Infrared Optical Systems With Thin Aspherical Plates for Aberration Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infrared optical systems face challenges in achieving high optical performance while being easy to manufacture, particularly due to the difficulty in processing aspherical surfaces and managing chromatic aberration, spherical aberration, and curvature of field.
Innovation Solution
An optical system with thin aspherical plates made of silicon or germanium materials, positioned differently from the diaphragm, and configured to satisfy specific conditional expressions for focal lengths and refractive indices, allowing easy manufacturing and high optical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If an aspherical surface is used to correct aberrations, then optical performance is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases due to complex grinding and polishing processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the manufacturing approach by using molding processes instead of traditional grinding and polishing to create aspherical surfaces. This parameter change in the manufacturing method allows for easier production while maintaining the optical performance benefits of aspherical surfaces, directly resolving the contradiction between optical performance and manufacturing ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical grinding and polishing processes with molding techniques to fabricate aspherical optical surfaces. This substitution of manufacturing methods reduces the complexity and difficulty of producing aspherical components while achieving the same optical correction effects, thereby improving ease of manufacture without sacrificing optical performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If moldable infrared materials are used to create aspherical surfaces, then manufacturing ease is improved, but chromatic aberration increases due to large dispersion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material strategies by combining different infrared-transparent materials with complementary optical properties. This allows the system to leverage the manufacturing advantages of moldable materials while compensating for their high dispersion through careful material selection and system design, thereby reducing chromatic aberration effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality corrections by strategically positioning aspherical optical elements at specific locations within the optical system where they can most effectively correct aberrations. This localized approach allows the system to manage chromatic aberration by optimizing the placement and properties of individual components rather than requiring all materials to have perfectly matched optical characteristics.
3Manufacturing precision
If focal lengths are adjusted to compensate for material dispersion, then optical performance is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically adjusts key parameters including focal lengths and curvatures of optical surfaces to optimize performance while managing complexity. By establishing specific parameter ranges and relationships, the system achieves high optical performance without requiring overly complex designs, directly addressing the contradiction between performance and complexity.
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 system achieves excellent optical performance with corrected aberrations and high resolution, particularly in the infrared range, using thin aspherical plates that are easy to process and provide high refractive indices with low dispersion.
Implementation Method 1
an optical element having an aspherical surface... The following conditional expression is satisfied: 0.0f/Pf1|(N10−N12)/N10≤800... high optical performance with corrected aberrations
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system images an object with light with a wavelength of 8 μm or higher, and includes a diaphragm and an optical element having an aspherical surface and disposed at a position different from that of the diaphragm. In a section including an optical axis, a thickness of an optical element monotonously increases from an on-axis to an outermost off-axis or the optical element is the thinnest at a position other than an on-axis and an outermost off-axis. A predetermined condition is satisfied.