Infrared lens systems
AssigneeLockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.
InventorPaul N. Robb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lens systems (68, 78, 88, 98, 108, 118) with first and second rigid lens elements (70,71;80,81;90,91;100,101;110,111;120,121) and a liquid lens element (76, 86, 96, 106, 116, 126) therebetween are provided. The first and second rigid lens elements and the liquid lens elements co-act with each other to cause the lens system to have substantially diffraction limited performance over a continuous infrared wavelength band, wherein the first and second rigid lens elements and the liquid lens element are configured and positioned with respect to each other according to a selection of particular designs and design forms.
Claims12
A lens system comprising a first rigid lens element, a second rigid lens element and a liquid lens element, said liquid lens element being contained between said first and second rigid lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have rms wavefront error of less than 0.1 over a continuous infrared wavelength band.
A lens system comprising a first rigid lens element, a second rigid lens element and a liquid lens element, said liquid lens element being contained between said first and second rigid lens elements, said first and second rigid lens. elements and said liquid lens element co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have rms wavefront error of less than 0.1 over a continuous infrared wavelength band;
- wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of solid material having infrared transparency;
- wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having infrared transparency;
- and wherein said liquid lens element is made of carbon tetrachloride, and said first and second rigid lens elements are made of a material selected from a group consisting of sapphire and fused silica.
A lens system comprising a first rigid lens element, a second rigid lens element and a liquid lens element, said liquid lens element being contained between said first and second rigid lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have rms wavefront error less than 0.1 over a continuous infrared wavelength band;
- wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of solid material having infrared transparency;
- wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having infrared transparency and wherein said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element are configured and positioned with respect to each other according to a design form specified as follows:
- ______________________________________ Surface Radius Thickness No. (inches) (inches) N.sub.d V.sub.d Material ______________________________________ 1 2.408983 0.014031 1.768239 72.01 Sapphire 2 -6.241043 0.004845 1.459453 48.75 459487 3 -0.265632 0.014031 1.768239 72.01 Sapphire 4 -0.424980 1.001170 Air ______________________________________
- wherein the surfaces of the optic elements are numbered consecutively from left to right along the optic axis, N.sub.d is the index of refraction at the wavelength of the sodium spectral line, and V.sub.d is the Abbe number at the same wavelength.
A lens system comprising a first rigid lens element, a second rigid lens element and a liquid lens element, said liquid lens element being contained between said first and second rigid lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have rms wavefront error of less than 0.1 over a continuous infrared wavelength band;
- wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of solid material having infrared transparency;
- wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having infrared transparency;
- and wherein said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element are configured and positioned with respect to each other according to a design form specified as follows:
- ______________________________________ Surface Radius Thickness No. (inches) (inches) N.sub.d V.sub.d Material ______________________________________ 1 1.358504 0.013810 1.458464 67.82 Fused Silica 2 -0.489942 0.004676 1.459453 48.75 459487 3 -0.187082 0.013810 1.458464 67.82 Fused Silica 4 -0.668690 0.988123 Air ______________________________________
- wherein the surfaces of the optic elements are numbered consecutively from left to right along the optic axis, N.sub.d is the index of refraction at the wavelength of the sodium spectral line, and V.sub.d is the Abbe number at the same wavelength.
A lens system comprising a first rigid lens element, a second rigid lens element and a liquid lens element, said liquid lens element being contained between said first and second rigid lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have rms wavefront error of less than 0.1 over a continuous infrared wavelength band;
- wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of solid material having infrared transparency;
- wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having infrared transparency;
- and wherein said liquid lens element is made of hexane, and said first and second rigid lens elements are made of a material selected from a group consisting of sapphire and fused silica.
