US 12,222,500 B2
Structured optical surface and optical imaging system
Zhaohui Yang, North Oaks, MN (US); and Brett J. Sitter, Cottage Grove, MN (US)
Assigned to 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Appl. No. 16/768,952
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 18, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/066207
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 2, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/126151, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 27, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/608,299, filed on Dec. 20, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0333601 A1, Oct. 22, 2020
Int. Cl. G02B 27/01 (2006.01); G02B 3/08 (2006.01); G02B 5/18 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 27/0172 (2013.01) [G02B 3/08 (2013.01); G02B 5/188 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A structured optical surface comprising a plurality of three-dimensional structures formed by an intersection of at least first and second Fresnel patterns, such that when the structured optical surface is incorporated in an optical imaging system comprising a pixelated display surface with at least one pixel comprising at least two sub-pixels spaced apart by a gap, the structured optical surface images the at least two sub-pixels onto an image surface as at least two corresponding imaged sub-pixels spaced apart by a corresponding imaged gap, and the structured optical surface diffracts light so that the diffracted light at least partially fills the imaged gap without substantially overlapping any of the at least two imaged sub-pixels, wherein the structured optical surface has a focal length in a range from about 10 millimeters to about 100 millimeters.