Light-absorbing flange lenses

Abstract

Light-absorbing flange lenses that may be used in the lens stacks of compact lens systems. In a light-absorbing flange lens, the effective area of the lens is composed of a transparent optical material, and at least a portion of the flange of the lens is composed of an optical material that absorbs at least a portion of the light that enters the flange. Using light-absorbing flange lenses may allow the lens barrel to be eliminated from the lens system, thus reducing the X-Y dimensions of the lens system when compared to conventional compact lens systems that include a lens stack enclosed in a lens barrel. In addition, using a light-absorbing material in the flanges of the light-absorbing flange lenses may reduce or eliminate optical aberrations such as lens flare, haze, and ghosting in images.

1 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An optical element, comprising:
 an effective area composed of a transparent optical material that is configured to receive light at an incoming surface of the optical element and transmit the received light toward an exiting surface of the optical element; and   a flange around the effective area, wherein at least a portion of the flange is composed of an optical light-absorbing material that is in direct contact with at least a portion of a lateral boundary of the effective area, wherein the direct contact is along an entirety of a thickness of the optical element, the thickness extending along an optical axis from the incoming surface to the exiting surface, wherein the optical light-absorbing material absorbs at least a portion of light that enters the flange.   
     
     
         24 . The optical element as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the optical light-absorbing material absorbs light in a visible portion of the spectrum while transmitting at least a portion of light in an infrared portion of the spectrum. 
     
     
         25 . The optical element as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the optical light-absorbing material absorbs light in a visible portion of the spectrum and light in an infrared portion of the spectrum. 
     
     
         26 . The optical element as recited in  claim 23 , wherein a refractive index of the optical light-absorbing material is higher than a refractive index of the transparent optical material. 
     
     
         27 . The optical element as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the transparent optical material and the optical light-absorbing material are optical plastic materials. 
     
     
         28 . The optical element as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the effective area is an optical prism. 
     
     
         29 . The optical element as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the effective area is an optical filter. 
     
     
         30 . A camera, comprising:
 a photosensor configured to capture light projected onto a surface of the photosensor; and   an optical element configured to transmit light from an object field located in front of the camera toward the surface of the photosensor, wherein the optical element comprises:
 an effective area composed of a transparent optical material that is configured to receive light at an incoming surface of the optical element and transmit the received light toward the photosensor via an exiting surface of the optical element; and 
 a flange at least partially surrounding the effective area, wherein at least a portion of the flange is composed of an optical light-absorbing material that is in direct contact with at least a portion of a lateral boundary of the effective area, wherein the direct contact is along an entirety of a thickness of the optical element, the thickness extending from the incoming surface to the exiting surface along the optical axis, wherein the optical light-absorbing material absorbs at least a portion of light that enters the flange. 
   
     
     
         31 . The camera as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the optical light-absorbing material is configured to absorb light in a visible portion of the spectrum while transmitting at least a portion of light in an infrared portion of the spectrum. 
     
     
         32 . The camera as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the optical light-absorbing material is configured to absorb light in a visible portion of the spectrum and light in an infrared portion of the spectrum. 
     
     
         33 . The camera as recited in  claim 30 , wherein a refractive index of the optical light-absorbing material is higher than a refractive index of the transparent optical material. 
     
     
         34 . The camera as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the transparent optical material and the optical light-absorbing material are optical plastic materials. 
     
     
         35 . The camera as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the transparent optical material and the optical light-absorbing material are composed of glass materials. 
     
     
         36 . The camera as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the optical element has refractive power to refract the received light toward an image plane at or near the surface of the photosensor. 
     
     
         37 . The camera as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising at least one aperture stop. 
     
     
         38 . The camera as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the effective area is an optical prism. 
     
     
         39 . The camera as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the effective area is an optical filter. 
     
     
         40 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by an optical element of a camera, light from an object field of a camera comprising the optical element and a photosensor, wherein the optical element comprises:
 an effective area composed of a transparent optical material that is configured to receive light at an incoming surface of the optical element and transmit the received light toward an exiting surface of the optical element; and 
 a flange at least partially surrounding the effective area, wherein at least a portion of the flange is composed of an optical light-absorbing material that is in direct contact with at least a portion of a lateral boundary of the effective area, wherein the direct contact is along an entirety of a thickness of the optical element, the thickness extending from the incoming surface to the exiting surface along the optical axis; 
   absorbing, by the flange, at least a portion of the received light that enters the flange; and   transmitting, by the effective area, at least a portion of the received light that has entered the effective area from the exiting surface toward a surface of the photosensor.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising refracting, by the effective area, the light that has entered the effective area, wherein the light that has been refracted forms an image at an image plane at or near the surface of the photosensor. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising filtering, by an infrared filter, the light transmitted from the effective area toward the surface of the photosensor.