Patent · US Active

Tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction lens and system

US8194307B2 · kind B2 · utility

25Cited by

0References

35Claims

0Family size

Assignee

THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · US

Inventors

Craig B. Arnold · Princeton, US
Euan McLeod · Columbia, US
Alexandre Mermillod-Blondin · Berlin, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Feb 25, 2008
Grant date	Jun 5, 2012
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Aug 18, 2028

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG02F2203/18
WIPO fieldOptics
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction (TAG) lens and system are provided that permit, in one aspect, dynamic selection of the lens output, including dynamic focusing and imaging. The system may include a TAG lens and at least one of a source and a detector of electromagnetic radiation. A controller may be provided in electrical communication with the lens and at least one of the source and detector and may be configured to provide a driving signal to control the index of refraction and to provide a synchronizing signal to time at least one of the source and the detector relative to the driving signal. Thus, the controller is able to specify that the source irradiates the lens (or detector detects the lens output) when a desired refractive index distribution is present within the lens, e.g. when a desired lens output is present.

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