Situational awareness requires systems with a wide field of view and a high angular resolution. Tackling both requirements is easier using freeform optics and a curved sensor and allows for compact systems. In this paper, we present an imaging system that fulfills these requirements in the visible spectrum, and the steps in the optimization process that lead to a viable system in terms of stray light.
We designed a very fast f/0.75 lens using a surrogate image quality criterion adapted to commercial optical design software. We compared its weight and imaging performance with that of a conventionally designed f/0.75 lens.
In this paper, we compare the performance of three-mirror αZ imaging systems following three different optimization methodologies. Our system is based on freeform surfaces and a curved sensor.
Confocal fluorescence microscopy is a privileged tool for life imaging, but can generate phototoxicity due to the prolonged sample illumination. When cells are organized along sheets lying on 2D surfaces curved in a 3D volume (e.g. epithelial cells), we propose a new approach allowing to automatically estimate the surface on which these cells are distributed from a small number of acquisitions (typically 0.1% of the voxels). This allows to concentrate thereafter the illumination around the surface of interest and thus to scan only a small portion (typically between 1% and 5%) of the volume containing the sample.
Increasing the capture volume of visible cameras while maintaining high image resolutions, low power consumption and
standard video-frame rate operation is of utmost importance for hand-free night vision goggles or embedded surveillance
systems. Since such imaging systems require to operate at high aperture, their optical design has become more complex
and critical. Therefore new design alternatives have to be considered. Among them, wavefront coding changes and
desensitizes the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the lens by inserting a phase mask in the vicinity of the aperture
stop. This smart filter is combined with an efficient image processing that ensures optimal image quality over a larger
depth of field. In this paper recent advances are discussed concerning design and integration of a compact imaging system
based on wavefront coding. We address the design, the integration and the characterization of a High Definition (HD)
camera of large aperture (F/1.2) operating in the visible and near infrared spectral ranges, endowed with wavefront coding.
Two types of phase masks (pyramidal and polynomial) have been jointly optimized with their deconvolution algorithm in
order to meet the best performance along an increased range of focus distances and manufactured. Real time deconvolution
processing is implemented on a Field Programmable Gate Array. It is shown that despite the high data throughput of an
HD imaging chain, the level of power consumption is far below the initial specifications. We have characterized the
performances with and without wavefront coding through MTF measurements and image quality assessments. A depth-of-
field increase up to x2.5 has been demonstrated in accordance with the theoretical predictions.
Conference Committee Involvement (2)
Current Developments in Lens Design and Optical Engineering XXVI
3 August 2025 | San Diego, California, United States
Current Developments in Lens Design and Optical Engineering XXV
20 August 2024 | San Diego, California, United States
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