Diffractive Waveplate Coated Mirrors for Chromatic Aberration Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diffractive waveplate lenses used in imaging systems suffer from significant chromatic aberrations, which degrade image quality, especially when operating over a broad spectral band, and existing correction methods are insufficient for many applications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system using two diffractive waveplate coated mirrors, where the first mirror brings all rays of light within an operating wavelength band to the second mirror, which then focuses them to the same system focal plane, reducing chromatic aberrations and achieving diffraction-limited performance across a broad spectral range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a diffractive waveplate lens is used as the objective lens, then cost and weight are reduced, but chromatic aberrations increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A corrector mirror is introduced as an intermediary optical element between the diffractive waveplate objective lens and the image sensor. This corrector mirror specifically addresses the chromatic aberrations produced by the diffractive lens, allowing the system to maintain both the weight advantages of the diffractive lens and the image quality required for broadband imaging applications.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a single corrector mirror is used to reduce chromatic aberrations, then some correction is achieved, but the correction is insufficient for broadband imaging applications
Solution Approach 1:
The chromatic aberration correction function is divided between two separate corrector mirrors rather than attempting to achieve complete correction with a single element. The first corrector mirror addresses certain aspects of chromatic aberration, and the second corrector mirror addresses remaining aberrations, together providing sufficient correction for broadband imaging applications.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional curved objective lenses or primary mirrors are used, then chromatic aberrations are minimized, but cost and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters by using a diffractive waveplate lens instead of a traditional curved lens or mirror. While diffractive lenses inherently produce chromatic aberrations, these are managed through the corrector mirrors, allowing the system to operate in a different regime that achieves both weight reduction and acceptable image quality for broadband imaging.
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
This configuration significantly reduces chromatic aberrations, allowing for high-quality imaging over a broad spectral band, including ultraviolet, visible, near infrared, short wave infrared, mid-wave infrared, and long-wave infrared wavelengths, with improved cost, size, and weight efficiency compared to traditional optics.
Implementation Method 1
A fundamental property of diffractive waveplate lenses, as well as other types of diffractive elements, is that the angle through which electromagnetic radiation is deflected by such elements is highly dependent on the wavelength.
Implementation Method 2
a set of diffractive waveplate coated mirrors, and an imaging sensor, wherein the diffractive waveplate objective lens and the set of diffractive corrector mirrors are configured such that all rays of light within an operating wavelength band incident on the diffractive waveplate objective lens are brought to the same system focal plane
Data Source
AI summary
Diffractive waveplate lenses, mirrors, devices, systems and methods for performing imaging over a broad spectral band in imaging systems, such as but not limited to astronomical imaging, surveillance imaging, and in communication systems, such as laser communication systems. Corrector mirrors are used with a flat diffractive wave diffractive waveplate lens so that chromatic aberrations of the diffractive waveplate lens are reduced with the imaging system.