Plastic lens system for vehicle imaging system

An optical system for use with an imaging system of a vehicle, said optical system comprising:

• a plurality of optical elements, said plurality of optical elements comprising less than five optical elements, each of said plurality of optical elements comprising a plastic material, at least two of said plurality of optical elements comprising a diffractive element, said optical system providing a field of view of at least approximately 100 degrees to an imaging plane, said plurality of optical elements comprising an outer optical element, an inner optical element and first and second intermediate optical elements positioned between said outer and inner optical elements, said inner optical element being at an end of said optical system toward said imaging plane, said outer optical element comprising a clear aperture diameter of less than approximately 15 mm, said outer optical element comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer and inner surfaces being positively curved, said first intermediate optical element being positioned adjacent to said outer optical element and said second intermediate optical element being positioned between said first intermediate optical element and said inner optical element, said first intermediate optical element having an outer negatively curved surface and an inner positively curved surface, said outer negatively curved surface facing said inner surface of said outer optical element, wherein said outer negatively curved surface has a radius of curvature of approximately −23 mm and said inner positively curved surface of said first intermediate optical element has a radius of curvature of approximately 3.5 to 4.1 mm.

An optical system for use with an imaging system of a vehicle, said optical system comprising:

• a plurality of optical elements, said plurality of optical elements comprising less than five optical elements, each of said plurality of optical elements comprising a plastic material, at least two of said plurality of optical elements comprising a diffractive element, said optical system providing a field of view of at least approximately 100 degrees to an imaging plane, said plurality of optical elements comprising an outer optical element, an inner optical element and first and second intermediate optical elements positioned between said outer and inner optical elements, said inner optical element being at an end of said optical system toward said imaging plane, said outer optical element comprising a clear aperture diameter of less than approximately 15 mm, said outer optical element comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer and inner surfaces being positively curved, said first intermediate optical element being positioned adjacent to said outer optical element and said second intermediate optical element being positioned between said first intermediate optical element and said inner optical element, said first intermediate optical element having an outer negatively curved surface and an inner positively curved surface, said outer negatively curved surface facing said inner surface of said outer optical element, said second intermediate optical element having an outer positively curved surface and an inner negatively curved surface, said outer positively curved surface of said second intermediate optical element facing said inner positively curved surface of said first intermediate optical element, wherein said outer positively curved surface of said second intermediate optical element has a radius of curvature in the range of approximately 7 to 8 mm and said inner negatively curved surface has a radius of curvature of approximately −4.4 to −5.4 mm.

An optical system for use with an imaging system of a vehicle, said optical system comprising:

• a plurality of optical elements, said plurality of optical elements comprising less than five optical elements, each of said plurality of optical elements comprising a plastic material, at least two of said plurality of optical elements comprising a diffractive element, said optical system providing a field of view of at least approximately 100 degrees to an imaging plane, said plurality of optical elements comprising an outer optical element, an inner optical element and first and second intermediate optical elements positioned between said outer and inner optical elements, said inner optical element being at an end of said optical system toward said imaging plane, said outer optical element comprising a clear aperture diameter of less than approximately 15 mm, said outer optical element comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer and inner surfaces being positively curved, said first intermediate optical element being positioned adjacent to said outer optical element and said second intermediate optical element being positioned between said first intermediate optical element and said inner optical element, said first intermediate optical element having an outer negatively curved surface and an inner positively curved surface, said outer negatively curved surface facing said inner surface of said outer optical element, said second intermediate optical element having an outer positively curved surface and an inner negatively curved surface, said outer positively curved surface of said second intermediate optical element facing said inner positively curved surface of said first intermediate optical element, wherein said inner optical element comprises an outer positively curved surface and an inner negatively curved surface.

An optical system for use with an imaging system of a vehicle, said optical system comprising:

• a plurality of optical elements comprising an outer optical element, an inner optical element and first and second intermediate optical elements positioned between said outer and inner optical elements, said outer optical element being positioned at an end of said optical system toward a targeted scene, said first intermediate optical element being positioned between said outer optical element and said second intermediate optical element, said second intermediate optical element being positioned between said first intermediate optical element and said inner optical element, said plurality of optical elements comprising less than five optical elements, each of said plurality of optical elements comprising a plastic material, at least two of said plurality of optical elements having a diffractive element formed at a surface thereof, said outer optical element having an outer surface positioned toward an exterior of the vehicle and exposed outside of the vehicle, said outer surface having at least one of (a) a protective coating to protect said outer surface from deterioration or damage due to exposure outside of the vehicle, (b) a conductive coating adapted for heating to defog or defrost said outer surface, (c) a wire mesh coating adapted for heating to defog or defrost said outer surface, and (d) an anti-wetting coating to provide at least one of a hydrophobic property and a hydrophilic property to said outer surface, said optical system providing a field of view of the targeted scene of at least approximately 100 degrees to an image plane at said inner optical element;
• and
• a sensor positioned at said imaging plane, said plurality of optical elements providing a field of view to said sensor, said sensor being operable to generate an output indicative of an image of the field of view, said sensor comprising a component of a vehicular vision system for providing scenic information of an area exteriorly of a vehicle to at least one of an occupant of the vehicle, a backup camera and a stereo imaging system.