With Graded Refractive Index Patents (Class 359/652)
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Patent number: 7499221Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an optical element that is made of a medium exhibiting negative refraction. A correction varies a wavelength of light used, thereby correcting a variation in image forming capability, which occurs due to one of a variation in refractive index of the optical element and a variation in refractive index of a surrounding medium.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2005Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Kimihiko Nishioka
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Publication number: 20090054791Abstract: Micro-optical imaging is facilitated. According to an example embodiment, a micro-optical probe arrangement includes a GRIN-type lens probe to direct light to and from a specimen. Compensation optics tailored to the probe and aberrations introduced by the lens are located in a light path through the lens, and compensate for the introduced aberrations. A light detector detects light from the specimen, as facilitated by the compensation optics, and generates data characterizing an image of the specimen.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2008Publication date: February 26, 2009Inventors: Benjamin A. Flusberg, Mark Jacob Schnitzer, Tony Ko
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Publication number: 20090020690Abstract: An optical member includes high refractive index layers having a great refractive index and low refractive index layers having a small refractive index, which are each relatively thin as compared with an optical length, disposed alternately in the lateral direction as to an optical axis. Each width of the high refractive index layers and the low refractive index layers is equal to or smaller than the wavelength order of incident light.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2008Publication date: January 22, 2009Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Atsushi Toda
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Patent number: 7466911Abstract: An image taking lens forming an optical image on an solid-state image pickup element according to the present invention, is provided with, in order from an object side thereof: a first lens with a positive power; a second lens with a negative power; and a third lens with a negative power. Third lens includes an image side surface in an aspheric shape such that a region around an optical axis in the aspheric shape is formed in a concave shape facing an image side of the image taking lens and a peripheral region in the aspheric shape surrounding the region around the optical axis is formed in a convex shape facing the image side of the image taking lens. The image taking lens fulfills a predefined conditional formula.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.Inventor: Masashi Isono
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Patent number: 7466491Abstract: The present invention provides a DLC film that functions as an optical element and that can easily be miniaturized or integrated, and a method for forming the DLC film. A DLC film that has a refractive index varying continuously in at least one width direction from the center O of the DLC film. More specifically, a DLC film in which the refractive index decreases continuously in at least one width direction from the center O of the DLC film, and thereby the DLC film functions as a convex lens. A DLC film in which the refractive index increases continuously in at least one width direction from the center of the DLC film, and thereby the DLC film functions as a concave lens. A DLC film that has a refractive index varying continuously in the thickness direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Matsuura, Kazuhiko Oda, Toshihiko Ushiro
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Patent number: 7453653Abstract: Low height imaging systems may include one or more optical channels and a detector array. Each of the optical channels may be associated with one or more detectors of the array, have one or more optical components and a restrictive ray corrector, and be configured to direct steeper incident angle field rays onto the detectors. Alternatively, each of the optical channels may be associated with at least one detector, and have an aspheric GRIN lens. Another low height imaging system has an array of detectors and a GRIN lens having a surface with wavefront coding and configured to direct steeper incident angle field rays onto more than one of the detectors. One method forms a lens with wavefront coding. The method includes positioning a lens in a mold; and curing material onto a surface of the lens to form an aspheric surface of the lens with wavefront coding.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2005Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: OmniVision CDM Optics, Inc.Inventors: Edward Raymond Dowski, Jr., Kenneth Scott Kubala, Robert H. Cormack, Paulo E. X. Silveira
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Publication number: 20080252988Abstract: A method is for forming three-dimensional micro- and nanostructures, based on the structuring of a body of material by a mould having an impression area which reproduces the three-dimensional structure in negative form. This method includes providing a mould having a substrate of a material which can undergo isotropic chemical etching, in which the impression area is to be formed. An etching pattern is defined on (in) the substrate, having etching areas having zero-, uni- or bidimensional extension, which can be reached by an etching agent. A process of isotropic chemical etching of the substrate from the etching areas is carried out for a corresponding predetermined time, so as to produce cavities which in combination make up the impression area. The method is advantageously used in the fabrication of sets of microlenses with a convex three-dimensional structure, of the refractive or hybrid refractive/diffractive type, for forming images on different focal planes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2005Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE-INFM ISTITUTO NAZIONALE PER LA FISICA DELLA MATERIAInventors: Massimo Tormen, Alessandro Carpentiero, Enzo Mario Di Fabrizio
