Patents by Inventor Christoph Menke

Christoph Menke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240103382
    Abstract: An imaging optical unit comprises a plurality of minors for imaging an object field into an image field. The imaging optical unit has an image-side numerical aperture greater than 0.55. Each mirror is configured so that it can be measured by a testing optical unit having at least one DOE with a predetermined maximum diameter for test wavefront generation. For the complete measurement of all reflection surfaces of the minors, a maximum number of DOEs of the testing optical unit and/or a maximum number of DOE test positions of the at least one DOE of the testing optical unit comes into play, which is no more than five times the number of minors in the imaging optical unit. The result is an imaging optical unit in which a testing-optical measurement remains manageable even in the case of a design with an image-side numerical aperture which is relatively large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Rostalski, Holger Münz, Christoph Menke
  • Publication number: 20240094637
    Abstract: An imaging optical unit comprises a plurality of mirrors for imaging an object field in an object plane into an image field in an image plane. An image-side numerical aperture is greater than 0.55. A ratio between an object/image offset and a meridional transverse direction is at least 0.5. A ratio between a working distance between the object plane and a reflection portion, closest to the object plane, of one of the mirrors and the meridional transverse dimension is at least 0.05. The working distance is at least 270 mm. This can yield an imaging optical unit, the use of which is relatively manageable in a projection exposure apparatus, such as for EUV projection lithography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Rostalski, Holger Münz, Christoph Menke
  • Publication number: 20240069362
    Abstract: A spectacle lens for a display device which can be placed on the head of a user and generate an image has a front and a rear, an injection section and a deflection section spaced from the injection section, an exit section in the rear and a light-guiding channel which guides light beams of pixels of the generated image, which are injected into the spectacle lens via the injection section, in the spectacle lens to the deflection section, by which they are deflected towards the exit section and then coupled out of the spectacle lens through the exit section. The spectacle lens is in the form of a progressive lens having a distance vision region and a near vision region, and the exit section, as viewed from above onto the rear of the spectacle lens, lies outside the distance vision region and outside the near vision region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventor: Christoph MENKE
  • Patent number: 11892712
    Abstract: A progressive spectacle lens has a front face and a rear face and a uniform substrate with a locally varying refractive index. The front face and/or the rear face of the substrate is formed as a free-form surface and carries only functional coatings, if any. The refractive index varies (a) only in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension and is constant in a third spatial dimension, a distribution of the refractive being neither point-symmetrical nor axis symmetrical, or (b) in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension and in a third spatial dimension, a distribution of the refractive index being neither point-symmetrical nor axis symmetrical, or (c) in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension and in a third spatial dimension, a distribution of the refractive index not being point-symmetrical or axis symmetrical at all.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kelch, Christoph Menke, Helmut Wietschorke
  • Patent number: 11841558
    Abstract: A spectacle lens for a display device which can be placed on the head of a user and generate an image has a front and a rear, an injection section and a deflection section spaced from the injection section, an exit section in the rear and a light-guiding channel which guides light beams of pixels of the generated image, which are injected into the spectacle lens via the injection section, in the spectacle lens to the deflection section, by which they are deflected towards the exit section and then coupled out of the spectacle lens through the exit section. The spectacle lens is in the form of a progressive lens having a distance vision region and a near vision region, and the exit section, as viewed from above onto the rear of the spectacle lens, lies outside the distance vision region and outside the near vision region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: tooz technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Menke
  • Patent number: 11740488
    Abstract: A progressive spectacle lens has a front face and a rear face and a uniform substrate with a locally varying refractive index. The front face and/or the rear face of the substrate is formed as a free-form surface and carries only functional coatings, if any. The refractive index varies (a) only in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension and is constant in a third spatial dimension, a distribution of the refractive being neither point-symmetrical nor axis symmetrical, or (b) in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension and in a third spatial dimension, a distribution of the refractive index being neither point-symmetrical nor axis symmetrical, or (c) in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension and in a third spatial dimension, a distribution of the refractive index not being point-symmetrical or axis symmetrical at all.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kelch, Christoph Menke, Helmut Wietschorke
  • Patent number: 11650510
