Patent · US Expired

Wide field of view infrared zoom lens assembly having a constant F/number

US6249374A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
54References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 23, 1997
Grant dateJun 19, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 23, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B15/177
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A wide field of view infrared zoom lens assembly (16) having a constant F/Number. The wide field of view infrared lens assembly (16) includes a focusing component (33), a collecting component (37), an aperture stop (46), and a diffracting component (41). The focusing component (33) may include a pair of focusing zoom lenses (34, 36). The collecting component (37) may include a first collecting lens (38) and a second collecting lens (40). The focusing component (33) and the collecting component (37) may be formed from high dispersion, low index material. The aperture stop (46) may be mounted to the first collecting lens (38) to maintain a constant F/Number. The diffracting component (41) may include a diffractive surface 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.