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Publication number: 20080252845Abstract: The wavefront aberrator is applicable to correct aberrations of the human eye. In one embodiment, the aberrator device comprises a pair of transparent lenses separated by a layer of curable resin comprising monomers and polymerization initiators. By controlling the extent of its curing, this monomer layer provides an adjustable index of refraction profile across the layer. Curing of the resin may be made by exposure to light, such as ultraviolet light. By controlling the extent of light exposure across the surface of the curable resin, for example, a particular and unique refractive index profile can be produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2007Publication date: October 16, 2008Inventors: Andreas W. DREHER, Shui T. LAI, Donald G. BRUNS
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Patent number: 7428106Abstract: Field flatteners that can correct large field curvatures.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2005Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.Inventor: Thomas W. Stone
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Publication number: 20080226248Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing an optical element without the need for high vacuum, unlike the thin film deposition methods, and without using a molten salt. More specifically, the invention provides a method of producing an optical element comprising applying a paste containing at least one compound selected from lithium compounds, potassium compounds, rubidium compounds, cesium compounds, silver compounds, and thallium compounds, an organic resin, and an organic solvent to a glass substrate containing an alkali metal component as a glass component and then performing heat treatment at a temperature below the softening temperature of the glass substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2005Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicants: ISUZU GLASS CO., LTD., NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCEInventors: Tatsuya Suetsugu, Norimasa Kominami, Takeshi Ohtani, Naoko Kaga, Hiroaki Yokoi, Minoru Takada, Takashi Tarumi, Toshihiko Einishi, Kohei Kadono
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Patent number: 7426079Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to A retro focus optical system that is capable of sufficiently correcting and/or reducing various aberrations including the chromatic aberration. The optical system includes a refractive optical element including a solid material. The Abbe number ?d and the partial dispersion ratio ?gF of the solid material along with a shape of the refractive optical element can reduce various aberrations.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2006Date of Patent: September 16, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takayoshi Yokoyama
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Patent number: 7426328Abstract: An optical medium has a graded effective refractive index with a high maximum refractive index change. The medium is formed using alternating layers of two or more materials having significantly different refractive indices. The thickness of the layers of at least one of the materials is substantially less than the effective light wavelength of interest. The effective index of refraction in a local region within the medium depends on the ratio of the average volumes of the two materials in the local region. A graded index of refraction is provided by varying the relative thicknesses of the two materials.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2003Date of Patent: September 16, 2008Assignee: Phosistor Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Yan Zhou, Seng-Tiong Ho
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Publication number: 20080219620Abstract: A mode conversion technique to convert higher-order-mode into a nearly fundamental Gaussian shape by using a beam expander is developed and is particularly useful in high-power lasers and amplifiers. By using a beam expander between a transmitted fiber and a conventional mode conversion system, the strict lateral tolerance requirement can be overcome with high conversion efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2008Publication date: September 11, 2008Applicant: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Norbert Lindlein, Gerd Leuchs, Siddharth Ramachandran
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Publication number: 20080204889Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a graded refractive index optical element, the method being capable of easily forming a graded refractive index distribution in a desired portion of a glass substrate without the need for a specific treatment atmosphere, and without using a molten salt. More specifically, the present invention provides a method of producing a graded refractive index optical element comprising applying a paste containing a copper compound, an organic resin and an organic solvent to a glass substrate containing an alkali metal component as a glass component, and then performing heat treatment at a temperature below the softening temperature of the glass substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2005Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicants: Isuzu Glass Co., Ltd., National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and TechnologyInventors: Tatsuya Suetsugu, Norimasa Kominami, Takeshi Ohtani, Naoko Kaga, Hiroaki Yokoi, Minoru Takada, Takeshi Tarumi, Toshihiko Einishi, Kohei Kadono
