Simultaneous focusing of an optical system to multiple focal planes using liquid crystal polarization lenses
AssigneeMeadowlark Optics, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Hoy, Janelle Shane, Douglas J. McKnight
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Abstract
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for an optical system including pairs of LCPGs and polarization controllers (e.g., waveplates) that can be controlled to effect multiple simultaneous focal planes, or to simultaneously image multiple focal planes.
Claims48
An optical system with a controllable liquid crystal polarization grating (LCPG) stack configured to produce or image two or more simultaneous focal planes, the optical system comprising:
- a first LCPG lens;
- a second LCPG lens;
- and
- one or more polarization controllers are configured to selectively adjust a polarization entering each of the first and second LCPG lenses, thereby controlling a number and location of each of the two or more simultaneous focal planes.
A dynamic focusing system comprising:
- a light source;
- an imaging sensor;
- a first LCPG lens;
- a first polarization controller configured to control a polarization of polarized light entering the first LCPG lens;
- a second LCPG lens;
- a second polarization controller configured to control a polarization of polarized light entering the second LCPG lens;
- a controller electrically coupled to the first and second polarization controllers and configured to control a state of the first polarization controller and a state of the second polarization controller to control two or more simultaneous focal planes of the dynamic focusing system.
A method of dynamic focusing to produce or image two or more simultaneous focal planes, the method comprising:
- providing a light source or imaging device;
- providing a first LCPG-polarization controller optical stack comprising at least one LCPG and at least one polarization controller;
- directing polarized light through the first LCPG-polarization controller optical stack;
- and
- selecting a state of the at least one polarization controller to select a number and location of the two or more simultaneous focal planes.
An optical system comprising:
- a light source or imaging device;
- a first LCPG-polarization controller optical stack comprising at least one LCPG and at least one polarization controller, wherein polarized light is directed through the first LCPG-polarization controller optical stack;
- and
- a waveplate controller comprising a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium, encoded with processor readable instructions to perform a method for dynamic focusing to produce or image two or more simultaneous focal planes, the method comprising:
- instructing the at least one polarization controller to switch between two states thereby changing a number and/or location of the two or more simultaneous focal planes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.