A lens system comprising a first rigid lens element, a second rigid lens element and a liquid lens element, said liquid lens element being contained between said first and second rigid lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have rms wavefront error of less than 0.1 over a continuous infrared wavelength band;
- wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of solid material having infrared transparency;
- wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having infrared transparency;
- and wherein said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element are configured and positioned with respect to each other according to a design form specified as follows:
- ______________________________________ Surface Radius Thickness No. (inches) (inches) N.sub.d V.sub.d Material ______________________________________ 1 4.784631 0.013722 1.768239 72.01 Sapphire 2 -0.833969 0.004738 1.375217 58.03 375580 3 -2.427737 0.013722 1.768239 72.01 Sapphire 4 -1.395965 0.993165 Air ______________________________________
- wherein the surfaces of the optic elements are numbered consecutively from left to right along the optic axis, N.sub.d is the index of refraction at the wavelength of the sodium spectral line, and V.sub.d is the Abbe number at the same wavelength.
A lens system comprising a first rigid lens element, a second rigid lens element and a liquid lens element, said liquid lens element being contained between said first and second rigid lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have rms wavefront error of less than 0.1 over a continuous infrared wavelength band;
- wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of solid material having infrared transparency;
- wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having infrared transparency;
- and wherein said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element are configured and positioned with respect to each other according to a design form specified as follows:
- ______________________________________ Surface Radius Thickness No. (inches) (inches) N.sub.d V.sub.d Material ______________________________________ 1 0.724396 0.013654 1.458464 67.82 Fused Silica 2 -4.508088 0.004623 1.375217 58.03 375580 3 1.930710 0.013654 1.458464 67.82 Fused Silica 4 -1.394357 0.986876 Air ______________________________________
- wherein the surfaces of the optic elements are numbered consecutively from left to right along the optic axis, N.sub.d is the index of refraction at the wavelength of the sodium spectral line, and V.sub.d is the Abbe number at the same wavelength.
A lens system comprising a first rigid lens element, a second rigid lens element and a liquid lens element, said liquid lens element being contained between said first and second rigid lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have rms wavefront error of less than 0.1 over a continuous infrared wavelength band;
- wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of solid material having infrared transparency;
- wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having infrared transparency;
- and wherein said liquid lens element is made of perfluoromethyldecalin, and said first and second rigid lens elements are made of a material selected from a group consisting of sapphire and fused silica.
A lens system comprising a first rigid lens element, a second rigid lens element and a liquid lens element, said liquid lens element being contained between said first and second rigid lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have rms wavefront error of less than 0.1 over a continuous infrared wavelength band;
- wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of solid material having infrared transparency;
- wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having infrared transparency;
- and wherein said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element are configured and positioned with respect to each other according to a design form specified as follows:
- ______________________________________ Surface Radius Thickness No. (inches) (inches) N.sub.d V.sub.d Material ______________________________________ 1 0.579185 0.014015 1.768239 72.01 Sapphire 2 0.465793 0.009988 1.317242 102.26 312.02 3 -0.206232 0.014015 1.768239 72.01 Sapphire 4 -0.275157 1.000413 Air ______________________________________
- wherein the surfaces of the optic elements are numbered consecutively from left to right along the optic axis, N.sub.d is the index of refraction at the wavelength of the sodium spectral line, and V.sub.d is the Abbe number at the same wavelength.
A lens system comprising a first rigid lens element, a second rigid lens element and a liquid lens element, said liquid lens element being contained between said first and second rigid lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have rms wavefront error of less than 0.1 over a continuous infrared wavelength band;
- wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of solid material having infrared transparency;
- wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having infrared transparency;
- and wherein said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens element are configured and positioned with respect to each other according to a design form specified as follows:
- ______________________________________ Surface Radius Thickness No. (inches) (inches) N.sub.d V.sub.d Material ______________________________________ 1 0.426680 0.013654 1.458464 67.82 Fused Silica 2 0.431253 0.007500 1.317242 102.26 312.02 3 -0.282821 0.013654 1.458464 67.82 Fused Silica 4 -0.603774 0.983335 Air ______________________________________
- wherein the surfaces of the optic elements are numbered consecutively from left to right along the optic axis, N.sub.d is the index of refraction at the wavelength of the sodium spectral line, and V.sub.d is the Abbe number at the same wavelength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.