Patent Description:
The wavefront measuring apparatus measures an aberration of a light wavefront. An example of the wavefront measuring apparatus is a wavefront sensor of Shack-Hartmann method. The wavefront sensor of Shack-Hartmann method measures a wavefront shape of an optical system to be tested by splitting and condensing a light beam to be tested using a lens array and by measuring local wavefront tilts on the basis of relative deviations in the focusing positions of spot images. Therefore, the wavefront sensor of Shack-Hartmann method has an advantage over a phase-shift interferometer in that it is less sensitive to factors in the measurement environment, such as vibrations.

For example, the wavefront measuring apparatus described in Patent Document <NUM> is a measurement apparatus with a wavefront sensor of Shack-Hartmann method. In the wavefront measuring apparatus described in Patent Document <NUM>, the beam transmitted through an optical system to be tested enters a wavefront sensor after the beam diameter is matched with the aperture width of a detector array, wherein a relay optical system is used to expand or reduce the beam diameter. Then, in the wavefront sensor, the light beam to be tested is split and individually condensed by a lenslet array, and a transmitted wavefront shape is calculated by a signal processing unit on the basis of the barycenter positions of condensing spot images captured on a detector array.

<NPL>, describes a hyperspectral Shack-Hartmann test bed developed to characterize the performance of miniature optics across a wide spectral range. The test bed comprises a lenslet array and a relay lens.

<NPL>, describes a Shack-Hartmann wave-front analyzer with an internal reference source and a cooled CCD camera constructed to measure the surface configuration of F/<NUM> primary mirrors.

[Patent Document <NUM>] <CIT> (Page <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, <FIG>).

The wavefront measuring apparatus described in Patent Document <NUM> is configured so that a collimated light beam is split and individually condensed by a lens array to form an image plane of light beams on the detector array. A problem with this configuration is that it is difficult to downsize the apparatus because the total length of an optical system cannot be shortened due to the need to generate a parallel light flux of the size of the detector array.

The present invention is devised to solve the aforementioned problem and aims to shorten the total length of an optical system.

The wavefront measuring apparatus includes: a first lens array to split a radially propagating light beam after being emitted from an optical system to be tested and once forming an image, and then to condense each of the split light beams; a concave lens to further spread radially the plurality of split light beams from the first lens array; a detection unit disposed at a position where condensing spots of the plurality of split light beams radially propagating from the first lens array are formed; and a control unit to calculate, when the first lens array is at a position of conjugation with the optical system to be tested, a transmitted wavefront of the optical system to be tested from positions of the condensing spots.

The total length of an optical system can be shortened and the apparatus can be downsized.

Hereinafter, the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Embodiment <NUM> below shows a specific example, and all of the shapes, arrangements, and materials of the components shown therein are illustrative and not limiting. Also, the figures are all schematic and not to scale. In each figure, the same components are indicated with the same symbol.

<FIG> is a configuration diagram showing an example of wavefront measurement using a wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. A light beam <NUM> is emitted from a light source unit <NUM> to an optical system <NUM> to be tested, whose wavefront shape is to be measured, and the light beam to be tested, which is transmitted through the optical system <NUM> to be tested, is received by the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM>, resulting in measurement of the wavefront.

The wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> includes a lens array <NUM>, a detection unit <NUM>, and a processing unit <NUM>. The wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> may include a lens <NUM> and a lens <NUM>.

The lens array <NUM> is an array of a plurality of lenses arranged in parallel. The lenses of the lens array <NUM> each condense the entering light, so that a plurality of focus spots, for example, is generated.

The detection unit <NUM> detects light. The detection unit <NUM> is, for example, an imaging device. The detection unit <NUM> detects, for example, a projected image.

The processing unit <NUM> calculates a wavefront aberration on the basis of the information outputted from the detection unit <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> includes, for example, a processor and a memory. The processing unit <NUM> is, for example, a personal computer.

The lenses <NUM> and <NUM> condense or disperse light. The lens <NUM> is, for example, a convex lens. The lens <NUM> is a concave lens.

The optical system <NUM> to be tested is an optical system whose wavefront shape is to be measured. The optical system <NUM> to be tested includes, for example, a lens. The optical system <NUM> to be tested may be an optical system that includes a plurality of lenses, like a telescope. The optical system <NUM> to be tested may be an afocal system or an imaging optical system.

