With Graded Refractive Index Patents (Class 359/652)
  • Patent number: 11934013
    Abstract: An optical element includes a first condensing lens and a plurality of second condensing lenses. The optical element is disposed so as to face an end of an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes a core, a first cladding located around the core, and a second cladding located around the first cladding. The first condensing lens is disposed at a position corresponding to the core. The second condensing lenses are disposed around the first condensing lens at positions corresponding to the first cladding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masatoshi Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 11916306
    Abstract: Techniques are described for forming a gradient index (GRIN) lens for propagating an electromagnetic wave comprising receiving, by a manufacturing device having one or more processors, a model comprising data specifying a plurality of layers, wherein at least one layer of the plurality of layers comprises an arrangement of one or more volume elements comprising a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material, wherein the at least one layer of the plurality of layers has a dielectric profile that is made up of a plurality of different effective dielectric constants of the volume elements in the layer, and generating, with the manufacturing device by an additive manufacturing process, the GRIN lens based on the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald D. Jesme, Thomas J. Brace, Justin M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11874435
    Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for additive manufacture of an ophthalmic lens, such as a contact lens or intraocular lens. The improvements are directed to repeated application of a monomer according to a pattern of energy transmissibility, such as grayscale image. The method includes intermittent pinning of deposited polymerizable mixture and final cure of the deposited polymerizable mixture. A pattern of multiple defied areas may be manufactured, with each area representing an amount of energy transmissibility associated with that area. Each area may have a light value based upon a scale, such as an 8 bit, 16 bit, 32 bit, 64 bit scale or other scale. In some embodiments, each area may refer to a smallest single component of a digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: ATHENEUM OPTICAL SCIENCES, LLC
    Inventors: W. Anthony Martin, Ganesh Narayanan Kumar, Randall Pugh
  • Patent number: 11789184
    Abstract: A lens module is provided. The lens module includes at least one refractive index distribution lens; and a lens barrel configured to accommodate the at least one refractive index distribution lens, wherein the at least one refractive index distribution lens is composed of a single layer, and includes a plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong Chan Park, Eun Jung Lim
  • Patent number: 11789183
    Abstract: Three or more base optical materials are selectively combined into a trans-gradient index (GRIN) optical element (e.g., a lens). A wavelength-dependent index of refraction for light propagating perpendicular to the three or more optical materials equals: a volume fraction of a first optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the first optical material, plus a volume fraction of a second optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the second optical material, plus one minus the volume fraction of the first optical material and the volume of the second optical material all multiplied by the refractive index of a third optical material. The wavelength-dependent index of refraction distribution and a refractive index dispersion through the GRIN optical element may be independently specified from one another. A local refractive index at any point in the optical element is a fixed function of a refractive index of each individual optical material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Guy Beadie, Richard Flynn, James S. Shirk, Joseph Mait, Predrag Milojkovic
  • Patent number: 11614640
    Abstract: A spectacle lens has, starting from the object-sided front surface of the spectacle lens to the opposite rear-side of the spectacle lens, at least a) one component A including at least one functional layer FA and/or an ultrathin glass, b) one component B including at least one polymer material and, c) one component C, including at least one functional layer F and/or an ultrathin glass. A method, in particular a 3D printing method, for producing the spectacle lens is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH
    Inventors: Timo Mappes, Gerhard Kelch, Thomas Glöge
  • Patent number: 11611056
    Abstract: A display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The display apparatus includes a substrate, and a plurality of display devices, an encapsulation layer, a microlens array and a protective layer which are sequentially provided on the substrate, and the microlens array includes a plurality of microlenses corresponding to the plurality of display devices, and each microlens in the microlens array comprises a multi-step structure including a plurality of steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gaolei Xue, Xiandong Meng, Wei Wang, Can Wang, Xiaochuan Chen
  • Patent number: 11579363