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Patent number: 7411738Abstract: An exemplary composite lens includes a main body and an embedding member. The main body has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The main body has an optical axis associated therewith. The embedding member is disposed in the main body between the first surface and the second surface. A main plane of the embedding member is perpendicular to the optical axis of the main body. A refractive index of a material of the embedding member is higher than that of the main body. The composite lenses can be made thinner. A method for manufacturing the composite lens is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jen-Tsorng Chang
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Patent number: 7405883Abstract: An optical component or optical low-pass filter has two or more regions demarcated by differences in refractive indexes, in which a region having a refractive index different from the refractive index of the continuous region with the largest volume among the two or more regions is formed in the interior of a transparent material. This optical component or optical low-pass filter has regions with different refractive indexes formed in the interior by pulsed laser irradiation or focused irradiation of the transparent material.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2005Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: Ohara Inc.Inventor: Tomohiro Hashimoto
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Publication number: 20080169523Abstract: An imaging optical module is designed to be placed in front of an optical image sensor of a semiconductor component. The module includes at least one element which has a refractive index that varies between its optical axis and its periphery, over at least an annular part and/or over its central part. The element may be a tablet in front of the semiconductor sensor or a lens in front of the semiconductor sensor. The direction of variation in refractive index may be oppositely oriented with respect to the table and lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2007Publication date: July 17, 2008Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.Inventors: Emmanuelle Vigier-Blanc, Guillaume Cassar
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Publication number: 20080170297Abstract: An optical unit includes one or more optical elements. At least one 40 of the optical elements has: an optical functional surface, that refracts incident light, within an effective diameter; and a rough surface 49 formed on an optical functional surface 42b that is formed outside the effective diameter and that scatters the incident light which has been internally reflected. With this configuration, light which is incident on the optical element and which may generate flare or the like when it is internally reflected by the optical functional surface outside the effective diameter is scattered by the rough surface formed on the optical functional surface outside the effective diameter. Therefore, generation of the flare or the like is suppressed. Also, since the optical unit is constituted by such an optical element having the rough surface, generation of the flare or the like is suppressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2007Publication date: July 17, 2008Inventor: Yohei SHINOZAWA
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Publication number: 20080130013Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring surfaces and to a method, which uses, preferably, the device. The device comprises a light source which is used to produce a multi-colored light beam. The light beam can be focused by an imaging optical system on a plurality of points which are arranged at different distances from the imaging optical system, using the chromatic aberration of the optics. The focused light beam can be deviated to a point of the surface. A sensor device is provided in order to detect the reflected light beam. The aim of the invention is to maintain the largest distance possible between the measuring head and the object. The imaging optical system comprises an optical system for the targeted circulation of a chromatic aberration and an additional optical system which is used to form the focused light beam emerging from the imaging optical system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Inventors: Torsten Stautmeister, Bernhard Messerschmidt, Karl Wisspeinter
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Publication number: 20080130129Abstract: The present invention provides methods for controlling the optical properties of a light transmissive article. The method includes identifying a target window in an Abbe diagram comprising reference polymeric materials. The method further includes selecting a first polymeric material from the reference polymeric materials and compounding the first polymeric material with a stable UV chromophore to provide a first polymer composition. The method further includes transforming the first polymer composition to provide the light transmissive article, wherein the light transmissive article has an Abbe number and a refractive index which falls within the target window. Light transmissive articles prepared using the above methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2006Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eugene Pauling Boden, Brian Lee Lawrence, Steven James Montgomery, Shreyas Chakravarti, Peter Hendrikus Vollenberg, Edward Kung, Jan Henk Kamps, Lina Prada, John Brian McDermott, Michael Teruki Takemori
