Transferring diffractive optics from research to commercial applications: Part I – progress in the patent landscape

Abstract

Abstract:In the last 20 years, diffractive optics experienced a strong research interest and was in the center of many development projects in applied optics. To offer a side view for optical engineers, here, we discuss selected, businessrelated aspects of the current status of the transfer process to bring diffractive optics into commercial products. The contribution is divided into two parts. Here, in part I, we focus on the patent landscape of diffractive optics with a closer look on the temporal development and the distribution over main players. As an important result, currently, new strong patent activities are observed especially in the context of imaging systems. In the second part, the business volumes of selected market segments are discussed.

Chip-scale atomic diffractive optical elements

“…Diffractive optical elements and subwavelength dielectric–metallic elements (metasurfaces) are important building blocks in science and technology 1–6 . Such thin surfaces offer extraordinary control of the different degrees of freedom of light, such as phase, polarization, and spectral and spatial distributions 7–9 .…”

“…The efficient light-matter interaction in atomic vapors has led to numerous seminal scientific achievements including accurate and precise metrology [1][2][3] and quantum devices [4][5][6][7] . In the last few decades, the field of thin optical elements [8][9][10][11][12] with miniscule features has been extensively studied demonstrating an unprecedented ability to control photonic degrees of freedom, both linearly and non-linearly, with applications spanning from photography and spatial light modulators to cataract surgery implants. Hybridization of atoms with such thin devices may offer a new material system allowing traditional vapor cells with enhanced functionality.…”

Design, simulation, and quality evaluation of micro-optical freeform beam shapers at different illumination conditions

“…As an example, the arrival of powerful and fast computers as well as the development made in computer numerical control (CNC) tools were extremely important factors in the design and fabrication of complex optical elements, such as aspherical and freeform surfaces [1,2]. In a similar way, laser sources paved the way to diffractive optical elements (DOE), which have experienced a strong interest from the optics research community in the last 25 years [3].…”

Hybrid achromatic microlenses with high numerical apertures and focusing efficiencies across the visible

“…This approach achieves an attractive balance between lens volume and achromaticity, with hybrid imagers realizing better chromatic correction than diffractive lenses and thinner geometries than conventional refractive doublets 33 . However, current hybrid optical systems require complex assembly with micron-level precision and external mechanical supports to align and integrate diffractive and refractive components [35][36][37] . Furthermore, producing large-area achromatic hybrid lens arrays is outside the purview of what can be achieved with current fabrication technologies.…”