    Abstract: An integrated optical beam steering device includes a planar Luneburg lens that collimates beams from different inputs in different directions within the lens plane. It also includes a curved (e.g., semi-circular or arced) grating coupler that diffracts the collimated beams out of the lens plane. The beams can be steered in the plane by controlling the direction along which the lens is illuminated and out of the plane by varying the beam wavelength. Unlike other beam steering devices, this device can operate over an extremely wide field of view—up to 180°—without any aberrations off boresight. In other words, the beam quality is uniform in all directions, unlike with aplanatic lenses, thanks to the circular symmetry of the planar Luneburg lens, which may be composed of subwavelength features. The lens is also robust to misalignment and fabrication imperfections and can be made using standard CMOS processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Josue Lopez, Samuel Kim, Jamison Sloan, Boris Kharas, Jeffrey Scott Herd, Marin Soljacic, Cheryl Marie Sorace-Agaskar, Suraj Deepak Bramhavar, Steven Glenn Johnson, George Barbastathis
  • Patent number: 11385476
    Abstract: A lens element worn in front of an eye of a person includes a refraction area having a first refractive power based on a prescription for correcting an abnormal refraction of the eye of the person and a second refractive power different from the first refractive power and a plurality of at least three optical elements, at least one optical element having an optical function of not focusing an image on the retina of the eye so as to slow down the progression of the abnormal refraction of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Matthieu Guillot, Björn Drobe
  • Patent number: 11375884
    Abstract: A rear-viewing endoscope includes a rigid section having first and second ends, and a cavity situated between the first and second ends. The rigid section has a longitudinal length and defining a longitudinal axis (LAR). The endoscope further includes a flexible section having proximal and distal ends, where the proximal end is coupled to the second end of the rigid section; and an imaging unit having first and second ends and a cavity situated between the first and second ends, the second end of the imaging unit coupled to the distal end of the flexible section. An objective lens assembly of the endoscope includes a complementary multiband bandpass filter (CMBF) pair situated within the cavity of the imaging unit. The CMBF filter collimated image rays passing therethrough so as to output filtered image rays. A camera or detector receives the filtered image rays and forms corresponding video information for stereoscopic imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventors: Hrayr Karnig Shahinian, Michael J. Shearn, Harish Manohara, Jack M. Mondry, Ronald J. Korniski
  • Patent number: 11378818
    Abstract: A lens element worn in front of an eye of a person includes a refraction area having a first refractive power based on a prescription for correcting an abnormal refraction of the eye of the person and a second refractive power different from the first refractive power and a plurality of at least three optical elements, at least one optical element having an optical function of not focusing an image on the retina of the eye so as to slow down the progression of the abnormal refraction of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Matthieu Guillot, Björn Drobe
  • Patent number: 11327394
    Abstract: A multilayer stack in the form of a Bragg reflector comprising a graded interfacial layer and a method of manufacturing are disclosed. The graded interfacial layer eliminates the formation of low-reflectivity interfaces in a multilayer stack and reduces roughness of interfaces in a multilayer stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Wen Xiao, Vibhu Jindal, Weimin Li, Shuwei Liu
  • Patent number: 11300445
    Abstract: A method of wavefront sensing with engineered images is provided with at least one wave receiving system. At least one desired parameter range is designated for the wave receiving system. At least one preliminary engineered image is then simulated to correspond with the desired parameter range. At least one inverse-model is then generated that outputs the desired parameter range by inputting the preliminary engineered image. A training process is then executed for the inverse-model to readily and accurately output the desired parameter range by inputting the preliminary engineered image. At least one measurement engineered image is then received in order to output at least one estimated parameter value for the wave receiving system with the inverse-model by inputting the measurement engineered image into the inverse-model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventor: Gaston Daniel Baudat
  • Patent number: 11229499
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for illuminating a surgical field has an optical waveguide for transmitting light by total internal reflection. One or more control elements are disposed on the optical waveguide. The control elements extract light from the optical waveguide and control first and second optical properties of the extracted light Another surgical instrument includes a first and second optical waveguide for transmitting light by total internal reflection. A coupling element is attached to both optical waveguides such that the optical waveguides are movable and pivotable relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Invuity, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Vayser, Fernando Erismann, Douglas Rimer, Gaston Tudury
  • Patent number: 10816704
