Anamorphic imaging system

A rear anamorph formed by a plurality of lens elements aligned on a common optical axis, the rear anamorph for receiving radiation from an object space and delivering the radiation to an image space, the rear anamorph comprising:

• a first plurality of lens elements having a first anamorphic power and having optical surfaces aligned in a first direction about the optical axis;
• and
• a second plurality of lens elements having a second anamorphic power and having optical surfaces aligned in a second direction about the optical axis;
• wherein the second anamorphic power is different from the first anamorphic power and the second direction is different from the first direction to produce two different focal lengths so that radiation collected in object space with an aspect ratio of about 2.40:1 is captured on a 16:9 detector.

A rear anamorph formed by a plurality of lens elements aligned on a common optical axis, the rear anamorph for receiving radiation from an object space and delivering the radiation to an image space, the rear anamorph comprising:

• a first plurality of lens elements having a first anamorphic power and having optical surfaces aligned in a first direction about the optical axis;
• and
• a second plurality of lens elements having a second anamorphic power and having optical surfaces aligned in a second direction about the optical axis;
• wherein the second anamorphic power is different from the first anamorphic power and the second direction is different from the first direction to produce two different focal lengths so that radiation collected in object space with an aspect ratio of about 4:3 is captured on a 16:9 detector.

An anamorphic optical system formed by a plurality of lens elements aligned on a common optical axis, the anamorphic optical system for receiving radiation from an object space and delivering the radiation to an image space, the system comprising:

• a lens unit for collecting the radiation from the object space;
• a detector for receiving the radiation delivered from the object space at the image space;
• and
• a rear anamorph coupled between the lens unit and the detector for receiving radiation from the lens unit and delivering it to the detector, the rear anamorph comprising
• a first plurality of lens elements having a first anamorphic power and having optical surfaces aligned in a first direction about the optical axis, and
• a second plurality of lens elements having a second anamorphic power and having optical surfaces aligned in a second direction about the optical axis;
• wherein the second anamorphic power is different from the first anamorphic power and the second direction is different from the first direction to produce two different focal lengths so that the radiation received from the lens unit is compressed or expanded at the detector.

A method for receiving radiation collected from object space by a lens system and compressing or expanding the radiation and delivering the radiation to an image space, the method comprising:

• passing the collected radiation through a first plurality of lens elements aligned on a common optical axis having a first anamorphic power and having optical surfaces aligned in a first direction about the optical axis;
• and
• passing the collected radiation through a second plurality of lens elements having a second anamorphic power and having optical surfaces aligned in a second direction about the optical axis;
• wherein the second anamorphic power is different from the first anamorphic power and the second direction is different from the first direction to produce two different focal lengths so that the collected radiation is compressed or expanded at the image space.