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Patent number: 7382541Abstract: A gradient-index rod lens is provided that is excellent in yield. The gradient-index rod lens has a core/clad structure and is obtained by providing a mother glass rod, which includes a core glass mother composition and a clad glass mother composition, with a refractive index distribution through ion exchange. The clad and the core each contains an alkali metal oxide but are substantially free from lead. The clad and the core each contains an alkali metal oxide and has a basic composition including components other than the alkali metal oxide, but they are different from each other in the basic composition. The clad glass mother composition has a higher thermal expansion coefficient and glass-transition temperature than those of the core glass mother composition. The difference of the thermal expansion coefficient between the clad glass mother composition and the core glass mother composition is larger than 2×10?7/° C. but smaller than 20×10?7/° C.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2005Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Company, LimitedInventors: Teruhide Inoue, Kunihiro Nomiyama, Koichi Sakaguchi
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Patent number: 7379645Abstract: An optical fiber being optically transmissive at a predetermined wavelength of light ? and comprising a plurality of coaxial layers. Each layer having an optical path length that varies radially, the coaxial layers being arranged to give the fiber a refractive index profile which, in use, causes sufficient Fresnel diffraction of the light such that it is guided in the fiber. The refractive index of a cladding region (60) is intermittently suppressed by controlling heating of the preform tube, thus forming a chirped saw-tooth profile (70). The optical fiber may include a lens. In this case, each of the layers has an optical path length that increases gradually outwardly by substantially n×?/2 (n: integer).Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2002Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignees: The University of Melbourne, The University of SydneyInventors: John Canning, Kristy Lee Sommer, Shane Huntington
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Patent number: 7359123Abstract: Optical field flattener and converter having an array of gradient index rod lenses. Each gradient index rod lens is substantially in proximity with at )east one other gradient index rod lens. The array is capable of receiving electromagnetic radiation and imaging the received electromagnetic radiation.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2006Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Mitchell, Thomas W. Stone
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Patent number: 7345826Abstract: An optical scanning lens used in a scanning and imaging optical system in which a beam deflected by a light deflector is condensed on or in the vicinity of a surface to be scanned. The optical scanning lens is formed through plastic mold, and a distribution of the refractive indexes ?n(x) inside of the optical scanning lens has a local maximum within a range through which the beam passes through the lens.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2006Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Hiroyuki Suhara
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Publication number: 20080049286Abstract: A beam-scanning lens used in a scanning image forming optical system includes a single lens molded from plastic having a refractive index distribution curve and an effective area, such that a gap between a center axis of the refractive index distribution curve and a width centerline of the effective area is increased from a center of the single lens to both ends of a lengthwise direction of the single lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2007Publication date: February 28, 2008Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wook-bae Kim
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Patent number: 7324286Abstract: Non-mechanical optical beam steering and switching is produced by optically controlled liquid crystal spatial light modulator with angular magnification by high efficiency volume Bragg gratings recorded in a photosensitive PTR glass. Small angle beam deflection in a photoactive liquid crystal cell is produced by exposing it to a controlling beam from an external source of radiation with predetermined distribution of power density which causes predetermined spatial gradients of a refractive index in a liquid crystal cell and, therefore, refraction of a controlled beam which is made to propagate in the region with spatial gradient of the refractive index. Large angle beam deflection is produced by a volume Bragg grating with angular selectivity adjusted in such way that small angle scanning produced by optically controlled liquid crystal spatial light modulator results in change of diffraction efficiency from zero to 100% for switching the beam for two Bragg angles.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2006Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: University of Central Florida Research FoundationInventors: Leonid B Glebov, Vasile Rotar, Vadim I Smirnov, Sarik Nersisyan, Nelson Tabirian
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Patent number: 7317579Abstract: Microlenses are fabricated with a refractive-index gradient. The refractive-index gradient is produced in a microlens material such that the refractive index is relatively higher in the material nearest the substrate, and becomes progressively lower as the layer gets thicker. After formation of the layer with the refractive-index gradient, material is etched from the layer through a resist to form microlenses. The index of refraction can be adjusted in the microlens material by controlling oxygen and nitrogen content of the microlens materials during deposition. High-oxide material has a lower index of refraction. High-oxide material also exhibits a faster etch-rate. The etching forms the material into a lens shape. After removal of the resist, the microlenses have a lower relative refractive index at their apex, where the index of refraction preferably approaches that of the ambient surroundings. Consequently, light loss by reflection at the ambient/microlens interface is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2005Date of Patent: January 8, 2008Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jin Li, Jiutao Li