    Abstract: An optical device has a first metasurface. A high-contrast pattern of the first metasurface is operable for modifying, over a first phase profile, a phase front of an incident light beam. A second metasurface, is disposed over a plane parallel to the first metasurface with a second high-contrast pattern and operable for shaping, over a second phase profile, the modified phase front of the incident light beam into a converging spherical phase front. A spacer layer, in which the modified phase front of the incident light beam diffracts, is disposed in a controllably changeable separation between the first and second metasurfaces. Controllably changing the separation between the first and the second metasurfaces by a first distance correspondingly changes the position of the focus point of the converging spherical phase front by a second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Amir Arbabi, Andrei Faraon
  • Patent number: 10809523
    Abstract: An endoscope objective optical system that is to be combined with a solid image pickup element includes, in order from an object side, a planoconcave negative lens, an absorption-type filter, an aperture stop, and a planoconvex positive lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko Ozao
  • Patent number: 10802180
    Abstract: Three or more base optical materials are selectively combined into a trans-gradient index (GRIN) optical element (e.g., a lens). A wavelength-dependent index of refraction for light propagating perpendicular to the three or more optical materials equals: a volume fraction of a first optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the first optical material, plus a volume fraction of a second optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the second optical material, plus one minus the volume fraction of the first optical material and the volume of the second optical material all multiplied by the refractive index of a third optical material. The wavelength-dependent index of refraction distribution and a refractive index dispersion through the GRIN optical element may be independently specified from one another. A local refractive index at any point in the optical element is a fixed function of a refractive index of each individual optical material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Guy Beadie, Richard Flynn, James S. Shirk, Joseph Mait, Predrag Milojkovic
  • Patent number: 10520703
    Abstract: Provided are an optical lens assembly and an electronic device. The optical lens assembly includes a first lens having a positive refractive power, a second lens having a positive or negative refractive power, and a third lens having a negative refractive power. The first lens, the second lens, and the third lens are sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side of an optical axis, the object side facing an object for image capture and the image side facing an image plane of an image sensor. The optical lens assembly and the electronic device may be configured to perform, for example, iris recognition for user authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-yeol Lee
  • Patent number: 10502382
    Abstract: A laser lamp includes a laser device, a prism mounted on the laser device, a fixed base encompassing the laser device, a support bracket mounted on the fixed base, and a lens mounted on the support bracket. The lens includes a first transparent section, a second transparent section located at a front end of the first transparent section, and a third transparent section located at a front end of the second transparent section. The second transparent section is a freeform optics and is provided with two first arcuate faces and two second arcuate faces. The two first arcuate faces are curved backward and have two symmetrical sides. The two second arcuate faces are curved forward and have two symmetrical sides. The third transparent section of the lens has an arcuate face and is curved forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Niken Vehicle Lighting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shou-Jen Shih
  • Patent number: 10422930
    Abstract: An optical element includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and includes a first region. A refractive index of the first region is asymmetric with respect to a first axis. The first axis passes through a first position and is parallel to a first thickness direction. The first refractive index is highest or lowest at the first position in the first region. The first thickness direction is from the first surface toward the second surface in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yusaku Asano
  • Patent number: 10416376
    Abstract: Air core optical fiber structures in which the cladding is composed of an engineered optical metamaterial having a refractive index less than unity for at least one specific wavelength band and provides for total internal reflection of optical energy between the air core and metamaterial cladding. According to certain examples, a method of guiding optical energy includes constructing a hollow core optical fiber with an all-dielectric optical metamaterial cladding, coupling optical energy into the optical fiber having an operating wavelength near a resonance of the metamaterial cladding, and guiding the optical energy within the hollow core optical fiber by total internal reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert W. Byren, Vladimir V. Shkunov
  • Patent number: 10330868
    Abstract: The loopback apparatus disclosed herein is used with an optical fiber system having an optical fiber cable. The loopback apparatus includes an optical fiber having input and output ends and an output optical fiber having input and output ends. The loopback apparatus also includes an optical system that defines an optical path and that is configured to optically couple the output end of the input optical fiber with the input end of the output optical fiber over the optical path. The loopback apparatus also includes a thin-film filter disposed in the optical path and configured to provide a select amount of attenuation for light traveling over the optical path. The loopback apparatus can be plugged into and unplugged from the optical fiber cable. Loopback methods for measuring the performance of the optical fiber system using the loopback apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Alliance Fiber Optic Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Yao Li, Chen Xia, Shiping Zhang
