Method of Manufacturing an Optical System

Abstract

A method of calculating an optical system (OS), the optical system (OS) being identified by a function (OF), the optical system (OS) having a first part (F 1 ) defined by a first equation (EF 1 ) and a second part (F 2 ) defined by a second equation (EF 2 ), the method performed by: a generating step (GEN), in which a virtual optical system (VOS) is used to generate a virtual function (VOF); a modification step (MOD), in which the virtual function (VOF) is modified so as obtain the function (OF); a calculation step (CAL), in which the second equation (EF 2 ) is calculated from the function (OF), and the first equation (EF 1 ). A method of manufacturing an optical system (OS) is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing an optical system (OS), the optical system (OS) being identified by a function (OF), the optical system (OS) comprising a first part (F 1 ) defined by a first equation (EF 1 ), EF 1 (x,y,z), which defines opto-geometric properties of part F 1  at a spatial location defined by coordinates x, y, and z, and a second part (F 2 ), defined by a second equation (EF 2 ), EF 2 (x,y,z), which defines opto-geometric properties of part F 2 , where the first part (F 1 ) and the second part (F 2 ) are a volume or surface of the optical system, (OS), the method comprising(EF 1 ) and a second part (F 2 ) defined by a second equation (EF 2 ), the method comprising:
 a first providing step that provides the first equation (EF 1 ), EF 1 (x,y,z), said first equation (EF 1 ), EF 1 (x,y,z) defining opto-geometric properties of the first part (F 1 ) of the optical system (OS); 
 a second providing step that provides the function (OF), said function identifying the optical system (OS), said second providing step comprising:
 a generating sub-step (GEN), in which a virtual optical system (VOS) calculated and generated by a computer is used to generate a virtual function (VOF) calculated and generated by a computer; then 
 a modification sub-step (MOD), in which the virtual function (VOF) is modified to obtain the function(OF); and 
 
 a calculation step (CAL), in which the second equation (EF 2 ) is calculated from the function (OF), and the first equation (EF 1 ); 
 providing a semi-finished optical system (MSFOS) with a semi-finished optical system (SFOS) comprising the first part (F 1 ); and 
 a manufacturing step (M 2 ), in which the semi-finished optical system (MSFOS) is manufactured so as to be further provided with a second part (F 2 ) defined by the second equation (EF 2 ) and to obtain the optical system (OS). 
 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises an equation modifying step, in which the first virtual equation (EVF 1 ) is modified by using a first modifying function (N 1 ) so as to obtain a first modified equation (EV′F 1 ), the first equation (EF 1 ) being substantially equal to the first modified equation (EVF+1), and the second manufacturing step (M 2 ) comprising the following sub-steps:
 a second modifying step (MS 2 ), in which the second virtual equation EVF 2  is modified by using a second modifying function (N 2 ) so as to obtain a second modified equation EV′F 2 , the first modifying function (N 1 ) and the second modifying function (N 2 ) being defined in such a manner that the optical system can be identified by the function (OF), and: 
 a second manufacturing step (MAN 2 ), in which the second part (F 2 ) of the semi- finished optical system (SFOS) is manufactured so as to obtain the optical system (OS), the second equation (EF 2 ) of the second part (F 2 ) being substantially equal to the second modified equation (EV′F 2 ). 
 
     
     
         3 . An optical system comprising two parts, the optical system (OS) being identified by a function (OF), the optical system being manufactured with a method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . A method of manufacturing an optical system (OS), the optical system (OS) being identified by a function (OF), the optical system (OS) comprising a first part (F 1 ) defined by a first equation (EF 1 ), EF 1 (x,y,z), which defines opto-geometric properties of part F 1  at a spatial location defined by coordinates x, y, and z, and a second part (F 2 ), defined by a second equation (EF 2 ), EF 2 (x,y,z), which defines opto-geometric properties of part F 2 , where the first part (F 1 ) and the second part (F 2 ) are a volume or surface of the optical system, (OS), the method comprising:
 a first providing step that provides the first equation (EF 1 ), EF 1 (x,y,z), said first equation (EF 1 ), EF 1 (x,y,z) defining opto-geometric properties of the first part (F 1 ) of the optical system (OS); 
 a second providing step that provides the function (OF), said function identifying the optical system (OS), said second providing step comprising:
 a generating sub-step (GEN), in which a virtual optical system (VOS) calculated and generated by a computer is used to generate a virtual function (VOF) calculated and generated by a computer; then 
 a modification sub-step (MOD), in which the virtual function (VOF) is modified to obtain the function(OF); and 
 
