Extended depth of field imaging for high speed object analysis

A method for generating a stereoscopic view of an object, while there is relative motion between the object and an imaging system used to produce the stereoscopic view, wherein the stereoscopic view exhibits a first extended depth of field along a first axis and a second extended depth of field along a second axis, where the first axis and the second axis are not parallel, comprising the steps of:

• (a) using a first optical element to induce an aberration in an optical wave front of light from the object to produce a first modified light along a first collection path, such that a point spread function (PSF) of the imaging system as modified by the first optical element is substantially invariant across the first extended depth of field;
• (b) using a second optical element to induce an aberration in an optical wave front of light from the object to produce a second modified light along a second collection path, such that a PSF of the imaging system as modified by the second optical element is substantially invariant across the second extended depth of field;
• (c) focusing the first modified light to produce a first image of the object that includes light simultaneously collected from a plurality of different focal planes along the first axis, and focusing the second modified light to produce a second image of the object that includes light simultaneously collected from a plurality of different focal planes along the second axis;
• (d) detecting the first image of the object and the second image of the object to generate image data;
• (e) processing the image data to reduce artifacts introduced by deforming the optical wave front with the first and second optical elements, to produce a first corrected extended depth of field image of the object and a second corrected extended depth of field image of the object;
• and
• (f) using the first corrected extended depth of field image of the object and the second corrected extended depth of field image of the object to generate the stereoscopic view of the object.

An imaging system adapted to perform extended depth of field imaging of an object, to acquire a first extended depth of field image of the object using light moving away from the object in a first direction, and a second extended depth of field image of the object using light moving away from the object in a second direction, where the first and second directions are different, such that a three-dimensional model of the object can be generated using the first and second extended depth of field images, the system comprising:

• (a) a first optical element configured to deform an optical wave front of light moving away from the object in the first direction, and a second optical element configured to deform an optical wave front of light moving away from the object in the second direction, such that a point spread function (PSF) of the imaging system as modified by the first and second optical elements is substantially invariant across a first extended depth of field associated with light moving away from the object in the first direction and a second extended depth of field associated with light moving away from the object in the second direction;
• (b) a first collection lens disposed so that light moving away from the object in the first direction passes through the first collection lens and travels along a first collection path, and a second collection lens disposed so that light moving away from the object in the second direction passes through the second collection lens and travels along a second collection path;
• (c) a first imaging lens disposed to receive light travelling along the first collection path that has been deformed by the first optical element, thus producing a first deformed extended depth of field image;
• (d) a second imaging lens disposed to receive light travelling along the second collection path that has been deformed by the second optical element, thus producing a second deformed extended depth of field image;
• (e) a first detector disposed to receive the first deformed extended depth of field image produced by the first imaging lens, producing an output signal that is indicative of the first deformed extended depth of field image, and a second detector disposed to receive the second deformed extended depth of field image produced by the second imaging lens, producing an output signal that is indicative of the second deformed extended depth of field image;
• and
• (f) a processor configured to:
• (i) manipulate the output signal from the first detector to reduce artifacts introduced by the first optical element to deform the optical wave front of light from the object in the first collection path, to produce the first extended depth of field image of the object;
• and
• (ii) manipulate the output signal from the second detector to reduce artifacts introduced by the second optical element to deform the optical wave front of light from the object in the second collection path, to produce the second extended depth of field image of the object.

An imaging system adapted to perform extended depth of field imaging of an object in order to produce a stereoscopic image of the object, while there is relative movement between the object and the imaging system, comprising:

• (a) a first optical element configured to deform an optical wave front of light moving away from the object in a first direction, thereby producing first modified light, and a second optical element configured to deform an optical wave front of light moving away from the object in a second direction, such that a point spread function (PSF) of the imaging system as modified by each optical element is substantially invariant across a first extended depth of field associated with light moving away from the object in the first direction and a second extended depth of field associated with light moving away from the object in the second direction;
• (b) a first collection lens disposed so that light moving away from the object in the first direction passes through the first collection lens and travels along a first collection path, and a second collection lens disposed so that light moving away from the object in the second direction passes through the second collection lens and travels along a second collection path;
• (c) a first dispersing component disposed in the first collection path so as to receive the light that has passed through the first collection lens, dispersing the light into a plurality of separate light beams, each light beam being directed away from the first dispersing component in a different predetermined direction, and a second dispersing component disposed in the second collection path so as to receive the light that has passed through the second collection lens, dispersing the light into a plurality of separate light beams, each light beam being directed away from the second dispersing component in a different predetermined direction;
• (d) a first imaging lens disposed to receive the light beams from the first dispersing component, producing a plurality of images, each image corresponding to one of the light beams and being projected by the first imaging lens toward a different predetermined location, and a second imaging lens disposed to receive the light beams from the second dispersing component, producing a plurality of images, each image corresponding to one of the light beams and being projected by the second imaging lens toward a different predetermined location;
• (e) a first detector disposed to receive the plurality of images produced by the first imaging lens, producing a first output signal that is indicative of imaging light moving away from the object in the first direction at a plurality of different focal planes, and a second detector disposed to receive the plurality of images produced by the second imaging lens, producing a second output signal that is indicative of imaging light moving away from the object in the second direction at a plurality of different focal planes;
• and
• (f) a processor configured to manipulate the first output signal and the second output signal to reduce artifacts introduced by the first optical element and the second optical element configured to deform the optical wave fronts of light from the object, to produce a plurality of first corrected extended depth of field images of the object for light moving away from the object in the first direction, and a plurality of second corrected extended depth of field images of the object for light moving away from the object in the second direction, and to use the plurality of first corrected extended depth of field images and the plurality of second corrected extended depth of field images to produce the stereoscopic image of the object.