  • Patent number: 10330849
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a quantum dot film, a method for manufacturing the same and a backlight module. The quantum dot film comprises a quantum dot layer and an optical waveguide layer, the quantum dot layer covers the optical waveguide layer, the optical waveguide layer is a laminated structure made up of a plurality of sublayers, and starting from the sublayer close to the quantum dot layer in the laminated structure, the refractive indices of sublayers become larger layer by layer. The backlight module comprises the above-mentioned quantum dot film, and the quantum dot film is located between the optical waveguide layer and the prism film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo Wang, Zhanjie Ma, Minghua Xuan
  • Patent number: 10302858
    Abstract: Air core optical fiber structures in which the cladding is composed of an engineered optical metamaterial having a refractive index less than unity for at least one specific wavelength band and provides for total internal reflection of optical energy between the air core and metamaterial cladding. According to certain examples, a method of guiding optical energy includes constructing a hollow core optical fiber with an all-dielectric optical metamaterial cladding, coupling optical energy into the optical fiber having an operating wavelength near a resonance of the metamaterial cladding, and guiding the optical energy within the hollow core optical fiber by total internal reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert W. Byren, Vladimir V. Shkunov
  • Patent number: 10254535
    Abstract: An illumination system is provided that includes a spatial fiber arrangement with an optical element at the distal end of the fiber arrangement. The fiber arrangement has a first region including individual fibers with a significantly smaller active diameter in comparison with the individual fibers of a remaining region. The optical element at the distal end is assigned the remaining region. The fiber arrangement can be a rigid fiber rod that includes an intermediate region provided between the first region and the remaining region. The intermediate region suppresses stray light transfers between the first and remaining regions. The fiber arrangement can include an optical coupling element at a proximal end of the fiber rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd Schultheis, Hubertus Russert, Holger Werner, Kevin Tabor
  • Patent number: 10234626
    Abstract: A photonic device includes a semiconductor wafer having a waveguide formed therein. An end of the waveguide includes a step. The photonic device further includes a semiconductor chip bonded to the semiconductor wafer and having an active region, and a waveguide coupler disposed in a gap between a sidewall of the semiconductor chip and the end of the waveguide. The waveguide coupler includes an optical bridge that has a first end and a second end opposing the first end. The first end of the optical bridge is interfaced with a facet of the active region of the semiconductor chip. The second end of the optical bridge is interfaced with the end of waveguide, and has a portion thereof disposed over the step at the end of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Skorpios Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Damien Lambert
  • Patent number: 10114150
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical multilayer coating placed on or above a substrate. The optical multilayer coating includes a high-refractive index layer with a refractive index of 1.76 to 2.7, a magnesium oxyfluoride layer, and a magnesium fluoride layer. The high-refractive index layer, the magnesium oxyfluoride layer, and the magnesium fluoride layer are stacked on or above the substrate in this order and are in contact with each other. The magnesium oxyfluoride layer has a composition represented by the following formula: MgxOyFz??(1) where z/x is not less than 0.01 nor greater than 1.45 and z/y is not less than 0.01 nor greater than 3.17.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Akiba
  • Patent number: 9888181
    Abstract: Disclosed is a camera module that is compact and has a low manufacturing cost, and is capable of correcting blur in a captured image more favorably. An image capturing lens (103) is configured so that a size of an image that an image capturing lens (103) forms is proportionate to an angle at which a principal ray from an object (200) is incident to the image capturing lens (103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norimichi Shigemitsu
  • Patent number: 9875761
    Abstract: A gradient-index lens couples light from a laser active region to a waveguide core. The gradient-index lens includes a plurality of bilayers, each of the bilayers having first and second material of respective first and second refractive indices. The bilayers conform to a planar base of the gradient-index lens and further conform to input and output sidewalls of the gradient-index lens. The input sidewall faces the laser active region and the output sidewall faces away from the laser active region. The input and output sidewalls are tilted at respective acute angles relative to the planar base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Reyad Mehfuz, Aidan Dominic Goggin, Kelly Elizabeth Hamilton, John Bernard McGurk
  • Patent number: 9810816
