# US 10,310,146 B2 · Nanocomposite gradient refractive-index Fresnel optical-element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,146 B2 - Document ID: US10310146B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/299,777 - Filed: 2014-06-09 - Published: 2015-12-10 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-09 - Assignees: Vadient Optics, LLC - Applicants: Vadient Optics, LLC. - Inventors: George Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310146B2 ## CPC - G02B 3/0087: {with index gradient} - G02B 1/041: {Lenses} - G02B 3/08: with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens {(diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876)} - G02B 2207/101: Nanooptics - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A nanocomposite optical-element comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a nanocomposite between the first and the second surface. The nanocomposite comprising of a plurality of refractive-gradients, the plurality of refractive-gradients comprising one or more nanofillers dispersed in a cured organic-matrix. The nanofillers concentration variation determining the plurality of refractive-gradient profiles such that a profile discontinuity exists between any of the plurality of refractive-gradients that are adjacent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nanocomposite optical-element comprising: a first surface, wherein the first surface is a Fresnel surface; a second surface; and a nanocomposite between the first and the second surface, the nanocomposite comprising of a plurality of refractive-gradients, the plurality of refractive-gradients comprising one or more nanofillers dispersed in a cured organic-matrix, the nanofillers concentration varying in three dimensional space defined by mutually orthogonal x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, profiles of the plurality of refractive-gradients contributing to overall optical power of the optical-element as a whole, and a profile discontinuity exists between any of the plurality of refractive-gradients that are adjacent, wherein the plurality of refractive-gradients have either a radially increasing, or decreasing, refractive-index profile relative to an optical-axis, and each of the plurality of refractive-gradients also varying in respective cross-section profiles along the z-axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the optical-element has positive optical power. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the optical-element has negative optical power. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller concentration of each of the plurality of refractive-gradients decreases radially from the optical-axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller concentration of each of the plurality of refractive-gradients increase radially from the optical-axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller concentration of some of the plurality of refractive-gradients increase radially from the optical-axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the plurality of refractive-gradient profiles are symmetric about an axis transverse to the optical-axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the plurality of refractive-gradients are layered in a plane, transverse to the optical-axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the plurality of refractive-gradients are symmetric with respect to the optical-axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the optical-element is centrosymmetric with respect to the optical-axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the optical-element has bilateral symmetry with respect to a plane transverse to the optical-axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of refractive-gradients are concentric annular sections. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the plurality of refractive-gradients are positioned asymmetrically. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller concentration, of one or more of the plurality of refractive-gradients, is not linear with respect to distance from the optical-axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein at least one of the refractive gradients is designed to cause total internal reflection at one of the discontinuities. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the Fresnel surface is positive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the Fresnel surface is negative. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the Fresnel surface is optimize to face a finite-conjugate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the Fresnel surface is optimized to face an infinite-conjugate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the Fresnel surface is optimized for total internal reflection of incoming light rays at oblique angles. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the Fresnel surface is aspherically contoured. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the Fresnel surface is cylindrically contoured. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, further comprising a substrate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the plurality of refractive-gradients have two or more of the nanofillers to control chromatic dispersion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The optical-element of claim 24, wherein chromatic dispersion is proportional to the optical power of the optical-elements. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The optical-element of claim 24, wherein a ratio of an Abbe-number of the nanofillers is proportional to the optical power of the optical-element. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The optical-element of claim 24, wherein the chromatic dispersion of the optical-element increases axial focusing distance between two or more wavelengths of light. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The optical-element of claim 24, wherein the chromatic dispersion of the optical-element decreases axial focusing distance between two or more wavelengths of light. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The optical-element of claim 24, wherein the chromatic dispersion increases divergence angle between two or more wavelengths of light. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The optical-element of claim 1, wherein the nanocomposite includes at least one type of an optically nonlinear nanofiller.