Ultraviolet lens systems including liquid lens elements
AssigneeLockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.
InventorPaul N. Robb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lens systems (8, 18, 28, 38, 48, 58) with first and second rigid lens elements and a liquid lens element therebetween are provided. The first and second rigid lens elements (10, 11; 20, 21; 30, 31; 40, 41; 50, 51; 60, 61) and the liquid lens elements (16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66) co-act with each other to cause the lens system to have substantially diffraction limited performance over a continuous ultraviolet 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.
Claims10
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 an RMS wavefront error of less than 0.2 over a continuous ultraviolet wavelength band up to 0.4 micron, wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are each made of a solid material having ultraviolet transparency, and said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having ultraviolet transparency.
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 lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens elements co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have substantially diffraction limited performance over a continuous ultraviolet wavelength band, wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of a solid material having ultraviolet transparency and wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having ultraviolet transparency;
- 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 -0.491657 0.014161 1.768239 72.01 Sapphire 2 -0.518232 0.004889 1.459453 48.75 459487 3 1.639807 0.014161 1.768239 72.01 Sapphire 4 -0.447569 1.018384 Air ______________________________________
- where the surfaces of the optic elements are numbered consecutively from left to right along the optic axis, and where N.sub.d is the index of refraction at the wavelength of the sodium d 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 lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens elements co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have substantially diffraction limited performance over a continuous ultraviolet wavelength band, wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of a solid material having ultraviolet transparency and wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having ultraviolet transparency;
- 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 -17.260861 0.014335 1.458464 67.82 Fused Silica 2 -0.120206 0.004854 1.459453 48.75 459487 3 -0.173948 0.014335 1.458464 67.82 Fused Silica 4 -0.454856 1.002262 Air ______________________________________
- where the surfaces of the optic elements are numbered consecutively from left to right along the optic axis, and where N.sub.d is the index of refraction at the wavelength of the sodium d 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 lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens elements co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have substantially diffraction limited performance over a continuous ultraviolet wavelength band, wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of a solid material having ultraviolet transparency and wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having ultraviolet transparency;
- 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 -0.322243 0.014136 1.768239 72.01 Sapphire 2 -0.247875 0.004881 1.375217 58.03 375580 3 0.444671 0.014136 1.768239 72.01 Sapphire 4 -0.917975 1.015422 Air ______________________________________
- where the surfaces of the optic elements are numbered consecutively from left to right along the optic axis, and where N.sub.d is the index of refraction at the wavelength of the sodium d 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 lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens elements co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have substantially diffraction limited performance over a continuous ultraviolet wavelength band, wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of a solid material having ultraviolet transparency and wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having ultraviolet transparency;
- 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 1.990923 0.014317 1.458464 67.82 Fused Silica 2 -0.282854 0.004848 1.375217 58.03 375580 3 0.224832 0.014317 1.458464 67.82 Fused Silica 4 -4.677900 0.982100 Air ______________________________________
- where the surfaces of the optic elements are numbered consecutively from left to right along the optic axis, and where N.sub.d is the index of refraction at the wavelength of the sodium d 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 lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens elements co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have substantially diffraction limited performance over a continuous Ultraviolet wavelength band, wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of a solid material having ultraviolet transparency and wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having ultraviolet transparency;
- 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 0.446790 0.014162 1.768239 72.01 Sapphire 2 0.193834 0.017500 1.317242 102.26 312.02 3 -0.129698 0.014162 1.768239 72.01 Sapphire 4 -0.156752 1.027437 Air ______________________________________
- where the surfaces of the optic elements are numbered consecutively from left to right along the optic axis, and where N.sub.d is the index of refraction at the wavelength of the sodium d 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 lens elements, said first and second rigid lens elements and said liquid lens elements co-acting with each other to cause said lens system to have substantially diffraction limited performance over a continuous ultraviolet wavelength band, wherein said first and second rigid lens elements are made of a solid material having ultraviolet transparency and wherein said liquid lens element is made of a liquid having ultraviolet transparency;
- 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 0.758642 0.014334 1.458464 67.82 Fused Silica 2 0.255769 0.014996 1.317242 102.26 312.02 3 -0.169568 0.014334 1.458464 67.82 Fused Silica 4 -0.259326 1.002001 Air ______________________________________
- where the surfaces of the optic elements are numbered consecutively from left to right along the optic axis, and where N.sub.d is the index of refraction at the wavelength of the sodium d spectral line and V.sub.d is the Abbe number at the same wavelength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.