    Abstract: A rod lens array unit includes at least a rod lens array that includes a plurality of rod lenses arranged in a line, each of the rod lenses having an optical axis extending in an optical axis direction, and a pair of side plate parts stacked so as to sandwich the rod lens array. Wherein, end faces of the side plate parts in the optical axis direction of the rod lens array are positioned inside an end face of the rod lens array in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takahito Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9772476
    Abstract: Provided are a gradient index lens using the effective refractive index of a microstructure operating in the terahertz frequency regions and mid-infrared regions at wavelengths of 0.8 m to 3 mm and a method for manufacturing the same. Based on the effective medium theorem, the effective refractive index is controlled by using a structure smaller than the mid-infrared and terahertz wavelength, and a gradient can be provided for the refractive index in a radial direction and in an axial direction. Thus, beams in the mid-infrared and terahertz frequency region can be converged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ki-Hun Jeong, Sang-Gil Park, Youngseop Lee
  • Patent number: 9728749
    Abstract: The present invention provides an OLED array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof, an OLED display panel and an OLED display device. The OLED array substrate comprises a substrate and a plurality of pixel units provided thereon, each pixel unit comprising a TFT, and a first electrode, an organic light-emitting layer, a second electrode and an optical coupling layer sequentially arranged on the TFT, wherein the optical coupling layer comprises a bottom contacting with the second electrode and an arched top protruding towards a light-exiting direction. By forming the optical coupling layer of each pixel unit on the OLED array substrate to be the arched top optical coupling layer, the OLED array substrate, the manufacturing method thereof, the OLED display panel and the OLED display device of the present invention attenuates total reflection of light inside the optical coupling layer, thereby improving light extraction efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Can Zhang
  • Patent number: 9690014
    Abstract: A gradient-index lens for focusing incident electromagnetic radiation comprises at least first and second substrates. Each of the substrates has a plurality of trenches or holes formed therein. The first substrate is stacked on the second substrate such that trenches or holes in the first substrate are substantially aligned with corresponding trenches or holes in the second substrate to form combined trenches or holes. Each of the combined trenches or holes has a width or diameter that is less than a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation, and the spacing between adjacent ones of the combined trenches or holes is less than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation. The size and spacing of the combined trenches or holes in the stacked substrates are sufficient to produce an effective refractive index profile of the lens element that is graded. A method for producing the lens is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: INVIS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory J. Kintz, Philip J. Stephanou, Kurt E. Petersen, Srinivasan K. Ganapathi, John Batey
  • Patent number: 9596458
    Abstract: A switchable imaging device (1) has a first mode of operation in which the device performs an imaging function and a second mode of operation different from the first mode, for example a non-imaging mode. In the first mode of operation the device comprises at least one first region that performs a lensing action and at least one second region that at least partially absorbs light passing through the or each second region. The switchable imaging device (1) may be disposed in path of light through an image display panel (4). This provides a display that may be operable in either a directional display mode such as an autostereoscopic 3D display mode or a 2-D display mode, by controlling the switchable imaging device to be in its first mode or its second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nathan James Smith, Alexander Zawadzki, Benjamin John Broughton, Alexandra Baum
  • Patent number: 9434637
    Abstract: An optical glass includes P2O5, B2O3 and a rare earth oxide as essential components, and in a glass composition based on oxides, the P2O5 content is in the range of over 0 weight % and less than 0.79 weight %, the B2O3 content is in the range of 20-40 weight % and the total content of the rare earth oxide and an oxide selected from the group including of Ta2O5, WO3, TiO2, Nb2O5 and Bi2O3 is in the range of 35-70 weight %. Further, this optical glass has a refractive index (nd) in the range of 1.72-1.83, an Abbe number (?d) in the range of 45-55 and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 640° C. or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masanori Aniya
  • Patent number: 9298089
    Abstract: Provided is a composition for resist patterning comprising a thiol; at least one -ene monomer; at least one polymerization initiator; and, optionally, a metal oxide used in an amount of 0.1 to 50 wt. % per weight of the composition; the thiol and -ene monomer are used in a stoichiometric ratio with a refractive index between 1.6 and 1.8. The composition is used in a patterning process wherein the composition is dispensed to the substrate, is covered with a mask, and is cured, e.g., by UV radiation, at room temperature with light having a wavelength in the range of 200 nm to 450 nm. The process may be carried out with thermal annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Abeam Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Pina Hernandez, Christophe Peroz, Stefano Cabrini
