US 8,830,377 B2Granted

Monocentric lens-based multi-scale optical systems and methods of use

AssigneeDuke University

InventorsDaniel Marks, David Jones Brady

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Abstract

A monocentric lens-based multi-scale imaging system is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention comprise a monocentric lens as an objective lens that collects light from a scene. Monocentric lenses in accordance with the present invention include a spherical central lens element and a plurality of lens shell sections that collectively reduce at least one of spherical and chromatic aberration from the magnitude introduced by the spherical lens element itself. A plurality of secondary lenses image the scene through the objective lens and further reduce the magnitude of aberrations introduced by the objective lens. A plurality of sensor arrays converts optical sub-images of the scene into a plurality of digital images, which can then be used to form a composite image of the scene.

Claims35

Dependent claims

An optical system for providing an image of a scene, the optical system comprising:

(1) a first lens that is operative for imaging the scene at an image field, the first lens comprising;
(a) a first lens element that is a sphere having a center at a first position, the first lens element comprising;
(i) a first hemisphere having a first surface whose center of curvature is located at the first position;
and
(ii) a second hemisphere having a second surface whose center of curvature is located at the first position;
wherein the first lens element imparts a first aberration with a first magnitude on light that transits the first lens element;
(b) an entry lens shell having a uniform thickness and a center of curvature at the first position;
and
(c) an exit lens shell having a uniform thickness and a center of curvature at the first position, wherein the exit lens shell comprises a first shell layer and a second shell layer, and wherein each of the first shell layer and the second shell layer has uniform thickness, and further wherein the first shell layer and second shell layer are separated by an air gap;
wherein the first lens element interposes the entry lens shell and exit lens shell, and wherein the first lens element, the entry lens shell, and the exit lens shell collectively impart the first aberration with a second magnitude on light that propagates through the first lens, and wherein the second magnitude is less than the first magnitude;
and
(2) a plurality of cameras, each camera comprising a second lens and a sensor array, the second lens being operative for relaying a portion of the image field onto the sensor array, and the second lens and sensor array collectively defining a unique optical axis for their respective camera.

9 more elements

An optical system for providing an image of a scene, the optical system comprising:

(1) a first lens that is monocentric about a first position, the first lens being operative for forming an intermediate image of the scene at an image field, and the first lens comprising;
(a) an entry lens shell;
(b) an exit lens shell;
and
(c) a first lens element that interposes the entry lens shell and the exit lens shell, the first lens element comprising;
(i) a first hemisphere having a first surface whose center of curvature is located at the first position;
and
(ii) a second hemisphere having a second surface whose center of curvature is located at the first position;
wherein the first lens element, the entry lens shell, and the exit lens shell are collectively apochromatic;
wherein the first lens comprises an entry surface and a plurality of internal surfaces comprising the first surface and second surface;
wherein the first lens is dimensioned and arranged such that light that transits the first lens is subject to (1) a first aberration that is introduced by the entry surface and (2) a second aberration that is collectively introduced by the plurality of internal surfaces;
and
wherein the first aberration and the second aberration are the same aberration and of opposite sign;
and
(2) a plurality of second lenses, each being operative for relaying a portion of the image field to form an optical sub-image at a different one of a plurality of focal regions, wherein each of the plurality of second lenses has a unique optical axis, and wherein each of the plurality of second lenses is operative for reducing the magnitude of the first aberration.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/095,407Filed 27 Apr 2011 · continuation in part
Priority: 4 Jan 2010
Published: US 2011/0211106 A11 Sep 2011
Granted: 9 Sep 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

H04N 5/265
Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the…: mixing
G02B 3/00
Simple or compound lenses
G02B 13/006
Employing a special optical element: at least one element being a compound optical element, e.g. cemented elements
G02B 13/0095
Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below: relay lenses or rod lenses

Family

Application12/651,894Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 Jan 2010
Application61/328,213Us provisional application · filed 27 Apr 2010
US 2011/0211106 A1Pre-grant publication · published 1 Sep 2011
US 8,259,212 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2010/0171866 A1Published application
US 8,830,377 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.