# US 2022/0035153 A1 · Optical system with dynamic distortion using freeform elements

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- Number: US 2022/0035153 A1
- Document ID: US20220035153A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/390,062
- Filed: 2021-07-30
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-31
- Assignees: Immervision, Inc.
- Applicants: ImmerVision, Inc.
- Inventors: Zhenfeng ZHUANG; Jocelyn PARENT; Patrice ROULET; Simon THIBAULT; Xavier DALLAIRE; Pierre KONEN; Valentin BATAILLE; Kevin MIAO; Manuel MAGINI; Marie-Pier BELLEMARE; Viacheslav NATASHYN; Xiaojun DU; Shirley CHAN; Marcia GRIFFITH; Sophie GIGLIOTTI; Ebrahim MORTAZY
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220035153A1

## CPC

- G02B 27/0068: {having means for controlling the degree of correction, e.g. using phase modulators, movable elements (controlling the phase of light using moving or deformable elements G02B26/06)}
- G03B 5/00: Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
- G02B 3/0081: {having one or more elements with analytic function to create variable power (variable magnification in general G02B15/00)}
- G02B 13/0055: {employing a special optical element}
- G02B 13/06: Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" {including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces}
- G03B 5/04: Vertical adjustment of lens; Rising fronts
- G06T 3/18: Image warping, e.g. rearranging pixels individually
- H04N 23/11: for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
- H04N 23/13: with multiple sensors
- H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
- H04N 23/60: Control of cameras or camera modules
- H04N 23/698: for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
- H04N 25/61: the noise originating only from the lens unit, e.g. flare, shading, vignetting or "cos4"
- G02B 3/06: with cylindrical or toric faces
- G02B 13/12: with variable magnification
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A method for designing an optical system for providing reliable, robust and successful realization of a distortion variation function is presented. In a preferred embodiment, the proposed distortion variation optical system includes at least two non-symmetrical elements, which are moving in the transverse direction. The proposed freeform lens contains two transmissive refractive surfaces. The freeform elements designed with this method have preferably a flat surface and a non-symmetrical freeform surface. The two plano-surfaces are preferably made to face each other, so that a miniature camera can be offered. The value of the non-symmetrical freeform surface is used to produce variable optical power when the two freeform elements undergo a relative movement in the vertical direction. Using this method, an optical system with an active distortion, smaller form factor, and better imaging quality can be obtained.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical system to create distorted images having dynamically adapting non-linear resolution curves, the optical system comprising:
a. a plurality of optical elements configured to create an optical image at one or more image planes, the optical image having a total field of view, the plurality of optical elements including at least one movable freeform element;
b. at least one actuator configured to move the at least one movable freeform element between at least a first position and a second position different from the first position;
c. a controller configured to control the at least one actuator,
wherein when the at least one movable freeform element is in the first position, the optical image created by the plurality of optical elements has a first resolution curve and when the at least one movable freeform element is in the second position, the optical image created by the plurality of optical elements has a second resolution curve, the first resolution curve being different than the second resolution curve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, further comprising an image sensor located at the image plane, the image sensor being configured to convert the optical image created by the plurality of optical elements into a digital image.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The optical system of claim 2, further comprising a processor configured to process the digital image.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The optical system of claim 3, wherein the processing of the digital image includes at least partially dewarping the digital image.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The optical system of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to, after processing of the digital image, instruct the controller to cause the at least one actuator to move the at least one movable freeform element to a different position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, comprising two movable freeform elements.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the total field of view is greater than 80°.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the total field of view of the optical image when the at least one movable freeform element is in the first position is the same as the total field of view of the optical image when the at least one movable freeform element is in the second position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1 having a total track length, the total track length being less than 10 mm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein a resolution value for at least one field angle in the total field of view varies by at least ±10% between the first resolution curve and the second resolution curve.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the optical image created by the plurality of optical elements is at least one of a monochromatic image, a polychromatic image, a temperature image, a depth image, or a multispectral information image.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical elements are configured to accept input light in a visible range.

### Claim 13

A method to create, by an optical system, distorted images having dynamically adapting non-linear resolution curves, the optical system comprising a plurality of optical elements having a total field of view and including at least one movable freeform element, at least one actuator for moving the at least one movable freeform element, and a controller, the method comprising:
a. creating, by the plurality of optical elements, an optical image in one or more image planes, the optical image having a total field of view; and
b. causing, by the controller, the at least one actuator to move the at least one movable freeform element,
wherein when the at least one movable freeform element is in a first position, the optical image has a first resolution curve and when the at least one movable freeform element is in a second position, the optical image has a second resolution curve, the first resolution curve being different than the second resolution curve.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the optical system further comprises an image sensor located at the image plane, the method further comprising converting, by the image sensor, the optical image into a digital image.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the optical system further comprises a processor, the method further comprising processing, by the processor, the digital image.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the processing of the digital image includes at least partially dewarping the digital image.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising instructing, by the processor after processing the digital image, the controller to cause the at least one actuator to move the at least one movable freeform element to a different position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the optical system comprises two movable freeform elements.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the total field of view is greater than 80°.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the total field of view of the optical image when the at least one movable freeform element is in the first position is the same as the total field of view of the optical image when the at least one movable freeform element is in the second position.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the optical system has a total track length, the total track length being less than 10 mm.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein a resolution value for at least one field angle in the total field of view varies by at least ±10% between the first resolution curve and the second resolution curve.

### Claim 23 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the optical image created by the plurality of optical elements is at least one of a monochromatic image, a polychromatic image, a temperature image, a depth image, or a multispectral information image.

### Claim 24 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of optical elements are configured to accept input light in a visible range.