    Abstract: A projection optical unit for microlithography includes a plurality of mirrors and has a numerical aperture having a value larger than 0.5. The plurality of mirrors includes at least three grazing incidence mirrors, which deflect a chief ray of a central object field point with an angle of incidence of greater than 45°. Different polarized light beams passing the projection optical unit are rotated in their polarization direction by different angles of rotation. The projection optical unit includes first and second groups of mirrors. The second group of mirrors includes the final two mirrors of the plurality of mirrors at the image side. A linear portion in the pupil dependence of the total geometrical polarization rotation of the projection optical unit is less than 20% of a linear portion in the pupil dependence of the geometrical polarization rotation of the second group of mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Rostalski, Holger Muenz, Christoph Menke
  • Patent number: 11372264
    Abstract: A progressive spectacle lens has a front surface, a rear surface, and a spatially varying refractive index. The progressive spectacle lens can have: (a) a refractive index that changes only in a first and second spatial dimension and is constant in a third spatial dimension, and the distribution of the refractive index in the first spatial dimension and the second spatial dimension is neither punctually nor axially symmetric; (b) a refractive index that changes in a first, a second, and third spatial dimension, and the distribution of the refractive index in the first spatial dimension and the second spatial dimension is neither punctually nor axially symmetric on all planes perpendicular to the third spatial dimension; or (c) a refractive index that changes in a first, second, and third spatial dimension, and the distribution of the refractive index is not punctually or axially symmetric at all.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kelch, Christoph Menke, Helmut Wietschorke
  • Publication number: 20220107570
    Abstract: A projection optical unit for microlithography includes a plurality of mirrors and has a numerical aperture having a value larger than 0.5. The plurality of mirrors includes at least three grazing incidence mirrors, which deflect a chief ray of a central object field point with an angle of incidence of greater than 45°. Different polarized light beams passing the projection optical unit are rotated in their polarization direction by different angles of rotation. The projection optical unit includes first and second groups of mirrors. The second group of mirrors includes the final two mirrors of the plurality of mirrors at the image side. A linear portion in the pupil dependence of the total geometrical polarization rotation of the projection optical unit is less than 20% of a linear portion in the pupil dependence of the geometrical polarization rotation of the second group of mirrors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Rostalski, Holger Muenz, Christoph Menke
  • Publication number: 20220091437
    Abstract: A progressive spectacle lens has a front face and a rear face and a uniform substrate with a locally varying refractive index. The front face and/or the rear face of the substrate is formed as a free-form surface and carries only functional coatings, if any. The refractive index varies (a) only in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension and is constant in a third spatial dimension, a distribution of the refractive being neither point-symmetrical nor axis symmetrical, or (b) in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension and in a third spatial dimension, a distribution of the refractive index being neither point-symmetrical nor axis symmetrical, or (c) in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension and in a third spatial dimension, a distribution of the refractive index not being point-symmetrical or axis symmetrical at all.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Gerhard Kelch, Christoph Menke, Helmut Wietschorke
  • Publication number: 20220050309
    Abstract: A spectacle lens for a display device which can be placed on the head of a user and generate an image has a front and a rear, an injection section and a deflection section spaced from the injection section, an exit section in the rear and a light-guiding channel which guides light beams of pixels of the generated image, which are injected into the spectacle lens via the injection section, in the spectacle lens to the deflection section, by which they are deflected towards the exit section and then coupled out of the spectacle lens through the exit section. The spectacle lens is in the form of a progressive lens having a distance vision region and a near vision region, and the exit section, as viewed from above onto the rear of the spectacle lens, lies outside the distance vision region and outside the near vision region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventor: Christoph MENKE
  • Patent number: 11226481
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for designing optical systems are provided. In this case, on a plurality of known optical systems, machine learning is carried out in order to train a computing device. After this training, the computing device can generate a design for an optical system on the basis of parameters describing desired properties of an optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignees: Cad Zeiss AG, Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Toufic Jabbour, Christian Wojek, Christoph Menke, Markus Schwab
  • Patent number: 11204498
    Abstract: Provided is an optical element with a Fresnel structure with several Fresnel segments. Each Fresnel segment has an optically active facet, the shape of which is part of a predetermined surface. The predetermined surfaces of the optically active facets differ in terms of their curvature profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: tooz technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Menke, Eduard Schmidt, Wolfgang Singer, Norbert Kerwien
  • Patent number: 11194177
    Abstract: A spectacle lens for a display device which can be placed on the head of a user and generate an image has a front and a rear, an injection section and a deflection section spaced from the injection section, an exit section in the rear and a light-guiding channel which guides light beams of pixels of the generated image, which are injected into the spectacle lens via the injection section, in the spectacle lens to the deflection section, by which they are deflected towards the exit section and then coupled out of the spectacle lens through the exit section. The spectacle lens is in the form of a progressive lens having a distance vision region and a near vision region, and the exit section, as viewed from above onto the rear of the spectacle lens, lies outside the distance vision region and outside the near vision region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: tooz technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Menke