The light source unit <NUM> emits light to the optical system <NUM> to be tested. The light source unit <NUM> includes a light source <NUM> and a lens <NUM>. The light source unit <NUM> may further include a lens <NUM> and any other lens. The light source <NUM> emits the light beam <NUM>. The lenses <NUM> and <NUM> reshape the light beam <NUM> into a desired light beam. The light beam <NUM> emitted from the light source <NUM> is adjusted by the lenses <NUM> and <NUM> in accordance with the optical specifications of the incoming side of the optical system <NUM> to be tested. The light beam <NUM> transmitted through the lenses <NUM> and <NUM> may be collimated or condensing light.

The operation of the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> will be described next.

The light beam <NUM> emitted from the light source unit <NUM> enters the optical system <NUM> to be tested. In the optical system <NUM> to be tested as an imaging optical system, the light beam <NUM> transmitted through the optical system <NUM> to be tested is once imaged at the focal point and then enters the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM>.

After propagating through the focal point of the optical system <NUM> to be tested, the light beam <NUM> enters the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> and changes the beam divergence angle due to the lens <NUM>. The pupil of the optical system <NUM> to be tested is transferred to the lens array <NUM> by the light beam <NUM> transmitted through the lens <NUM>. In other words, the optical system <NUM> to be tested and the lens array <NUM> are in a conjugate relationship. The lens <NUM> has optical parameters necessary for the whole of the light beam <NUM> transmitted through the optical system <NUM> to be tested to enter the lens array <NUM>. The lens <NUM> may have a convex surface on either or each of the incoming and outgoing sides of the light beam <NUM>. The optical system <NUM> to be tested that is an afocal system does not require the lens <NUM>. The light beam <NUM> transmitted through the lens <NUM> propagates to the lens array <NUM> at a divergence angle with respect to the optical axis.

The lens array <NUM> splits the light beam <NUM> propagating from the lens <NUM> into N condensing beams that produce an image plane on the detection unit <NUM>. N is a natural number of two or larger. N is the number of lenses that constitute the lens array <NUM>. The split light beams <NUM> transmitted through the lens array <NUM> propagate to the lens <NUM> at divergent angles with respect to the optical axis depending on the entering angles and positions at the lens array <NUM>.

Each of the plurality of light beams <NUM> propagating from the lens array <NUM> bends in a more divergent direction with respect to the optical axis of the center light beam <NUM> depending on the entering angle and position at the lens <NUM>, to further propagate to the detection unit <NUM>. The lens <NUM> has optical parameters to match the beam width to enter the detection unit <NUM> with the aperture width of the detection unit <NUM>. The lens <NUM> may be replaced by a set of refracting lenses capable of bending the beams in the more divergent directions with respect to the optical axis. Without the lens <NUM>, the condensing spots of the plurality of light beams <NUM> radially spreading from the lens array <NUM> are formed on the detection unit <NUM>.

The detection unit <NUM> captures the spot images of the condensing light beams propagating from the lens array <NUM> or the lens <NUM>. On the detection unit <NUM>, the spot images are formed in the number corresponding to the number of segments in the lens array <NUM>. The transmitted wavefront aberration for the optical system <NUM> to be tested can be calculated from the deviations in the barycenter positions of the spot images.

The processing unit <NUM> includes a control circuit <NUM>, a signal processing unit <NUM>, and an operation unit <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> generates a control signal corresponding to the imaging conditions such as an exposure time and transmits the control signal to the detection unit <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> controls a readout signal from the detection unit <NUM> and transmits the readout signal to the signal processing unit <NUM>. The signal processing unit <NUM> inputs the imaging conditions such as the exposure time to the control circuit <NUM>. The signal processing unit <NUM> outputs a measured value according to the readout signal from the detection unit <NUM> and the control circuit <NUM> to the operation unit <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM> calculates the wavefront to be calculated on the basis of the measured value from the signal processing unit <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM> calculates the transmitted wavefront aberration of the optical system <NUM> to be tested from the results of barycenter calculation for the condensing spot images. The measured value gives information about the image of a condensing spot.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram showing the transmitted wavefront aberration according to Shack-Hartmann method. In this figure, an optical system <NUM> to be tested, a lenslet array <NUM>, and a detector array <NUM> in a wavefront measuring apparatus described in Patent Document <NUM> are shown. Here, the deviations of the barycenter positions of the spot images at the detector array <NUM> are defined as Δyi, the distance of the focal point of the lenslet array <NUM> is defined as f, and the slopes of the local wavefronts corresponding to the entrance pupils of the lenslet array <NUM> are defined as θi. From the equation Δyi = 2fθl, the transmitted wavefront aberration of the optical system <NUM> to be tested can be calculated. In the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM>, a divergent light beam but not a parallel light beam enters the lens array <NUM>, so that the focus spots are deviated in such a way that they diverge outward from the center point of detection unit. It is necessary to take the deviations into account in advance to calculate the transmitted wavefront aberration.

