Back to results
US 6,477,298 B1Granted
Collection mode lens system
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsDaniel A. Fletcher, Gordon S. Kino
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lens system including a collection lens and a microlens spaced from the collection lens adjacent the region to be observed. The diameter of the observablel region depends substantially on the radius of the microlens.
Claims7
A collection mode lens system for resolving features comprising:
- a collection lens, and
- a microlens of a material having an index of refraction n with a curved surface facing the collector lens and an opposite surface spaced from the features to be resolved, said microlens having a radius a which is given by the size of the features in wavelengths divided by 1/n, where n is the refractive index of the microlens material.
A collection mode lens system for collecting energy from a source of predetermined diameter comprising:
- a collection lens, and
- a microlens adjacent the source and spaced from the collection lens, said microlens having a radius which is given by the predetermined diameter of the energy source divided by 1/n where n is the refractive index of the microlens material.
The method of observing an area of predetermined diameter which comprises the steps of:
- placing a microlens adjacent the predetermined area, said microlens having a radius which is given by the predetermined diameter divided by 1/n where n is the refractive index of the lens material, and
- collecting energy transmitted by the microlens from the predetermined area by a collection lens having a numerical aperture which captures the transmitted energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.