# US 6,721,101 B2 · Lens arrays

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- Number: US 6,721,101 B2
- Document ID: US6721101B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/233,685
- Filed: 2002-09-03
- Published: 2003-06-19
- Granted: 2004-04-13
- Earliest claimed: 2000-03-17
- Assignees: Zograph, LLC
- Inventors: Stephen Daniell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6721101B2

## CPC

- G02B 3/0062: {Stacked lens arrays, i.e. refractive surfaces arranged in at least two planes, without structurally separate optical elements in-between}
- G02B 3/005: {arranged along a single direction only, e.g. lenticular sheets (G02B3/0043 takes precedence)}
- G02B 3/0056: {arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses (G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085)}
- G02B 3/0068: {arranged in a single integral body or plate, e.g. laminates or hybrid structures with other optical elements (G02B5/1885, G02B17/002, G02B30/27 take precedence)}
- G02B 3/0075: {characterized by non-optical structures, e.g. having integrated holding or alignment means}
- G02B 30/27: involving lenticular arrays
- H04N 13/305: using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
- H04N 13/307: using fly-eye lenses, e.g. arrangements of circular lenses
- H10F 39/8063: {Microlenses}
- G02B 3/0018: {Reflow, i.e. characterized by the step of melting microstructures to form curved surfaces, e.g. manufacturing of moulds and surfaces for transfer etching}
- G02B 3/0025: {Machining, e.g. grinding, polishing, diamond turning, manufacturing of mould parts}
- G02B 3/0031: {Replication or moulding, e.g. hot embossing, UV-casting, injection moulding}
- G02B 3/0043: {Inhomogeneous or irregular arrays, e.g. varying shape, size, height}
- H04N 13/324: Colour aspects
- H04N 13/349: Multi-view displays for displaying three or more geometrical viewpoints without viewer tracking (for viewing without the aid of special glasses using fly-eye lenses H04N13/307)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION

## Abstract

Lens systems and an array of lenses for reproduction, capture and display of three dimensional images. The arrays generally fall into two categories. The first type of array uses air as the low-index material. This type of array may be used, for example, in illuminated displays electronic image detection, machine vision, and real-time 3D video capture. A second type of array uses a fluoropolymer as the low-index material, and conveys a great preponderance all incident light to the image plane.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lens array comprising a plurality of joined lens elements each comprising:
a first optical boundary having a convex curvature;
a second optical boundary optically coupled and in opposition to the first optical boundary, the second optical boundary having an oblate, concave curvature; and
a third optical boundary optically coupled and in opposition to the second optical boundary, the third optical boundary having a convex curvature at least partially complementary to the curvature of the second optical boundary.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lens array of claim 1 wherein the array comprises first and second interfitting members, the first member comprising the first and second surfaces of the lens elements, the first surfaces being defined on an outer side of the first member and the second surfaces being defined in alignment with the first surfaces on an inner side of the first member, the third surfaces being defined on an inner side of the second member, the lens elements thereby facilitating joinder of the inner surfaces of the first and second members such that the first, second and third surfaces of each lens elements are in optical alignment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The lens array of claim 1 wherein joinder of the inner surfaces of the members causes the second and third surfaces to meet at a common perimeter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lens array of claim 1 wherein each lens element is optically isolated from other lens elements.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The lens array of claim 4 wherein the array is associated with an image plane and an object plane, the lens elements comprising an optically field-limiting surface for at least one of the image plane and the object plane.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The lens array of claim 5 wherein each of the lens elements further comprises a fourth optical boundary defined on an outer surface of the second member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The lens array of claim 1 wherein, for each lens element, the first and second boundaries are optically coupled by a first material and the second and third surfaces are optically coupled by a second material, the second material having a lower index of refraction than the first material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The lens array of claim 7 wherein the second material is air.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The lens of claim 7 wherein the second material is a fluoropolymer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The lens array of claim 1 wherein the plurality of joined lens elements is in the form of a first two-dimensional lens array component, and further comprising a second plurality of joined lens elements in the form of a second two-dimensional lens array component, each lens element of the second lens array component comprising:
a first optical boundary having a convex curvature; and
a second optical boundary optically coupled to the first optical boundary, the second optical boundary having an oblate, concave curvature,
wherein the first optical boundary of the lens elements of the first lens array component is opposed to the first optical boundary of the lenses of the second lens array component, the first and second lens array components cooperating to facilitate integral capture and reproduction of an image behind one of the arrays.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The lens array of claim 10 further comprising an aperture mask intervening between the first and second lens array components.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The lens array of claim 11 wherein the aperture mask defines non-round apertures.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The lens array of claim 1 wherein, for each lens element, the second optical boundary has a critical angle and a first index of refraction, each lens element further comprising a region adjacent to the second optical boundary and having an index of refraction lower than the first index of refraction, whereby each ray originating from an object point impinges the second optical boundary substantially at the critical angle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 2)