<FIG> is a flow chart showing an example processing flow of the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM>. The operation of the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

In Step S1, the light beam to be tested is transmitted through the optical system <NUM> to be tested and once forms an image at the focal point then to enter the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM>. Then, the process proceeds to Step S2.

In Step S2, the lens <NUM> adjusts the divergence angle of the light beam <NUM>. The light beam <NUM> transmitted through the lens <NUM> propagates to the lens array <NUM> with a divergence angle with respect to the optical axis. Then, the process proceeds to Step S3.

In Step S3, the lens array <NUM>, which is in a conjugate relationship with the optical system <NUM> to be tested, splits the light beam <NUM> into N condensing beams that produce an image plane on the detection unit <NUM>. N is a natural number of two or larger. The light beams <NUM> transmitted through the lens array <NUM> propagate to the lens <NUM> at divergent angles with respect to the optical axis depending on the entering angles and positions at the lens array <NUM>. Then, the process proceeds to Step S4.

In Step S4, the plurality of light beams <NUM> bend in more divergent directions with respect to the optical axis of the center light beam <NUM> depending on the entering angles and positions at the lens <NUM>, to further propagate to the detection unit <NUM>. Then, the process proceeds to Step S5.

In Step S5, the detection unit <NUM> captures the spot images of the condensing light beams. Then, the process proceeds to Step S6.

In Step S6, the processing unit <NUM> calculates the transmitted wavefront aberration of the optical system <NUM> to be tested from the results of barycenter calculation for the condensing spot images.

In the wavefront measuring apparatus described in Patent Document <NUM>, it is difficult to shorten the distance from the optical system to be tested to the lens array because the parallel light of the same size as the lens array must be generated. In addition, the distance between the lens array and the detector array is determined by the focal length of the lens array and thus cannot be shortened. In the configuration shown in Embodiment <NUM>, the distance from the optical system <NUM> to be tested to the lens array <NUM> can be shortened because the diffusion light is allowed to enter the lens array <NUM>. Since the light beams <NUM> transmitted through the lens array <NUM> also keep its spread, the detection unit <NUM> can have a larger area. This can improve the accuracy of the wavefront measurement. Alternatively, when the size of the detection unit <NUM> is made the same as that of a conventional apparatus, the distance from the optical system <NUM> to be tested to the detection unit <NUM> can be shortened.

By further adding the lens <NUM>, the light beams <NUM> transmitted through the lens array <NUM> further spread, so that the accuracy of the wavefront measurement can be improved. Alternatively, when the size of the detection unit <NUM> is made the same as that of a conventional apparatus, the distance from the optical system <NUM> to be tested to the detection unit <NUM> can be further shortened.

By adjusting the bending of the lens <NUM>, the curvature of field produced in the lens array <NUM> can be corrected and the aberration produced inside the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> can be reduced, which contributes to improving the measurement accuracy of the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM>.

In the wavefront measuring apparatus described in Patent Document <NUM>, the entering beam width is matched with the aperture width of the imaging device. Therefore, there has been a problem that the total length of the optical system in the wavefront measuring apparatus inevitably becomes long, especially in a case of an optical system with a large F value. In the configuration of the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> shown in Embodiment <NUM>, both ensuring the measurement performance of the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> and reducing the total length of the optical system can be achieved by adding the lens <NUM> to spread the light beams.

As described above, by allowing the diffusion light to enter the lens array <NUM>, the total length of the optical system can be shortened and thus the apparatus can be downsized. By further adding the lens <NUM>, further downsizing of the apparatus or improvement of the detection accuracy can be achieved.

An example will be shown in which a detection unit with a lens array is used. <FIG> is a configuration diagram showing an example of wavefront measurement using a wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> according to Modification <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>.

The wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> is obtained by adding a lens array <NUM> to the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM>. Since the other components are the same as those shown in <FIG>, their description will be omitted.

The wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> includes the lens arrays <NUM>, a lens array <NUM>, the detection unit <NUM>, and the processing unit <NUM>. The wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> may include the lens <NUM> and includes the lens <NUM>.

The lens array <NUM> is configured with a plurality of lenses <NUM> arranged in parallel. The lens array <NUM> forms a plurality of focus spots because each of the lenses <NUM>, for example, condenses the entering light. The lens array <NUM> is provided at a stage before the light beams <NUM> enter the detection unit <NUM>. The lens array <NUM> is attached to the detection unit <NUM>. In Modification <NUM>, the lens array <NUM> is referred to as a first lens array and the lens array <NUM> is referred to as a second lens array.

