plates, the precision of the spacers is transferred to the etalon gap. For etalons where an obstructed central aperture is not critical, a centrally mounted spacer may be used to increase etalon gap uniformity across the entire surface of the etalon plates. Also, where a clear central aperture is needed, large peripherally mounted spacers may be used to establish high gap uniformity across the etalon. A method of constructing etalons is disclosed. Etalon plates formed using standard precision optical manufacturing and having appropriate thicknesses and appropriate coatings are provided. A spacer substrate formed using ordinary precision optical manufacturing proce…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.