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US 2026/0010016 A1Published application
Diffractive trifocal lens
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
InventorJames T. Schwiegerling
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AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
InventorJames T. Schwiegerling
Estimating the term…
A diffractive multifocal lens is disclosed, comprising an optical element having at least one diffractive surface, the surface profile comprising a plurality of annular concentric zones. The optical thickness of the surface profile changes monotonically with radius within each zone, while a distinct step in optical thickness at the junction between adjacent zones defines a step height. The step heights for respective zones may differ from one zone to another periodically so as to tailor diffraction order efficiencies of the optical element. In one example of a trifocal lens, step heights alternate between two values, the even-numbered step heights being lower than the odd-numbered step heights. By plotting a topographical representation of the diffraction efficiencies resulting from such a surface profile, step heights may be optimized to direct a desired level of light power into the diffraction orders corresponding to near, intermediate, and distance vision, thereby optimizing the lens performance.
A diffractive multifocal lens comprising an optical element having a first diffractive optical surface having a radial surface profile having a diffractive structure comprising a plurality of concentric annular zones concentric with a central zone, wherein the optical thickness of the lens changes monotonically within each zone, a distinct step in optical thickness occurs at the junction between the zones, height of the steps differs between each adjacent zone, and a pattern of step height differences between two or more adjacent zones repeats radially from the central zone of the lens so as to tailor diffraction order efficiencies of the optical element, wherein the lens has a radial phase profile of the optical phase change introduced by the diffractive structure, and elements of the radial phase profile within each of the concentric annular zones comprise a peak having a leading edge that rises from a first value, to a peak value, and a trailing edge that falls from the peak value back towards the first value.
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21-24. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.