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US 2026/0282578 A1Published application
Aperture-Metasurface and Hybrid Refractive-Metasurface Imaging Systems
AssigneeMetalenz, Inc.
InventorsRobert C. Devlin, John Graff
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Abstract
Hybrid imaging systems incorporating conventional optical elements and metasurface elements with light sources and/or detectors, and methods of the manufacture and operation of such optical arrangements are provided. Systems and methods describe the integration of apertures with metasurface elements and refractive optics with metasurface elements in illumination sources and sensors.
Claims32
An imaging system comprising:
- at least one image sensor;
- a substrate layer having a substrate thickness, the substrate layer configured to be transparent to a target wavelength of light, the substrate layer having a first surface distal the at least one image sensor and a second surface proximal with the at least one image sensor;
- an aperture disposed above the substrate and having an aperture opening disposed therein;
- and
- a single layer of a plurality of identical or unique nanostructured elements comprising a metasurface disposed on one of either the first or second surfaces, such that light impinging on the aperture opening passes through at least a portion of the metasurface such that a specified angular deflection is imposed thereby;
- wherein the distance between the aperture and the metasurface are separated by a first distance;
- and
- wherein the aperture and the metasurface are configured to gather light of a specified operational bandwidth across a specified field of view and shift the incoming light such that it focuses on the at least one image sensor at a zero or near-zero degree chief ray angle.
5 more elements
An imaging system comprising:
- at least one image sensor,
- a substrate layer having a substrate thickness, the substrate layer configured to be transparent to a target wavelength of light, the substrate layer having a first surface distal the at least one image sensor and a second surface proximal with the at least one image sensor;
- at least one refractive lens disposed above the substrate and configured to focus impinging light on the first or second surface of the substrate layer;
- and
- a single layer of a plurality of identical or unique nanostructured elements comprising a metasurface disposed on one of either the first or second surfaces, such that light impinging on the at least one refractive lens passes through at least a portion of the metasurface elements such that an angular deflection is imposed thereby;
- wherein the distance between the at least one refractive lens and the metasurface are separated by a first distance;
- and
- wherein the refractive lens and the metasurface are configured to gather light of a specified operational bandwidth across a specified field of view and shift the incoming light such that it focuses on the at least one image sensor at a zero or near-zero degree chief ray angle.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.