Programmable lens assemblies and optical systems incorporating them
US7067784B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06V2201/08
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An imaging system (10) has a fixed lens combination (22), a spatial light modulator (SLM) (20) and a linear detector array (12). A scene image is scanned across a simple array (12) in a direction perpendicular to the array (12) by the SLM (20). This is achieved by displaying a diffraction pattern on the SLM that changes to achieve the scanning. The diffraction pattern displayed typically has a linear element (40) and a quadratic element (42). By having a programmably changed combined chirp pattern (36) displayed on the SLM, and by being able to change it thousands of times a second, an army with fast read out can take the place of a 2-D imaging array.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.