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Patent number: 7310473Abstract: A light concentrator for an optical antenna gradually narrows from the light receiving end to the end in contact with a light detector, and has a refractive index that gradually increases from the first to the second end, to afford a greater acceptance angle for the incoming optical signal. The increase may occur in stages of corresponding layers of the light concentrator, the layers being arranged in order of increase in refractive index from the first end to the second end.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2004Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jin-Hee Kim, Jong-Hwa Lee, Ji-Eun Keum, Jae-Yeon Song, Se-Youn Lim, Yoon-Sun Lee, Seo-Won Kwon
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Publication number: 20070268571Abstract: Methods and devices for coupling the output of multiple emitters of a laser diode bar using a beam transform system with high brightness and coupling efficiency. Some embodiments may include wavelength locking with devices such as VBGs and other suitable devices and methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2007Publication date: November 22, 2007Applicant: Newport CorporationInventors: Yongdan HU, Edmund L. Wolak
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Publication number: 20070268572Abstract: Methods and devices for coupling the output of multiple emitters of a laser diode bar using a beam transform system with high brightness and coupling efficiency. Some embodiments may include wavelength locking with devices such as VBGs and other suitable devices and methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2007Publication date: November 22, 2007Applicant: Newport CorporationInventors: Yongdan HU, Edmund L. Wolak
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Patent number: 7292394Abstract: A lens system (10) includes a main lens (12) having a first surface (12a) and a second surface (12b) configured opposite to each other, a first film lens (11) and a second film lens (13) respectively secured on the first surface and the second surface of the main lens. The first film lens and/or the second film lens are radial gradient index lenses, which refractive index progressively decreases from the centers to the outmost sides. All of the main lens, the first film lens and the second film lens are converging lens, and the axles of them are overlapped one to another.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2005Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Charles Leu
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Patent number: 7262921Abstract: An endoscope illuminating optical system having a gradient index lens capable of illuminating by a sufficient light amount and by a wider angle is provided. The endoscope illuminating optical system is constituted to illuminate an observed region by light guided by a light guide 1, by way of a gradient index lens 2, and the gradient index lens 2 satisfies Condition Equations (2) and (3) below: (AR)2?0.6??(2) 0.5k+0.35?AL/??0.5k+0.65??(3) where, R designates an effective radius of the gradient index lens, L designates a length in an optical axis X direction of the gradient index lens, A designates a constant coefficient, k designates a nonnegative integer.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2006Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Fujinon CorporationInventor: Hitoshi Miyano
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Patent number: 7256941Abstract: An optical lens array featuring low cost and simple manufacture. The lens array has two lens sections separated by spacers, with a stop on the front surface. An optional wraparound frame protects the lens array from external light. The spacers and stop, as well as the optional frame, are made of black polymer to block unwanted scattered or external light. The lens sections, stop, spacers, and frame can all be made by injection-molding. Notches, locating holes, posts, and ears serve to orient and align the parts, and to prevent incorrect assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2005Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Pixon Technologies Corp.Inventors: Rong Yaw Wu, Chen Sheng-Li, Shih Che Chen
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Patent number: 7250383Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a clad glass composition for graded-index rod lens for covering, during manufacturing, a preform glass composition lens of a graded-index rod lens that does not include PbO, in which the composition substantially does not include PbO, and expressed in mol % includes SiO2: 45 to 65, Na2O: 3 to 30, K2O: 0 to 10, MgO: 0 to 15, BaO: 0 to 20, where Na2O+K2O: 3 to 35 and MgO+BaO: 0 to 25, and furthermore includes B2O3: 0 to 15, ZnO: 0 to 10, TiO2: 0 to 10, Y2O3: 0 to 7, ZrO2: 0 to 7, Nb2O5: 0 to 7, In2O3: 0 to 7, La2O3: 0 to 7, Ta2O5: 0 to 10, where B2O3+ZnO+TiO2+Y2O3+ZrO2+Nb2O5+In2O3+La2to 20, and a content of at least one of TiO2 and La2O3 is substantially 0 mol %.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2003Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Company, LimitedInventors: Teruhide Inoue, Kunihiro Nomiyama, Yoshikazu Toshikiyo, Yukihito Nagashima
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Patent number: 7248415Abstract: Provided is an optical deflector for deflecting radiation beams. The optical deflector includes: a peripheral region having a first effective refractive index; and a deflection pattern region having a predetermined shape and a second effective refractive index, wherein the second effective refractive index differs from the first effective refractive index. Here, due to the deflection pattern region having the predetermined shape, the radiation beams are deflected in a direction starting from a certain point. By using the optical deflector, the locus of a light source can be designed in one of various forms, such as a straight line, a circle, an ellipse, or a parabola.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2005Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Oh Kee Kwon, Kang Ho Kim, Hyun Soo Kim, Jong Hoi Kim, Kwang Ryong Oh
