Optical element for spatial beam shaping

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9664907-B2
Application number	US-201414336862-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2014
Priority date	Jul 21, 2014
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

Abstract

A spatial beam shaper structure and a corresponding optical system are provided. The spatial beam shaper structure comprises a light collecting surface configured for affecting light impinging thereon to provide a substantially smooth light profile of at least one optical property, the light collecting surface having a pattern in the form of multiple surface regions comprising regions of at least two different optical properties arranged in an alternating fashion, wherein an interface region between each two locally adjacent regions of the different optical properties has the at least two different optical properties, to provide substantially smooth transition of said different optical properties within the interface region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical detection unit for use in an imaging system, the optical detection unit comprising two detector arrays each in the form of an array of spaced-apart light sensitive regions; and a spatial beam shaper structure accommodated in an optical path of light propagating towards the detector arrays, wherein
the detector arrays are arranged such that light sensitive regions of one detector array are aligned with spaces between the light sensitive regions of the other detector array with certain overlap regions between corresponding light sensitive regions of the two detector arrays,
the spatial beam shaper structure comprises a light collecting surface having a pattern in the form of multiple surface regions comprising regions of at least two different optical properties arranged in an alternating fashion and is configured for affecting light impinging thereon to provide a substantially smooth light profile of at least one optical property, and an interface region between each two locally adjacent regions of the different optical properties having said at least two different optical properties to provide substantially smooth transition of said different optical properties within the interface region; and
said spatial beam shaper is configured for directing first light components, collected by the regions of one optical property, to the light sensitive regions of one detector array, and directing second light components, collected by the regions of the other optical property, to the light sensitive regions of the other detector array, said interface region being configured as an image of the overlap region in the detector arrays.

2. The optical detection unit of claim 1 wherein said regions of different optical properties are characterized by different transmission of light of a certain wavelength range.

3. The optical detection unit of claim 1 wherein said regions of different optical properties are substantially reflecting and transmitting regions for a certain wavelength range.

4. The optical detection unit of claim 1 wherein said interface region is patterned to provide smooth transition of the at least one optical property.

5. The optical detection unit of claim 4 wherein said pattern of said spatial beam shaper is configured to define a zigzag-like transition line between the regions of different optical properties.

6. The optical detection unit of claim 1 wherein said transition defines a transition gradient between the different optical properties.

7. The optical detection unit of claim 1 wherein a feature of said pattern within the interface region has predetermined geometry and shape selected in accordance with a parameter of a light sensitive surface of the detection unit.

8. The optical detection unit of claim 1 wherein the pattern on the light collecting surface is in the form of multiple spaced-apart regions of one optical property printed on said surface having the other optical property.

9. A method for use in detection of light, the method comprising detecting light by discrete spaced-apart detection regions, the method being characterized by minimizing energy losses due to the spaces between the detection regions, the method comprising: applying spatial splitting of light to be detected into first and second light portions, said splitting comprising interacting the light to be detected with a pattern of alternating regions of different transmission and reflection properties for transmitting spaced-apart light components of the first light portion towards a first array of said spaced-apart detection regions and reflecting spaced-apart light components of the second light portion towards the second array of said spaced-apart detection regions, while providing gradual variation of the transmission and reflection properties within an interface region between locally adjacent regions of the different transmission and reflection properties.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said providing gradual variation comprises patterning said interface region to provide smooth transition of the at least one optical property, and wherein said transition defines a transition gradient between the different optical properties.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said patterning comprises configuring a feature of said pattern with predetermined geometry and shape selected in accordance with a parameter of at least one of said first array of said spaced-apart detection regions and second array of said spaced-apart detection regions.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said patterning comprises printing multiple spaced-apart regions of reflection properties on a surface having transmission properties.

Assignees

• Applied Materials Israel Ltd
• Applied Materials Israel Ltd

Inventors

• Berlatzky Yoav
• Sadeh Seffi
• Kofler Ido
• Eder Haim
• Rudman Michael
• Famini Hagay

Classifications

• G02B5/201

  in the form of arrays · CPC title

• G02B27/0905 Primary

  Dividing and/or superposing multiple light beams · CPC title

• G02B27/143

  using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces · CPC title

• G02B21/06

  Means for illuminating specimens · CPC title