Diamond Lens for Multispectral Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multispectral imaging systems face challenges with size, weight, and parallax due to multiple apertures, and diamond lenses with sufficient optical quality and large area for multispectral imaging are difficult to produce, especially with single crystal diamond, as they often have high absorption, scatter, and birefringence, limiting their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A diamond lens with a largest linear dimension of at least 10 mm, formed from single crystal or polycrystalline diamond, having specific optical properties such as birefringence greater than 1×10−4, surface roughness of up to 20 nm, and optionally coated or structured for improved performance, which can be used in multispectral imaging systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If single crystal diamond is grown in large area, then the lens area is sufficient for imaging systems, but the optical quality deteriorates due to increased defect density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large area lens into multiple smaller single crystal diamond segments or tiles that are individually grown and then optically bonded together. This segmentation allows each segment to maintain high optical quality while collectively forming a large area lens suitable for imaging systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by bonding multiple single crystal diamond segments together to form a larger lens assembly. This composite approach combines the advantages of small, high-quality crystals with the benefits of large area coverage, achieving both sufficient lens area and maintained optical quality.
2Area of stationary object
If polycrystalline diamond is used, then large area can be achieved, but optical properties deteriorate due to absorption, scatter and birefringence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lens into multiple single crystal diamond portions that are optically bonded together. Each segment maintains the superior optical properties of single crystal diamond (low absorption, scatter, and birefringence) while the collective arrangement provides the necessary large area coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite lens structure using multiple single crystal diamond segments bonded together. This composite construction preserves the excellent optical properties of single crystal diamond across the entire lens area, avoiding the harmful optical effects associated with polycrystalline diamond.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple aperture systems are used for multispectral imaging, then all waveband information can be obtained, but size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple aperture systems into a single aperture by using a single lens that can focus multiple wavelengths. The diamond lens is designed to handle multiple wavebands simultaneously, combining the functionality of multiple separate apertures into one compact optical element, thereby reducing system weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal lens that performs multiple functions by focusing different wavelengths (visible, NIR, SWIR, LWIR) through a single aperture. This multi-functional diamond lens eliminates the need for separate aperture systems for each waveband, significantly reducing the overall system weight while maintaining comprehensive multispectral imaging capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple aperture systems are used for multispectral imaging, then all waveband information can be obtained, but parallax is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple aperture systems into a single aperture configuration. By using one lens that can focus multiple wavelengths simultaneously, the system eliminates the relative positioning errors and parallax effects that occur when multiple separate apertures are used, while still capturing all waveband information.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal diamond lens focuses all wavelengths of interest through a single aperture, ensuring that all waveband images are captured from the same optical path and focal plane. This eliminates parallax errors inherent in multiple aperture systems while maintaining comprehensive spectral coverage.
5Reliability
If single crystal diamond with high optical quality is produced, then absorption and scatter are reduced, but the lens area is limited to around 8 mm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lens into multiple single crystal diamond portions, each maintaining high optical quality, and bonds them together to form a larger lens assembly. This allows the system to achieve both high optical quality and sufficient lens area for imaging applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite lens structure by bonding multiple high-quality single crystal diamond segments together. This composite approach enables the lens to achieve the necessary large area while maintaining the superior optical properties (low absorption and scatter) characteristic of single crystal diamond.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The diamond lens enables effective multispectral imaging by reducing size and weight constraints and tolerating higher birefringence levels, allowing larger area single crystal diamond usage, thereby improving image quality and system performance.
Implementation Method 1
Diamond is suggested as a material that is suitable as it is transmissive in both the SWIR and LWIR
Implementation Method 2
Single crystal CVD diamond has better optical properties, particularly in terms of absorption, birefringence and scatter
Implementation Method 3
Diamond is suggested as a material that is suitable as it is transmissive in both the SWIR and LWIR. However, a problem with diamond is that it is difficult to produce single crystal diamond that has both a large enough area to be used as a lens for multispectral imaging and has sufficient optical quality
Data Source
AI summary
A diamond lens (3) configured for use in a multispectral imaging system (1). The diamond lens (3) has a largest linear dimension of at least 10 mm and is formed from diamond material having a birefringence An of greater than 1×10−4, measured over a specified area of at least 4 mm by 4 mm through a maximum thickness of at least 400 μm. A multispectral imaging system (1) comprising the diamond lens (3) and a component (2) comprising the diamond lens are also described.