The lens array of claim 2 wherein the inner surfaces of the first and second intermitting members comprise complementary raised lands in interstices between lens elements and further comprising a light-blocking cement on the raised lands, the light-blocking cement rendering the interstices substantially opaque.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The lens array of claim 14 wherein the lands have flat surfaces.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The lens array of claim 14 wherein the lands have concave surfaces.

### Claim 17 (depends on 2)

The lens array of claim 2 wherein the first and second interfitting members comprise interstices between lens elements, the interstices comprising diffusive surfaces to distribute light.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The lens array of claim 1 wherein at least one of the boundaries comprises at least one of a conformal antireflective coating, a conformal antiabrasion coating, and a conformal heat-resistant coating.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The lens array of claim 18 wherein at least one of the boundaries comprises subwavelength anti-reflective microstructures.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The lens array of claim 1 wherein at least one of the boundaries comprises a hybrid refractive/diffractive surface.

### Claim 21 (depends on 2)

The lens array of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of internal aperture stops.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The lens array of claim 21 wherein the internal aperture stops are disposed within interstices between the first optical boundaries.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The lens array of claim 22 wherein the stops are dye sublimation stops.

### Claim 24 (depends on 2)

The lens array of claim 2 further comprising internal aperture stops disposed between the inner surfaces of the members and within interstices between the second and third optical boundaries.

### Claim 25 (depends on 2)

The lens array of claim 2 further comprising an internal mosaic filter for color imaging.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The lens array of claim 1 wherein not all lens elements in the array are identical.

### Claim 27

A lens array comprising a plurality of joined lens elements, the lens elements each comprising a first optical boundary having a convex curvature and a second optical boundary optically coupled to the first optical boundary, the second optical boundary having an oblate, concave curvature, the lens elements cooperating to optically integrate into a single image a tiled pattern of discrete microimages.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The lens array of claim 27 wherein total internal reflection restricts angular emission during reproduction of the microimages.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The lens array of claim 27 wherein the lens elements are also tiled and further comprising a pattern of microimages associated with the fourth optical boundary, the microimages and the lens elements being tiled in different patterns.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The lens array of claim 29 wherein the microimages are tiled irregularly with a bias to a horizontal axis.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The lens array of claim 29 wherein the microimages are tiled in an irregular hexagonal pattern.

### Claim 32 (depends on 29)

The lens array of claim 29 wherein the microimages are tiled in a 2:1 rectangular pattern.

### Claim 33 (depends on 29)

The lens array of claim 29 wherein the lens elements are tiled hexagonally.

### Claim 34 (depends on 29)

The lens array of claim 29 wherein the lens elements have associated image center points, the microimages being displaced from the center points of the lens elements.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The lens array of claim 34 wherein the microimages are radially shifted inwardly relative to the image center points.

### Claim 36 (depends on 29)

The lens array of claim 29 wherein the microimages contain null zones not enabled to capture or reproduce light.

### Claim 37 (depends on 29)

The lens array of claim 29 wherein the microimages define a time-distorted image set.

### Claim 38 (depends on 29)

The lens array of claim 29 wherein the microimages define at least two planes of graphic material at differing focal lengths.

### Claim 39 (depends on 29)

The lens array of claim 29 wherein the microimages are displaceable from the fourth optical boundary, permitting relative motion therebetween.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The lens array of claim 39 wherein the lens elements cause the microimages to undergo an optical magnification of about 1.25 during reproduction.