US 12,693,454 B1Granted

Optically transmissive element generation for variable function optical system

AssigneeThe University of North Carolina at Charlotte

InventorsThomas J. Suleski, Shohreh Shadalou

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Abstract

An example is a method by a processor(s). First and second boundary thickness variations (TA, TB) of first and second boundary elements (A, B) are obtained. The A, B are configured to obtain first and second boundary conditions of a variable function optical system. First and second functional thickness variations (TF1, TF2) of first and second optically transmissive elements of the variable function optical system are determined. Determining the TF1 includes a first sum of a first term and a second term, and determining the TF2 includes a second sum of a third term and a fourth term. The first and third terms each are based on an integration of the TA, TB. The second and fourth terms each are based on an average thickness variation of the TA, TB. A design file is generated including digital representations of the optically transmissive elements based on the TF1, TF2.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

obtaining, by one or more processors, a first boundary thickness variation of a first boundary element and a second boundary thickness variation of a second boundary element, the first boundary element being configured to obtain a first boundary condition of a variable function optical system, the second boundary element being configured to obtain a second boundary condition of the variable function optical system;
determining, by the one or more processors, a first functional thickness variation of a first optically transmissive element of the variable function optical system and a second functional thickness variation of a second optically transmissive element of the variable function optical system, wherein determining the first functional thickness variation includes a first sum of a first term and a second term, and determining the second functional thickness variation includes a second sum of a third term and a fourth term, each term of the first term and the third term being based on an integration of the first boundary thickness variation and the second boundary thickness variation, each term of the second term and the fourth term being based on an average thickness variation of the first boundary thickness variation and the second boundary thickness variation;
and
generating, by the one or more processors, a non-transitory design file that enables manufacturing the first and second optically transmissive elements, the design file comprising a first digital representation of the first optically transmissive element based on the first functional thickness variation and comprising a second digital representation of the second optically transmissive element based on the second functional thickness variation.

1 more element

A system comprising:

a memory storing instructions;
and
one or more processors, coupled with the memory and to execute the instructions, the instructions when executed cause the one or more processors to:
obtain a first boundary thickness variation of a first boundary element and a second boundary thickness variation of a second boundary element, the first boundary element being configured to obtain a first boundary condition of a variable function optical system, the second boundary element being configured to obtain a second boundary condition of the variable function optical system;
determine a first functional thickness variation of a first optically transmissive element of the variable function optical system and a second functional thickness variation of a second optically transmissive element of the variable function optical system, wherein determining the first functional thickness variation includes a first sum of a first term and a second term, and determining the second functional thickness variation includes a second sum of a third term and a fourth term, each term of the first term and the third term being based on an integration of the first boundary thickness variation and the second boundary thickness variation, each term of the second term and the fourth term being based on an average thickness variation of the first boundary thickness variation and the second boundary thickness variation;
and
generate a non-transitory design file that enables manufacturing the first and second optically transmissive elements, the design file comprising a first digital representation of the first optically transmissive element based on the first functional thickness variation and comprising a second digital representation of the second optically transmissive element based on the second functional thickness variation.

4 more elements

A method comprising:

obtaining, by one or more computer systems, a first boundary thickness variation TA(x,y) of a first boundary element and a second boundary thickness variation TB(x,y) of a second boundary element, the first boundary element being configured to obtain a first boundary condition of a variable function optical system, the second boundary element being configured to obtain a second boundary condition of the variable function optical system;
obtaining, by the one or more computer systems, a maximum lateral shift, represented by an absolute value of amax of each of a first optically transmissive element and a second optically transmissive element of the variable function optical system, wherein each of the first optically transmissive element and the second optically transmissive element is configured to be translated in the variable function optical system by a lateral shift range 2amax;
determining, by the one or more computer systems, a first functional thickness variation TF1(x,y) of the first optically transmissive element and a second functional thickness variation TF2(x,y) of the second optically transmissive element, wherein:
TF1(x,y) is calculated to include
1
2
⁢
a
max
⁢
∫
T
A
(
x
,
y
)
-
T
B
(
x
,
y
)
2
⁢
dx
+
T
A
(
x
,
y
)
+
T
B
(
x
,
y
)
4
;
and
TF2(x,y) is calculated to include
-
1
2
⁢
a
max
⁢
∫
T
A
(
x
,
y
)
-
T
B
(
x
,
y
)
2
⁢
dx
+
T
A
(
x
,
y
)
+
T
B
(
x
,
y
)
4
;
and
generating, by the one or more computer systems, a design file comprising a first digital representation of the first optically transmissive element based on the first functional thickness variation TF1(x,y) and comprising a second digital representation of the second optically transmissive element based on the second functional thickness variation TF2(x,y).

92 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/176,591Filed 1 Mar 2023 · us provisional application
Priority: 7 Mar 2022
Granted: 28 Jul 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G02B 3/0081
Simple or compound lenses: having one or more elements with analytic function to create variable power
G02B 3/14
Fluid-filled or evacuated lenses: of variable focal length
G02B 7/102
By relative axial movement of several lenses, e.g. of varifocal objective lens: controlled by a microcomputer
G02B 27/0012
Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00: optical design, e.g. procedures, algorithms,…