Imaging using a multifocal aspheric lens to obtain extended depth of field

A system for imaging one or more objects comprising:

• means for capturing an image of at least one object through a circularly symmetric, multifocal aspheric lens to provide a blurred image;
• and
• means for processing the captured blurred image to provide a recovered image of the object having an extended depth of field, wherein said object represents a three-dimensional object which extends over a range of distance, and said extended depth of field is characterized by at least a substantial portion of the object being in focus in said recovered image over said range of distance, and said lens has a radius and annular portions of continuously varying focal length in accordance with said radius of the lens, in which said object at each distance in said range is in focus by at least one of said annular portions of said lens, and said object is blurred by other of said annular portions of said lens.

A system for imaging one or more objects comprising:

• means for capturing an image of at least one object through a circularly symmetric, multifocal aspheric lens to provide a blurred image;
• and
• means for processing the captured blurred image to provide a recovered image of the object having an extended depth of field, wherein said lens has a radius and said lens is multifocal by having a focal length which continuously varies with the radius of said lens.

A system for imaging one or more objects comprising:

• means for capturing an image of at least one object through a circularly symmetric, multifocal aspheric lens to provide a blurred image;
• and
• means for processing the captured blurred image to provide a recovered image of the object having an extended depth of field, wherein said lens is provided by an optical system having multiple optical elements, and said multiple optical elements represent a multi-focal phase plate and an objective lens.

A method for imaging one or more three-dimensional objects comprising the steps of:

• imaging at least one object through a circularly symmetric aspheric lens to provide a blurred image purposefully blurred by said lens;
• and
• processing said blurred image in accordance with the blurring caused by said lens to provide a recovered image of the object having an extended depth of field.

A method for imaging one or more three-dimensional objects comprising the steps of:

• imaging at least one object through a circularly symmetric aspheric lens to provide a blurred image;
• and
• processing said blurred image to provide a recovered image of the object having an extended depth of field, wherein said object represents a three-dimensional object which extends over a range of distances, and said extended depth of field is characterized by at least a substantial portion of the object being in focus in said recovered image over said range of distances, and said lens has a radius and annular portions of continuously varying focal length in accordance with said radius of the lens, in which said object at each distance in said range is in focus by at least one of said annular portions of said lens, and said object is blurred by other of said annular portions of said lens.

A method for imaging one or more three-dimensional objects comprising the steps of:

• imaging at least one object through a circularly symmetric aspheric lens to provide a blurred image;
• and
• processing said blurred image to provide a recovered image of the object having an extended depth of field, wherein said lens has a radius and said lens is multifocal by having a focal length which continuously varies with the radius of said lens.

A method for imaging one or more three-dimensional objects comprising the steps of:

• imaging at least one object through a circularly symmetric aspheric lens to provide a blurred image;
• and
• processing said blurred image to provide a recovered image of the object having an extended depth of field, wherein said lens represents an optical system having a multi-focal phase plate and an objective lens.

An imaging system comprising:

• means for capturing an image through a circularly symmetric, multifocal lens which purposefully blurs the image;
• and
• means for processing the captured blurred image in accordance with the blurring caused by said lens to provide a recovered image having an extended depth of field.

An imaging system comprising:

• a circularly symmetric multifocal aspheric lens;
• and
• means for capturing an image through said multifocal aspheric lens, wherein said lens has a radius and annular portions of continuously varying focal length in accordance with said radius of the lens.

An imaging system comprising:

• a circularly symmetric multifocal aspheric lens;
• and
• means for capturing an image through said multifocal aspheric lens, wherein said lens has a radius and said lens is multifocal by having a focal length which continuously varies with the radius of said lens.

An imaging system comprising:

• a circularly symmetric multifocal aspheric lens;
• and
• means for capturing an image through said multifocal aspheric lens, wherein said lens is provided by an optical system having multiple optical elements, and said multiple optical elements represent a multi-focal phase plate and an objective lens.

A method for imaging comprising the step of:

• imaging through a circularly symmetric aspheric lens to provide an image having an extended depth of field, wherein said lens has a radius and annular portions of continuously varying focal length in accordance with said radius of the lens.

A method for imaging comprising the step of:

• imaging through a circularly symmetric aspheric lens to provide an image having an extended depth of field, wherein said lens has a radius and said lens is multifocal by having a focal length which continuously varies with the radius of said lens.