The lenses <NUM> in the lens array <NUM> each correspond to one of the image elements <NUM> in the detection unit <NUM> on a one-to-one basis. The spacing between the lenses <NUM> is smaller than the spacing between the image elements <NUM>.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a positional relationship between a lens <NUM> and an image element <NUM> according to Modification <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram showing the detection unit <NUM> viewed from the side of the lens array <NUM>. For simplicity, only some of the lenses <NUM> and the image elements <NUM> are shown. The lenses <NUM> are arrayed side by side with the neighboring lenses <NUM>. The image elements <NUM> are arrayed side by side with the neighboring image elements <NUM>. A value X, which is M times (M is a natural number) the lens pitch of the lenses <NUM> in the lens array <NUM>, is smaller than a value Y, which is M times the pitch of the image elements <NUM> in the detection unit <NUM>.

In <FIG>, at the center of the aperture, the center position of the lens <NUM> in the lens array <NUM> and the center position of the image element <NUM> in the detection unit <NUM> coincide with each other. In the periphery of the aperture, the center positions of the lenses <NUM> in the lens array <NUM> and the center positions of the image elements <NUM> in the detection unit <NUM> are shifted from each other.

<FIG> is another explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the lens <NUM> and the image element <NUM> according to Modification <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is an enlarged view of part of the lens array <NUM> and the detection unit <NUM> shown in <FIG>. For simplicity, only two pairs of the lens <NUM> and the image element <NUM>, one disposed in the upper portion and the other disposed in the center portion, are illustrated. The plurality of lenses <NUM> are vertically arranged. The plurality of image elements <NUM> are vertically arranged. As for the lens <NUM> and the image element <NUM> disposed in the center portion, the optical axis of the light beam <NUM> passes through the centers of the lens and the image element. In this case, the optical axis is horizontal. As for the lens <NUM> and the image element <NUM> disposed in the upper portion, the center of the lens <NUM> is disposed at a lower position than the center of the image element <NUM>. In this case, the optical axis goes up to the right.

For the detection unit <NUM> equipped with the lens array <NUM>, a commercially available imaging device with micro lenses, which is mass-produced for cameras, may be used, for example.

The wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM> basically operates in the same manner as the wavefront measuring apparatus <NUM>. The detection unit <NUM> captures the spot images of the condensing light beams propagating from the lens array <NUM>. On the detection unit <NUM>, the spot images are formed in the number corresponding to the number of lens segments in the lens array <NUM>. The transmitted wavefront aberration for the optical system <NUM> to be tested can be calculated from the deviations in the barycenter positions of the spot images.

By adding the lens array <NUM> at a stage before the detection unit <NUM>, the light beams propagating from the lens <NUM> can enter the image elements <NUM> over a wide field of view, and thus the aperture ratio of the condensing spot images is improved. As a result, the resolution limit of the condensing spot images is improved, and thus the measurement accuracy of the wavefront sensor for calculating the wavefront aberration by means of the barycenter calculation is improved.

The light beams <NUM>, each having a certain angle, enter the lenses <NUM> and the image elements <NUM>. As a result, a commercially available imaging device with micro lenses, the device being mass-produced for cameras, can be used as the detection unit <NUM> equipped with the lens array <NUM>, so that the cost of the apparatus can be reduced. In many cases, in the production of commercially available imaging devices provided with micro lenses, in the periphery of the aperture, the centers of the micro lenses are shifted from the centers of imaging elements in order for the beams, each with an angle, to enter their respective light receiving portions. Therefore, in the wavefront measuring apparatus described in Patent Document <NUM>, it is necessary to match the centers of the micro lenses with the centers of the imaging elements, so that it has been difficult to use a commercially available imaging device with micro lenses. In contrast, the configuration of Modification <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> makes it possible to use a commercially available imaging device with micro lenses.

Note that, each configuration shown in the above-described embodiment includes ranges to be considered for tolerances in manufacturing and variations in assembling. Therefore, the positional relationships between the components and the shapes of the components, if any, described in claims include ranges to be considered for tolerances in manufacturing and variations in assembling.

Claim 1:
A wavefront measuring apparatus (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a first lens array (<NUM>) to split a radially propagating light beam (<NUM>) after being emitted from an optical system (<NUM>) to be tested and once forming an image, and then to condense each of the split light beams;
a concave lens (<NUM>) to further spread radially the plurality of split light beams from the first lens array;
a detection unit (<NUM>) disposed at a position where condensing spots of the plurality of split light beams radially propagating from the first lens array are formed; and
a control unit (<NUM>) to calculate, when the first lens array is at a position of conjugation with the optical system to be tested, a transmitted wavefront of the optical system to be tested from positions of the condensing spots.