Optical device and method for providing improved depth of field and resolution modes

A method for providing multiple modes of operation by an optical device comprising the steps of

• connecting an image relaying device to the optical device;
• passing a light beam transmitted by the connected image relaying device through a variable aperture stop having an aperture diameter;
• shaping and focusing the light beam passed through the variable aperture with one or more lens elements;
• splitting the light beam into at least a first portion of light and a second portion of light;
• collecting the first portion of light with a first image sensor positioned at a first distance along a first optical path from the beam splitter, the first collected image having a first focal plane;
• collecting the second portion of light with a second image sensor positioned at a second distance along a second optical path from the beam splitter, the second collected image having a second focal plane;
• defining a first mode of operation as that wherein images are captured by the image sensors according to their present positioning and the present diameter of the variable aperture;
• adjusting one or more of
• the aperture diameter of the variable aperture stop;
• the position or curvature of one or more of the lens elements;
• the position of the first image sensor;
• or
• the position of the second image sensor;
• defining a second mode of operation as that wherein images are captured by the image sensors after the adjustment step;
• collecting image light from the first and second image sensors in the first mode at a first acquisition period;
• collecting image light from the first and second image sensors in the second mode at a subsequent second acquisition period;
• and
• processing at least one of the captured images from the first acquisition period and at least one of the captured images from the subsequent, second acquisition period into a resulting image having a greater depth of field and/or resolution than any of the individually captured images.

An optical device to be used in conjunction with an image relaying device, such as an endoscope comprising:

• a variable aperture stop through which a beam passes from the image relaying device;
• a lens receiving the first portion of light from the variable aperture stop;
• a beamsplitter receiving the light beam, having passed through the variable aperture and the lens, the beamsplitter separating the light beam into at least a first portion and a second portion;
• a first image sensor receiving the first portion of light, and further comprising a means to adjust the position of the first image sensor parallel to a first optical axis, adjusting, thereby, a first focal plane of a first image captured by the first image sensor;
• a second image sensor receiving the second portion of light, wherein a second image captured by the second image sensor has a second focal plane;
• and
• an image processor that processes the collected images into a resulting image having a greater depth of field and/or resolution than either the first or second individually captured image,
• wherein an electronic exposure setting of the first image sensor is different than the electronic exposure setting of the second image sensor.