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US 12,717,122 B2Granted
Methods and systems for high-magnification photography exploiting reflective polarizers and faraday rotators
AssigneeLumenuity, Inc.
InventorsEdo Waks, Benjamin Shapiro, David Barsic
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Abstract
Described herein are systems and methods for enabling small high-magnification cameras or imaging systems to operate in low-light (e.g. night time) conditions. These systems include the use of reflective polarizers and non-reciprocal elements (Faraday rotators) to enable a longer light path, and to enable light from an image to reach the sensor.
Claims21
An imaging system for capturing an image comprising:
- a substrate having a focal length;
- a first reflective polarizer adjacent to the substrate;
- a second reflective polarizer downstream to the substrate;
- a non-reciprocal optical element between the first reflective polarizer and the second reflective polarizer;
- a sensor to form the image, wherein the substrate, first reflective polarizer, non-reciprocal element, second reflective polarizer, and sensor are arranged along an optical path,
- whereby light entering the substrate of the imaging system, is polarized by the first reflective polarizer, transmits through the non-reciprocal element and has its polarization rotated, is reflected from the second polarizer, returns through the non-reciprocal element and has its polarization further rotated, is reflected from the first reflective polarizer, transmits through the non-reciprocal element a third time and has its polarization rotated, and transmits through the second reflective polarizer to form an image on the sensor.
3 more elements
An optical system for capturing an image comprising:
- a lens having a focal length and having a curvature;
- a first reflective polarizer adjacent to the lens, wherein the reflective polarizer substantially transmits light having a first polarization state and substantially reflecting light having an orthogonal second polarization state;
- a second reflective polarizer;
- a Faraday rotator between the first reflective polarizer and the second reflective polarizer;
- a sensor to form the image, wherein the substrate, first reflective polarizer, Faraday rotator, second reflective polarizer, and sensor are arranged along an optical path;
- whereby light entering the optical system, is polarized by the first reflective polarizer, transmits through the non-reciprocal element and has its polarization rotated, is reflected from the second polarizer, returns through the non-reciprocal element and has its polarization further rotated, is reflected from the first reflective polarizer, transmits through the non-reciprocal element a third time and has its polarization rotated, and transmits through the second reflective polarizer to form an image on the sensor.
3 more elements
A method for high magnification imaging, the method comprising:
- a. receiving light to enter a substrate having a focal length;
- b. polarizing the light;
- c. Rotating the light in one direction;
- d. Reflecting the light with the rotated polarization;
- e. Rotating the light in the opposite direction relative to the first rotation;
- f. Reflecting the light with the rotated polarization;
- g. Rotating the light in the same direction as step c;
- and
- h. Transmitting the light into a sensor to capture an image.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.