  • Patent number: 11086142
    Abstract: A progressive spectacle lens includes a substrate which has a front face and a rear face and is made from a material with a regionally varying refractive index, wherein the front face and/or the rear face has/have a free-form surface geometry. The progressive spectacle lens complies with the following optical requirements: (1) a prescribed dioptric power in the distance reference point within the permissible limit deviations in accordance with EN ISO 8980-2:2004 and a prescribed dioptric power in the near reference point within the permissible limit deviations in accordance with EN ISO 8980-2:2004, (2) a monotonically steady increase in the dioptric power between the distance reference point and near reference point along a principal line of vision, and (3) a progression channel. The progressive spectacle lens has a free-form surface geometry of the front face and/or rear face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kelch, Christoph Menke, Helmut Wietschorke
  • Publication number: 20210199991
    Abstract: A progressive spectacle lens has a front face and a rear face and a uniform substrate with a locally varying refractive index. The front face and/or the rear face of the substrate is formed as a free-form surface and carries only functional coatings, if any. The refractive index varies (a) only in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension and is constant in a third spatial dimension, a distribution of the refractive being neither point-symmetrical nor axis symmetrical, or (b) in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension and in a third spatial dimension, a distribution of the refractive index being neither point-symmetrical nor axis symmetrical, or (c) in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension and in a third spatial dimension, a distribution of the refractive index not being point-symmetrical or axis symmetrical at all.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Gerhard Kelch, Christoph Menke, Helmut Wietschorke
  • Publication number: 20210141244
    Abstract: A progressive spectacle lens includes a substrate which has a front face and a rear face and is made from a material with a regionally varying refractive index, wherein the front face and/or the rear face has/have a free-form surface geometry. The progressive spectacle lens complies with the following optical requirements: (1) a prescribed dioptric power in the distance reference point within the permissible limit deviations in accordance with EN ISO 8980-2:2004 and a prescribed dioptric power in the near reference point within the permissible limit deviations in accordance with EN ISO 8980-2:2004, (2) a monotonically steady increase in the dioptric power between the distance reference point and near reference point along a principal line of vision, and (3) a progression channel. The progressive spectacle lens has a free-form surface geometry of the front face and/or rear face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Gerhard Kelch, Christoph Menke, Helmut Wietschorke
  • Patent number: 10989932
    Abstract: A product includes a progressive power spectacle lens or a representation, stored on a data storage medium, of the progressive power spectacle lens. The progressive power spectacle lens has a front surface and a back surface and a spatially varying refractive index, wherein the front surface and/or the back surface is embodied as a progressive surface. The front surface is formed as a free-form surface in such a way that the maximum of the absolute value of the mean curvature of the front surface lies in the intermediate corridor and/or the back surface is formed as a free-form surface in such a way that the minimum of the absolute value of the mean curvature of the back surface lies in the intermediate corridor. Further, a computer-implemented method for planning a progressive power spectacle lens with a spatially varying refractive index and a progressive surface is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kelch, Christoph Menke, Helmut Wietschorke
  • Patent number: 10838231
    Abstract: A product includes a progressive power spectacle lens or a representation, stored on a data storage medium, of the progressive power spectacle lens. The progressive power spectacle lens has a front surface and a back surface and a spatially varying refractive index, wherein the front surface and/or the back surface is embodied as a progressive surface. The front surface is formed as a free-form surface in such a way that the maximum of the absolute value of the mean curvature of the front surface lies in the intermediate corridor and/or the back surface is formed as a free-form surface in such a way that the minimum of the absolute value of the mean curvature of the back surface lies in the intermediate corridor. Further, a computer-implemented method for planning a progressive power spectacle lens with a spatially varying refractive index and a progressive surface is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kelch, Christoph Menke, Helmut Wietschorke
  • Publication number: 20200348538
    Abstract: A progressive spectacle lens has a front surface, a rear surface, and a spatially varying refractive index. The progressive spectacle lens can have: (a) a refractive index that changes only in a first and second spatial dimension and is constant in a third spatial dimension, and the distribution of the refractive index in the first spatial dimension and the second spatial dimension is neither punctually nor axially symmetric; (b) a refractive index that changes in a first, a second, and third spatial dimension, and the distribution of the refractive index in the first spatial dimension and the second spatial dimension is neither punctually nor axially symmetric on all planes perpendicular to the third spatial dimension; or (c) a refractive index that changes in a first, second, and third spatial dimension, and the distribution of the refractive index is not punctually or axially symmetric at all.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Gerhard Kelch, Christoph Menke, Helmut Wietschorke