Compact wide field-of-view optical imaging method capable of electrically switching to a narrow field of view

A compact wide field-of-view optical imaging method capable of electrically switching to a narrow field of view, comprising:

• imaging a distant object through a wide field-of-view aperture stop;
• first refracting said image through a meniscus lens;
• refracting said image from said meniscus lens through a doublet lens element;
• refracting said image from said doublet lens element through the aperture of a lens having an aspheric departure on its back surface;
• refracting said image from said lens having an aspheric departure on its back surface through the aperture of a lens having a flat front surface and a curved back surface, wherein a switchable reflective surface is disposed onto the back surface of said lens having a flat front surface and a curved back surface;
• and
• focusing said image from said aperture of a lens through said switchable reflective surface towards an image plane of a sensor array when said switchable reflective surface is switched to a clear state.