  • Patent number: 9223120
    Abstract: An imaging lens includes: a positive first lens group; a positive second lens group which moves while focusing; and a third lens group. The first lens group includes a positive lens having a convex surface with a radius of curvature having a small absolute value toward the image side, a positive biconvex lens, a negative lens having a concave surface with a radius of curvature having a small absolute value toward the object side, and a positive lens having a convex surface with a radius of curvature having a small absolute value toward the object side, in this order from the object side. The second lens group includes a positive lens having a convex surface with a radius of curvature having a small absolute value toward the object side. The third lens group includes two positive lenses and one negative lens. The imaging lens satisfies a predetermined conditional formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Ukyo Tomioka, Michio Cho
  • Publication number: 20150130973
    Abstract: An image-pickup optical system includes: a first lens provided near an aperture stop and configured to correct aberration; and a second lens arranged between the first lens and an image sensor and configured to collect light, the first lens being a gradient index lens. The degree of freedom of design of a gradient index lens is higher than that of a lens having a constant refractive index, and a gradient index lens thus has a high potential as a device for a lens. Because such a gradient index lens is employed, it is possible to correct aberration without performing expensive processing such as polishing for example. In other words, as a result, costs may be reduced and image-forming properties may not be reduced at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiro Saito, Hidetoshi Kabasawa
  • Patent number: 9028079
    Abstract: The present invention provides a refractive index variable lens and a camera module using the same, the refractive index variable lens including a disc-shaped first medium, and a second medium formed at a periphery of the first medium and having a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the first medium, wherein a periphery of the second medium is sequentially formed with at least one medium having a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the second medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sukyeong Koo
  • Publication number: 20150116841
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept discloses an electronic device, including a display, a body to which the display is attached, wherein the body is coated with a meta-material, the meta-material configured to divert an electromagnetic wave based on refraction characteristics, and a display-cover that blocks the display from outside when the display is turned off, wherein the display-cover is coated with the meta-material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Byeong-Hwa CHOI, Seung-Bae LEE, Eun-Jung LEE, Hak-Sun KIM
  • Publication number: 20150090862
    Abstract: A lens reflecting a light of a predetermined wavelength, or transmitting and condensing or diverging the light is provided. The lens includes a substrate, and a quasi-periodic structure layer. A plane of the quasi-periodic structure layer is divided into unit cells and is filled with the unit cells in a two-dimensional period. The unit cell has a first region and a second region. An occupancy rate is changed as a distance from a center of the substrate. A resonance mode is defined by a relationship between the occupancy rate and the period length. A lowest order resonance mode is defined by the resonance mode. The period length is set to a predetermined value within a predetermined range including an optimum value. Another lens is provided. A minimum occupancy rate is defined by a smallest occupancy rate. A variation range of the occupancy rate changes across the minimum occupancy rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Takayuki MATSUI, Hisayoshi FUJIKAWA, Hideo IIZUKA, Hiroyuki WADO, Shuichi YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 8958141
    Abstract: A broadband optical material is described. The broadband optical material includes a stacked structure having a plurality of layers of metamaterial. Each layer of metamaterial has a matrix material and a plurality of nano-particles. The plurality of nano-particles are geometrically arranged in an array within the matrix material such that the layer of metamaterial has a refractive index plasmon resonance based on a cooperative plasmon effect at a predetermined electro-magnetic radiation (EMR) wavelength, wherein the predetermined EMR wavelength for the refractive index plasmon resonance is different for each of the layers of metamaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventor: Robert G. Brown
  • Patent number: 8902507
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a man-made composite material and a man-made composite material antenna. The man-made composite material is divided into a plurality of regions. An electromagnetic wave is incident on a first surface exits from a second surface of the man-made composite material opposite to the first surface. A line connecting a radiation source to a point on the bottom surface of the ith region and a line perpendicular to the man-made composite material form an angle ? therebetween, which uniquely corresponds to a curved surface in the ith region. A set formed by points on the bottom surface of the ith region that have the same angle ? forms a boundary of the curved surface to which the angle ? uniquely corresponds. The refraction, diffraction and reflection of the present invention at the abrupt transition points can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignees: Kuang-Chi Innovative Technology Ltd., Kuang-Chi Institute of Advanced Technology
