US6911638B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Wavefront coding zoom lens imaging systems
Assignee: COLORADO UNIVERSITY OF REGENTS OF
•
Filing: 2003-02-11
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Granted: 2005-06-28
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Expires: 2023-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A wide-angle zoom lens with as few as two plastic elements codes the wavefront produced by the imaging system such that the imaging system is substantially invariant to aberrations related to misfocus. Signal processing is used to decode the wavefront to form the final image. A first type of zoom lens configuration uses as few as two lens elements. In this type, image processing may be modified to take into account the positioning of the lenses.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Raymond Dowski, Jr.
- 👤 Inga Prischepa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:59
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/42; G02B27/46; G02B15/00; G02B15/14; G02B15/143; G02B27/0025; G02B27/0075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An improved zoom lens system for imaging an object comprising: a detector; a lens system between the object and the detector comprising at least two lenses; wavefront coding optics between the object and the detector; said wavefront coding optics being constructed and arranged to alter an optical transfer function of the zoom lens system in such a way that the optical transfer function is substantially less sensitive to focus related aberrations than an unaltered optical transfer function, wherein the wavefront coding optics alters the optical transfer function substantially by affecting phase of light transmitted by the optics; and a post processing element for processing the image captured by the detector by reverse altering the optical transfer function accomplished by the optics.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An improved zoom lens system for imaging an object comprising: a detector; a lens system between the object and the detector comprising at least two lenses; wavefront coding optics between the object and the detector; said wavefront coding optics being constructed and arranged to alter an optical transfer function of the zoom lens system in such a way that the optical transfer function is substantially less sensitive to focus related aberrations than an unaltered optical transfer function, wherein the wavefront coding optics alters the optical transfer function substantially by affecting phase of light transmitted by the optics; and a post processing element for processing the image captured by the detector by reverse altering the optical transfer function accomplished by the optics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the wavefront coding optics are integrally formed with at least one of the lenses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising means for providing the post processing element with lens information regarding a location of the lenses in the lens system and means for modifying the post processing element according to the lens information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising means for providing the post processing element with lens position information, the post processing element processing the image according to the lens position information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the lens system comprises at least three lenses, and wherein the lens system is constructed and arranged to have a constant F/#.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the detector is a digital detector comprising one of a CCD device and a CMOS device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the lenses in the lens system is made of optical plastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 7 wherein all of the lenses in the lens system are made of optical plastic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the lens system comprises two lenses in a positive/positive lens element configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the wavefront coding optics implement a separable cubic phase function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the wavefront coding optics implement a non-separable cubic phase function.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the wavefront coding optics implement a cubic related phase function of the form: cubic - related - forms ( x , y ) = ∑ i a i [ sign ( x ) | x | bi + sign ( y ) | y | bi ] | χ |≦1, | γ |≦1 where sign(x)=+1 for x≧0, sign(x)=−1 otherwise.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the wavefront coding optics implement a non-separable cubic-related phase function of the following form: non - separable - cubic - phase ( p , θ ) = ∑ i a i p bi cos ( w i θ + ϕ i ) , where 0≦p≦1, 0≦θ≦2pi.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for reducing focus related aberrations in images formed by a zoom lens system comprising the steps of: modifying a wavefront of transmitted light between the object to be imaged and a detector for capturing an image of the object; the step of modifying comprising the step of altering an optical transfer function of the zoom lens system in such a way that the optical transfer function is substantially less sensitive to focus related aberrations than an unaltered optical transfer function; and post processing the image captured by the detector by reverse altering the optical transfer function accomplished by the optics.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for reducing focus related aberrations in images formed by a zoom lens system comprising the steps of: modifying a wavefront of transmitted light between the object to be imaged and a detector for capturing an image of the object; the step of modifying comprising the step of altering an optical transfer function of the zoom lens system in such a way that the optical transfer function is substantially less sensitive to focus related aberrations than an unaltered optical transfer function; and post processing the image captured by the detector by reverse altering the optical transfer function accomplished by the optics.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of: providing a post processing element with lens information regarding a location of lenses in the zoom lens system; and modifying the post processing element according to the lens information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of: providing a post processing element with lens position information of the zoom lens system; and modifying the post processing element according to the lens position information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of modifying comprises the step of implementing a separable cubic phase function.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of modifying comprises the step of implementing a non-separable cubic phase function.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of modifying comprises the step of implementing a cubic related phase function of the form: cubic - related - forms ( x , y ) = ∑ i a i [ sign ( x ) | x | bi + sign ( y ) | y | bi ] |x|≦1, |y|≦1 where sign(x)=+1 for x≧0, sign(x)=−1 otherwise.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of modifying comprises the step of implementing a cubic related phase function of the form: non - separable - cubic - phase ( p , θ ) = ∑ i a i p bi cos ( w i θ + ϕ i ) , where 0≦p≦1, 0≦≦θ≦2pi.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a zoom lens system for imaging an object to an image with variable focal length, the improvement comprising: a wavefront coding optical element for modifying a phase function of an optical transfer function to increase a depth of focus of the image; a post processing element for processing the image to modify phase function effects induced by the wavefront coding element in the image so as to generate a final image of the object.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a zoom lens system for imaging an object to an image with variable focal length, the improvement comprising: a wavefront coding optical element for modifying a phase function of an optical transfer function to increase a depth of focus of the image; a post processing element for processing the image to modify phase function effects induced by the wavefront coding element in the image so as to generate a final image of the object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
53 words
In the zoom lens system of claim 21 , the zoom lens system of the type wherein at least two optical elements are positioned relative to one another to change the variable focal length, the post processing element utilizing position information of the two optical elements in its processing to the final image.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
In the zoom lens system of claim 21 , the wavefront coding element being one or a combination of (a) one or more separate optical elements within the zoom lens system, (b) one or more optical modifications to one or more optical element surfaces of the zoom lens system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
In the zoom lens system of claim 23 , one or both of the separate optical elements and modifications comprising one or both of holograms and mirrors.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
In the zoom lens system of claim 21 , the wavefront coding element comprising optical material with one or both of varying optical thickness and varying index of refraction.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
In the zoom lens system of claim 21 , further comprising a detector at the image, the post processing element connected with the detector to process electronic images of the detector.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
85 words
A zoom lens imaging system, comprising: a detector; a plurality of lens elements for imaging an object onto the detector, at least one of the lens elements being moveable to modify a focal length of the zoom lens imaging system; wavefront coding optics for modifying phase of an optical wavefront between the object and the detector; a post processor connected with the detector for post processing images from the detector to generate a final image by reversing phase effects induced by the wavefront coding optics.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
85 words
A zoom lens imaging system, comprising: a detector; a plurality of lens elements for imaging an object onto the detector, at least one of the lens elements being moveable to modify a focal length of the zoom lens imaging system; wavefront coding optics for modifying phase of an optical wavefront between the object and the detector; a post processor connected with the detector for post processing images from the detector to generate a final image by reversing phase effects induced by the wavefront coding optics.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The zoom lens imaging system of claim 27 , wherein the wavefront coding optics is formed with one or more of the plurality of lens elements.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The zoom lens imaging system of claim 27 , the post processor obtaining position information of the at least one lens element and utilizing the position information in post processing the images.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-06-27 | 2008-12-27 | 2009-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-06-27 | 2012-12-27 | 2013-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-06-27 | 2016-12-27 | 2017-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |