High-precision IR molded lenses

Yann M. Guimond; Yann Bellec

doi:10.1117/12.515565

26 February 2004 High-precision IR molded lenses

Yann M. Guimond, Yann Bellec

Proceedings Volume 5252, Optical Fabrication, Testing, and Metrology; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.515565
Event: Optical Systems Design, 2003, St. Etienne, France

Abstract

Umicore IR Glass is a company specialising in the production of chalcogenide glasses and moulded optics. The standard glass compositions are GASIR1 (Ge₂₂As₂₀Se₅₈) and GASIR2 (Ge₂₀Sb₁₅Se₆₅). These materials are transparent in the 3-5 μm and 8-12 μm bands. An industrial process has been developed to produce these two glasses with well controlled properties. The reproducibility of refractive index is for example better than 2.0 x 10^-4 at 10 μm. A unique and high precision moulding technology has been developed to produce low cost chalcogenide glass lenses with high performance levels. Spherical, aspherical and asphero-diffractive lenses are manufactured with very accurate surface precision. The form defect of the moulded surfaces can be less than 0.4 μm with a typical roughness of 10 nm. When depositing an antireflection coating onto the moulded lenses, the reflection losses are reduced, raising the transmission to 98%, compared to 70% for uncoated lenses. A durable coating has also been developed as a protection for exposed lenses. Coated asphero-diffractive GASIR optics, used in infrared cameras give good quality images. The performance is comparable to that of an optical system with aspherical germanium. GASIR offers a cost-effective alternative to germanium for thermal imaging, especially for medium to high volume applications, both commercial and military.

Citation Download Citation

Yann M. Guimond and Yann Bellec "High-precision IR molded lenses", Proc. SPIE 5252, Optical Fabrication, Testing, and Metrology, (26 February 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.515565

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