    Inventors: Ruopeng Liu, Chunlin Ji, Yutao Yue
  • Patent number: 8902508
    Abstract: A consolidated multilayered GRIN optical material includes a multilayered composite GRIN sheet that includes a plurality of consolidated coextruded multilayered polymer films. Each of the multilayered polymer films includes a plurality of at least two alternating layers (A) and (B). Layer (A) includes a first blend of polymer components and layer (B) includes a second blend of polymer components. The multilayered composite GRIN sheet has an external optical transmission of at least 80% at a wavelength of 633 nm measured using UV-VIS spectroscopy and is free of intralayer polymer domains at least 1 micron size scale in any dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventor: Michael T. Ponting
  • Patent number: 8900897
    Abstract: Devices are described including a component comprising an alloy of AlN and AlSb. The component has an index of refraction substantially the same as that of a semiconductor in the optoelectronic device, and has high transparency at wavelengths of light used in the optoelectronic device. The component is in contact with the semiconductor in the optoelectronic device. The alloy comprises between 0% and 100% AlN by weight and between 0% and 100% AlSb by weight. The semiconductor can be a III-V semiconductor such as GaAs or AlGaInP. The component can be used as a transparent insulator. The alloy can also be doped to form either a p-type conductor or an n-type conductor, and the component can be used as a transparent conductor. Methods of making and devices utilizing the alloy are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Kraus, Thai Cheng Chua, Yoga Saripalli
  • Publication number: 20140293426
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lens which has an extended range of focus, wherein the lens consists of a solid material, the optical surfaces of the lens are transparent and the lens has a focal power distribution. According to the invention, the focal power distribution FG of the lens (1), in relation to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis (10), changes as a function of the radial height r and of the azimuth angle phi of the aperture between a base value of the focal power FL not equal to zero and a maximum value FSmax. Hence, the focal power distribution emerges as FG(r,phi)=FL+FS(r,phi), with the spiral focal power component FS(r,phi)=FSmax(r)*w(phi), where FSmax(r) depends nonlinearly on the radius and w(phi) is a factor for the focal power component with a spiral profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS AG
    Inventor: Hans-Jürgen Dobschal
  • Patent number: 8848295
    Abstract: Gradient index lenses with no aberrations and related methods for making such lenses are described. In one aspect, a gradient index lens can be a substantially spherically-shaped lens that has at least one side that is flattened such that a locus of focal points resides on a plane. A method for making a gradient index lens can include forming material layers, each of the material layers defining an effective refractive index, and laminating the material layers together to form a substantially spherically-shaped lens having at least one side that is flattened to a substantially planar surface. The material layers can have a gradient refractive index distribution such that a locus of focal points resides on the substantially planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: David R. Smith, Nathan B. Kundtz
  • Patent number: 8848092
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a light-receiving element; and a multilayer film which is disposed on a side of a light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element and is formed by laminating a plurality of layers made of materials having different refractive indices, in which a defect layer is included in at least one of the laminated layers, wherein in the defect layer, a plurality of kinds of materials having different refractive indices coexist in a surface parallel to the light-receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yukawa
  • Patent number: 8842370
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the optimization of human visual function by correcting and/or optimizing high-order optical aberrations in high performance optical devices. The optimization is particularly useful for high performance devices used under low light conditions such as binoculars, rifle scopes, telescopes, microscopes, night vision goggles and laser eye protection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Jagdish M. Jethmalani, Andreas W. Dreher, Lawrence H. Sverdrup
  • Patent number: 8837053
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes an aperture diaphragm, and a plurality of lens units including a negative lens unit arranged on a light incident side of the aperture diaphragm, the zoom lens being configured to make variable a focal length by changing an interval in the plurality of lens units. The negative lens unit includes a negative lens having a radial type refractive index distribution and a concave surface on the light incident side. The negative lens has a wavelength dispersion distribution in which a differential value is negative on an optical axis of the zoom lens, and the differential value increases at a position that is more distant from the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichiro Ishihara, Masakazu Tohara