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Patent number: 7224533Abstract: An optically retro-reflecting sphere includes an inner sphere and an outer concentric spherical shell, and can be coupled to a reflective surface. Light entering the optically retro-reflecting sphere from an incident direction is reflected by the sphere generally towards an exit direction, where the exit direction is parallel and opposite to the incident direction. The inner sphere and outer shell have different refractive indices, selected so that the reflected light is reflected with a non-uniform angular distribution about the exit direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Scott Lerner, Tim R. Koch, Ravi Prasad
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Patent number: 7180642Abstract: An imaging lens comprises a first, a second, a third, and a fourth lens group from an object toward an image. The first lens group includes a first lens that is a convex meniscus lens with a convex surface on the object side. The second lens group includes a second lens having a positive refractive power, and a third lens bonded to the second lens and having a negative refractive power. The third lens group includes a fourth lens having a negative refractive power, and a fifth lens bonded to the fourth lens and having a positive refractive power. The fourth lens group includes a sixth lens having a positive refractive power. The imaging lens satisfies the condition 0.10<D/f<0.19 where D denotes a sum of an air gap between the first lens and the second lens and an air gap between the fifth lens and the sixth lens, and f denotes a focal length of the entirety of the imaging lens with respect to an e-ray.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2002Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Naoki Miyatake
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Patent number: 7173767Abstract: A focusing device with a refractive index profile changing from the center of the focusing device towards its perimeter, is made of a material wherein the lateral refractive index distribution of the focusing device material is homogeneous and wherein the focusing device comprises holes for introducing a graded refractive index profile. This allows accurate control of the graded refractive index profile.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2003Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: Avanex CorporationInventor: Klaus Satzke
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Patent number: 7170688Abstract: A retroreflective device comprising a substantially spherical graded refractive index lens, referred to as a GRIN-sphere lens (2), a reflective part for retroreflecting (6) a radiation beam (B) passing through the graded refractive index lens and, at least partially surrounding the lens, a transparent material (4) having a substantially uniform refractive index.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: BAE Systems PLCInventors: Vincent Andrei Handerek, Leslie Charles Laycock
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Patent number: 7167317Abstract: Provided is an objective optical system employing a gradient index (GRIN) lens. A refractive index of the GRIN lens is changed in an axial direction and a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The GRIN lens has a refractive index n satisfying the following equation: n ? ( r , z ) = ? i = 0 ? ? n r2i ? r 2 ? i + ? j = 0 ? ? n zj ? z j where z is a distance from the center of the lens in the axial direction and r is a distance from the center of the lens in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction. Thus, an objective optical system with a high numerical aperture can correct aberration.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2004Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mee-suk Jung, Myung-bok Lee, Eun-hyoung Cho, Hae-sung Kim, Jin-seung Sohn
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Patent number: 7158309Abstract: The invention provide a glass optical element which contains an alkaline metal oxide and an alkaline earth metal oxide, comprising an end portion that contains a fluoride ion or a fluorine compound on or in a vicinity of an exposed surface of the glass optical element. The end portion containing the fluoride ion or the fluorine compound is formed by contacting the surface with hydrofluoric acid. A rod lens array is fabricated by arranging a plurality of graded index rod lenses as glass optical elements of the invention. The weather resistance of the element or the lens array can be improved by the above treatment.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2005Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Company, LimitedInventor: Kei Yamada
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Patent number: 7154685Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rod with an optical thin film which comprises forming a rod block by arranging a plurality of rods each having a circular cross section in parallel to one another along the axis of each rod and by allowing a resin to enter gaps between rods adjacent to one another to fix the rods to one another. The rod block is cut into a predetermined length. The endfaces of each rod positioned on the cut endface of the rod block are then polished. An optical thin film is formed on the polished endfaces of each rod. The resin has a melting point higher than the temperature used in forming the film. The rods are separated from one another by removing the resin from the rod block.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2003Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Company, LimitedInventor: Hodaka Norimatsu
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Patent number: 7130130Abstract: An optical scanning lens used in a scanning and imaging optical system in which a beam deflected by a light deflector is condensed on or in the vicinity of a surface to be scanned. The optical scanning lens is formed through plastic mold, and a distribution of the refractive indexes ?n(x) inside of the optical scanning lens has a local maximum within a range through which the beam passes through the lens.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Hiroyuki Suhara
