Diffusing imager and associated methods
AssigneeDigital Optics Corporation
InventorsMichael R. Feldman, W. Hudson Welch, Robert Hutchins
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Abstract
A diffusing function and a lens function are provided on a single surface. Such a structure may be formed from a computer generated hologram including free form regions having a phase shift associated therewith, i.e., the computer generated hologram being shifted within the free form regions by the phase shift relative to the computer generated hologram outside the free form regions. When the computer generated hologram includes zero and .pi. regions, the zero and .pi. regions may be transposed within the free form regions.
Claims18
An optical element comprising a computer generated hologram for performing at least one lens function and at least one diffusing function, said computer generated hologram including free form regions, each free form region having a plurality of phase regions, the computer generated hologram being shifted within said free form regions by a phase shift relative to the computer generated hologram outside said free form regions, said computer generated hologram being on a first surface of the optical element.
A method of making a diffractive diffusing lens, comprising:
- generating a computer generated hologram pattern in accordance with a desired lens function and a diffusing function, the computer generated hologram pattern including a plurality of free form regions, each free form region having a plurality of phase regions and being shifted by a phase shift relative to the computer generated hologram pattern outside said free form regions, the computer generated hologram pattern outside said free form regions having phase structure;
- and
- manufacturing the diffractive diffusing lens in accordance with said computer generated hologram pattern.
An optical system comprising:
- a light source;
- transmit optics for delivering light from the light source to a target;
- and
- return optics for receiving light from the target, wherein at least one of the transmit optics and the return optics includes a diffractive diffusing lens providing at least one lens function and at least one diffusing function, said computer generated hologram including free form regions, each free form region having a plurality of phase regions, the computer generated hologram being shifted within said free form regions by a phase shift relative to the computer generated hologram outside said free form regions, said computer generated hologram being on a single surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.