 a calculation step (CAL), in which the second equation (EF 2 ) is calculated from the function (OF), and the first equation (EF 1 ); 
 a first manufacturing step (M 1 ) in which a semi-finished optical system (SFOS) comprising the first part (F 1 ) is manufactured so as to obtain a manufactured semi-finished optical system (MSFOS); and 
 a second manufacturing step (M 2 ), in which the manufactured semi-finished optical system (MSFOS) is manufactured so as to be further provided with a second part (F 2 ) defined by the second equation (EF 2 ) and to obtain the optical system (OS). 
 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the method further comprises an equation modifying step, in which the first virtual equation (EVF 1 ) is modified by using a first modifying function (N 1 ) so as to obtain a first modified equation (EV′F 1 ), the first equation (EF 1 ) being substantially equal to the first modified equation (EVF+1), and the second manufacturing step (M 2 ) comprising the following sub-steps:
 a second modifying step (MS 2 ), in which the second virtual equation EVF 2  is modified by using a second modifying function (N 2 ) so as to obtain a second modified equation EV′F 2 , the first modifying function (N 1 ) and the second modifying function (N 2 ) being defined in such a manner that the optical system can be identified by the function (OF), and: 
 a second manufacturing step (MAN 2 ), in which the second part (F 2 ) of the semi-finished optical system (SFOS) is manufactured so as to obtain the optical system (OS), the second equation (EF 2 ) of the second part (F 2 ) being substantially equal to the second modified equation (EV′F 2 ). 
 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the second virtual part (VF 2 ) comprises a second volume of the virtual optical system (VOS), the second equation depending on opto-geometric characteristics of the second volume, and wherein the second modifying function (N 2 ) modifies at least one of said opto-geometric characteristics 
     
     
         7 . An optical system comprising two parts, the optical system (OS) being identified by a function (OF), the optical system being manufactured with a method according to  claim 4 . 
     
     
         8 . An optical system comprising two parts, the optical system (OS) being identified by a function (OF), the optical system being manufactured with a method according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
         9 . An optical system comprising two parts, the optical system (OS) being identified by a function (OF), the optical system being manufactured with a method according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         10 . A semi- finished optical system (MSFOS) manufactured according to the first manufacturing step (M 1 ) and intended to be modified by the second manufacturing step (M 2 ) of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         11 . A semi- finished optical system (MSFOS) manufactured according to the first manufacturing step (M 1 ) and intended to be modified by the second manufacturing step (M 2 ) of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         12 . A semi- finished optical system (MSFOS) manufactured according to the first manufacturing step (M 1 ) and intended to be modified by the second manufacturing step (M 2 ) of  claim 6 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing an optical system (OS), the optical system (OS) being identified by a function (OF), the optical system (OS) comprising a first part (F 1 ) defined by a first equation (EF 1 ), EF 1 (x,y,z), which defines opto-geometric properties of part F 1  at a spatial location defined by coordinates x, y, and z, and a second part (F 2 ), defined by a second equation (EF 2 ), EF 2 (x,y,z), which defines opto-geometric properties of part F 2 , where the first part (F 1 ) and the second part (F 2 ) are a volume or surface of the optical system, (OS), the method comprising:
 a first providing step that provides the first equation (EF 1 ), EF 1 (x,y,z), said first equation (EF 1 ), EF 1 (x,y,z) defining opto-geometric properties of the first part (F 1 ) of the optical system (OS); 
 a second providing step that provides the function (OF), said function identifying the optical system (OS), said second providing step comprising: a generating step (GEN), in which a virtual optical system (VOS) calculated and generated by a computer is used to generate a virtual function (VOF) calculated and generated by a computer; 
 a modification step (MOD), in which the virtual function (VOF) is modified to obtain the function(OF); and 
 a calculation step (CAL), in which the second equation (EF 2 ) is calculated from the function (OF), and the first equation (EF 1 ); 
 a first manufacturing step (M 1 ), in which a semi-finished optical system (SFOS) comprising the first part (F 2 ) is manufactured so as to obtain a manufactured semi-finished optical system (MSFOS); and 
 a second manufacturing step (M 2 ), in which the manufactured semi-finished optical system (MSFOS) is manufactured so as to be further provided with a first part (F 1 ) defined by the first equation (EF 1 ) and to obtain the optical system (OS).