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Patent number: 7113319Abstract: A photonic crystal having a structure of which the refractive index changes with a periodicity defined in a polar coordinate system is disclosed. And an optical waveguide element comprising said photonic crystal, optical inlet and outlet regions on the surface of said photonic crystal, and a defect region of incomplete photonic crystal periodicity formed within said photonic crystal is disclosed. The defect region functions as an optical waveguide path by guiding from the inlet region to the outlet region an optical signal incapable of propagating through the photonic band gap of the photonic crystal.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2002Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: RikenInventors: Yuzaburo Segawa, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Noriaki Horiuchi
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Patent number: 7102177Abstract: The light-emitting device includes a light source and a gradient index (GRIN) element. The GRIN element has a cylindrical refractive index profile in which the refractive index varies radially and is substantially constant axially. The GRIN element includes a first end surface opposite a second end surface and is characterized by a length-to-pitch ratio. The GRIN element is arranged with the first end surface adjacent the light source to receive light from the light source, and emits the light from the second end surface in a radiation pattern dependent on the length-to-pitch ratio. Since the radiation pattern depends on the length-to-pitch ratio of the GRIN element, LEDs with different radiation patterns can be made simply by using GRIN elements of appropriate lengths.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2003Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Kee Siang Goh, Yee Loong Chin, Boon Kheng Lee, Cheng Why Tan
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Patent number: 7096058Abstract: A laser blood-flow meter includes a laser-beam irradiator for irradiating laser beams to biological structure, a detector for detecting scattered beams resulted from scattering of the laser beams in the biological structure, the laser blood-flow meter measuring blood flow of the biological structure in accordance with the scattered beams detected by the detector, and a beam-collector for collecting the scattered beams to direct the collected beams to the detector.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Cyberfirm Inc.Inventors: Takaaki Miyahara, Kazuto Mishima, Jun Niwayama, Tomiko Yanagi
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Patent number: 7072127Abstract: An optical scanning lens is used in a scanning and image forming optical system which gathers a light flux deflected by a light deflector in the vicinity of a surface to be scanned. The lens is formed by plastic molding of polyolefin resin, and the following condition is satisfied: 0<|?n(x)?min[?n(x)]|<34×10?5, where ?n(x) denotes a refractive-index distribution existing inside the lens, in a range which the light flux passes through, in the lens, and min[?n(x)] denotes the minimum value of the ?n(x).Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2005Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Suhara, Satoru Itoh, Tatsuya Ito, Takeshi Ueda, Yoshinori Hayashi, Magane Aoki, Kenichi Takanashi, Takao Yamaguchi, Taira Kouchiwa, Koji Hirakura, Seizo Suzuki
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Patent number: 7068438Abstract: A lens arrangement for transforming a divergent, generally astigmatic laser beam from a diode laser into a beam having a high degree of rotational symmetry is disclosed. The arrangement comprises, in series, a first cylindrical gradient index lens arranged with its principal axes parallel to the principal axes of the astigmatic laser beam; a second cylindrical gradient index lens arranged with its principal axes parallel to the principal axes of the astigmatic laser beam; and a third cylindrical gradient index lens arranged with its principal axes rotated 45 degrees with respect to the principal axes of the astigmatic laser beam. The first and the second gradient index lenses have such refractive powers that both the fast and the slow axis of the astigmatic laser beam are converged to a focus inside the third gradient index lens.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2003Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Cobalt ABInventors: Renée Hansson, Stefan Spiekermann, Håkan Karlsson
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Patent number: 7054070Abstract: A gradient-index lens is structured by a multilayer film that includes therein a plurality of layers each of which has different refractive index and layer thickness from the other.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2004Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuaki Matsumoto, Keiichi Kuramoto, Youhei Nakagawa, Hiroaki Izu, Hitoshi Hirano, Nobuhiko Hayashi
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Patent number: 7042647Abstract: A scanned optical system for use in optical probing applications provides a large Field of View (FOV) for objective lenses having high Numerical Aperture (NA), such as Solid Immersion Lenses (SIL's). This enables high resolution imaging of semiconductor devices for such applications as laser probing, TIVA/LIVA, OBIRCH, and photon emission timing analysis. A hybrid scanning optics configuration is disclosed to provide high resolution imaging over a small area along with low resolution imaging over a large area.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2003Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: Credence Systems CorporationInventor: William K. Lo