US12468073 - Method of strengthening an optical element

This patent describes a method for creating an optical element using a Nanocomposite Optical Ceramic (NCOC) material, which features a substrate with a specific grain structure and a compressive layer designed to enhance optical performance. The compressive layer’s microstructure differs from that of the substrate, optimizing the transmission of light through the optical element.

Claim 1

1 . A method comprising: providing an optical substrate formed of a Nanocomposite Optical Ceramic (NCOC) material including a first oxide nanograin material dispersed in a second oxide nanograin material; and depositing a compressive layer of the NCOC material on a surface of the optical substrate; wherein the compressive layer of the NCOC material has a microstructure different than a microstructure of the optical substrate; wherein the microstructure of the compressive layer has a columnar polycrystalline grain structure with grain boundaries extending approximately perpendicular to the surface of the optical substrate; and wherein the grain boundaries have a grain dimension extending away from the optical substrate that is larger than a grain dimension extending along the surface of the optical substrate, and wherein the grain dimension of the grain boundaries extending along the surface of the optical substrate is less than about one tenth of a wavelength of light to be transmitted through the compressive layer. providing an optical substrate formed of a Nanocomposite Optical Ceramic (NCOC) material including a first oxide nanograin material dispersed in a second oxide nanograin material; and depositing a compressive layer of the NCOC material on a surface of the optical substrate; wherein the compressive layer of the NCOC material has a microstructure different than a microstructure of the optical substrate; wherein the microstructure of the compressive layer has a columnar polycrystalline grain structure with grain boundaries extending approximately perpendicular to the surface of the optical substrate; and wherein the grain boundaries have a grain dimension extending away from the optical substrate that is larger than a grain dimension extending along the surface of the optical substrate, and wherein the grain dimension of the grain boundaries extending along the surface of the optical substrate is less than about one tenth of a wavelength of light to be transmitted through the compressive layer.

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USPTO PDF

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