Optical random access memory having diffractive simplex imaging lens

An optical data system including:

• an optical data means for storing data as light altering characteristics and beings organized into a plurality of juxtaposed data regions each having capacity to store bits of data;
• controllable solid state light generator means for selectively illuminating at least one of said juxtaposed data regions of said optical data means;
• and data imaging lens means having a plurality of juxtaposed lenslets characterized in that each has one functionally aspherical diffractive element and is shaped and arranged in such proximity to and in optical registration with a separate one of said juxtaposed data regions so that the image resolving power thereof is substantially uniform over the field of view of that data region to form an image thereof on a common image surface spaced from said data means and lens means;
• and the system further including sensor means having a plurality of juxtaposed solid state light sensors arranged at said common image surface for sensing-data as a light image corresponding to an illuminated data region;
• and data signal output means coupled to said sensor means for outputting data signals representing said stored bits of data of an illuminated and imaged data region.