CPC G02B 3/0087 (2013.01) [B29D 11/00355 (2013.01); G02C 7/028 (2013.01); B29D 11/00788 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A method of forming a gradient index (GRIN) optical element, comprising the steps of:
receiving, at a fusing device, a plurality of base optical materials including a first base optical material, a second base optical material, and a third base optical material, wherein each of the plurality of base optical materials has a different refractive index;
driving the fusing device, under the control of a controller, to selectively combine the plurality of base optical materials to form a multilayered composite GRIN sheet that includes a plurality of alternating layers of the first base optical material, the second base optical material, and the third base optical material to independently control both an index of refraction distribution and an optical dispersion distribution through the multilayered composite GRIN sheet; and
shaping the multilayered composite GRIN sheet to form a GRIN optical element.
|