Shaped gradient fabrication in lenses by molding from axial gradient
AssigneeLightPath Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRichard Blankenbecler, Max A. Wickson
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Abstract
Shaped gradient profiles of index of refraction in lenses are fabricated from axial gradients. While the resulting lens has both radial (or cylindrical) and axial components, and, strictly speaking, is not a pure radial (cylindrical) gradient, nonetheless, the presence of both the radial and axial components or cylindrical and axial components provides lens designers with greater flexibility in lens design than heretofore existed.
Claims9
A method of making a lens blank having a shaped gradient of index of refraction such that the index of refraction varies substantially continuously in plural directions within the lens blank from a plate having a substantially continuous axial gradient of index of refraction ranging from a low index value to a high index value, with substantially planar contours of constant index of refraction, said plate having its lowest index value on one surface and its highest index value on the opposite surface, comprising:
- (a) controllably deforming said plate to provide a deformed plate having curved upper and lower external surfaces, so that contours of constant index of refraction are disposed parallel to said curved external surfaces;
- and
- (b) removing portions of said curved upper and lower external surfaces of said deformed plate to provide said lens blank having an internally shaped gradient of index of refraction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.