Reliant Technologies, Inc.

Intel Corporation

Other

Linvatec Corporation

Hewlett-packard Company

Konica Corporation

Itt Corporation

Prometrix Corporation

Printrak International Inc.

Keratometer Research and Development

Barry G Broome

Leonard C DeBenedictis

George Frangineas, Jr

David M Hasenauer

David A Dewey

George D Margolin

Kenneth R Wildnauer

James R Stimple

Joseph Newhall West

Donald G Koch

Curtis A Corum

George Frangineas

Jenkin A Richard

John D Knight

Robert C Dobkin

Jack Beery

Eliseo R Ranalli

Chester L Mallory

Steven E Feldon

Hung V Pham

David A Wallace

Thomas R Myers

John E Anderson

Phillip D Wasserman

Richard W Mott

Michael D Aitchison

Denes E Frankel

Jon K Nisper

Leonard C Debendictis

Leonard C Debenedictis

An optical disk reader or read/write system for CD or DVD formats. First and second laser diodes operating at different wavelengths have their output beams collimated and directed at a single element objective lens, and are then reflected off the disk back through the lens to a photodetector. The single element objective lens has a central aperture zone and an outer aperture zone, the central zone being profiled to operate at a first numerical aperture at approximately 0.45 and the output beam of the first laser diode is confined to the central aperture zone. The outer aperture zone together with the central aperture zone are profiled to operate at a second numerical aperture, for example 0.60 wherein the output beam of the second laser diode has ray fans extending across the full aperture of the single element objective lens. A diffractive is formed on one surface of the single element objective lens and provides sufficient aspheric surface power for spherical aberration correction as well as correction for spherochromatism. The diffractive also provides sufficient correction for spherical aberration and spherochromatism that the single element objective lens achieves diffraction-limited image quality for both CD and DVD formats.

Single objective lens for use with CD or DVD optical disk

Optical pattern generators use rotating reflective axicon segments to produce images that can have different dimensions along the pattern direction compared to the cross pattern direction. Examples include both single axicon pattern generators and dual axicon pattern generators that independently control the image space relative aperture and thereby control the image dimensions in two orthogonal directions.

Optical pattern generators using axicon segments

An optical pattern generator uses a rotating component that includes a number of deflection sectors containing optical elements. Each sector deflects an incident optical beam by a substantially constant angle although this angle may vary from one sector to the next. The constant deflection angle is achieved by symmetry within the deflection sector, specifically gut-ray symmetry. The rotating component may be combined with an imaging group that produces, for example, image points, spots, or lines displaced along a line locus. The image spots can also be displaced to either side of a line, for example by introducing a tilt in the orthogonal direction or by introducing light beams at various angles to the plane of symmetry.

Optical pattern generator using a single rotating optical component with ray-symmetry-induced image stability

An optical pattern uses a single rotating component. The rotating component includes a number of deflection sectors. Each sector deflects an incident optical beam by a substantially constant angular amount although this amount may vary from one sector to the next. The rotating component may be combined with an imaging lens group that produces, for example, image points, spots, or lines displaced along a line locus.

Optical pattern generator using a single rotating component

An optical scan engine includes a rotatable component, for example a disk or drum. The rotatable component includes a plurality of scan sectors that are arranged around the rotation axis and that lie substantially in a plane of rotation. Each scan sector includes a pair of reflective surfaces that typically are radially-facing. The incident optical beam typically propagates along a radial direction (e.g., towards the rotation axis) and each pair of reflective surfaces deflects the incident optical beam by approximately 180 degrees as that pair rotates through the incident optical beam. The deflected optical beam has a virtual image located on the rotation axis. As a result, the real image of the deflected optical beam rotates around the rotation axis at the same angular velocity as the scan sectors. Different scan sectors can be designed to yield diffeent deflections in the axial direction. The addition of a third reflective surface to each scan sector can be used to generate image points that are fixed in space as the scan sector rotates.

Optical scan engine using rotating mirror sectors

A counter-rotating disk scanner together with another scan mechanism provides two-dimensional optical scanner. The counter-rotating disk scanner includes counter-rotating scan disks that implement the scanning action as they rotate through an optical axis of the system.

Two-dimensional optical scan system using a counter-rotating disk scanner

Single objective lens for use with CD or DVD optical disks

An optical pattern generator uses a single rotating component. The rotating component includes a number of deflection sectors. Each sector deflects an incident optical beam by a substantially constant angular amount although this amount may vary from one sector to the next. The rotating component may be combined with an imaging lens group that produces, for example, image points, spots, or lines displaced along a line locus.

A counter-rotating disk scanner together with another scan mechanism provides two-dimensional optical scanning. The counter-rotating disk scanner includes counter-rotating scan disks that implement the scanning action as they rotate through an optical axis of the system.

A read head optical system capable of reading either CD or DVD disks is provided. A monolithic molded hollow plastic block includes three lenses integrally molded into its exterior surfaces. A 780 nm laser diode is aligned with the first lens for reading CD disks, a 655 nm laser is aligned with the second lens for reading DVD disks and a detector for providing signal, focus and tracking data is aligned with the third molded lens. The hollow plastic block has an interior cavity adapted to support optical elements to receive and transmit the output of the laser diodes to the disks and to the detector. The three lenses are formed in the hollow plastic block in various embodiments.

Monolithic CD/DVD read/write head

A compact zoom lens system having four injection-molded singlet lens elements is described. In one embodiment, the compact zoom lens system includes a lens carrier and first and second lens elements coupled to the lens carrier. One surface of the first or second lens elements having a diffractive optical surface disposed thereon to correct chromatic aberrations of light passing therethrough. The lens carrier moves the first and second lens elements axially to change a focal length of the lens system. Third and fourth lens elements are fixed on either side of the first and second lens elements. The lens carrier includes an aperture stop placed proximate to the diffractive optical surface to correct chromatic aberrations over an entire range of focal lengths. The first lens element is made out of flint-like material while the other lens elements are made out of crown-like material. Moreover, the zoom lens system includes an anti-aliasing surface on one of the lens elements to control aliasing effects. A plurality of light suppression elements are provided to suppress stray light paths from scattering across a detector array of the zoom lens system.

Zoom lens system

Several embodiment of an athermalizing apparatus is described. In one embodiment, the athermalizing apparatus includes a lens element and a support member coupled to the lens element. The support member has a sloped outer surface and a first coefficient of thermal expansion (&ldquo;CTE&rdquo;). The athermalizing apparatus further includes a rib member having a substantially complementary sloped surface that bears on the sloped outer surface of the support member. The rib member has a second CTE. The sloped outer surface of the support member forms a ramp angle with respect to an optical axis of the lens element. A radial expansion of the support and/or rib member causes an axial displacement of the support member as a function of the ramp angle.

Athermalized mounts for lenses

An anti-aliasing aperture and method of using the same is disclosed. In one embodiment, an anti-aliasing method includes passing light through an aperture stop, and diffracting the light passing through the aperture stop for spreading an image of a point object to cover more than a pixel on a detector array. The aperture stop includes two or more apertures. In another embodiment, an anti-aliasing apparatus includes an aperture stop having two or more apertures to diffract light passing therethrough and provide spreading of an image of a point object to cover more than one pixel on a detector array.

Anti-aliasing diffractive aperture and method of using same

Growing community of inventors

Carlsbad, CA, United States of America

Barry G Broome