Lenslet array systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A stacked array magnifier for forming a magnified image of an object, comprising:
- one or more non-refractive lenslet arrays and one or more refractive lenslet arrays to form a plurality of lenslet channels, each lenslet channel having at least one refractive lenslet and at least one non-refractive lenslet, the lenslet channels between at least two adjacent arrays being sloped relative to an optical axis between the object and the image, the sloped lenslet channels further from the optical axis having larger slopes than the sloped lenslet channels closer to the optical axis, the slopes providing selective magnification between the object and the image, wherein the lenslet arrays form a stack between a first surface facing the object and a second surface facing the image, the lenslet channels being constructed and arranged to form an intermediate image at a intermediate image plane between the first and second surfaces, and further comprising a stop for one or more of (a) reducing stray light, (b) reducing crosstalk, (c) improving modulation transfer function efficiency, and (d) improving contrast transfer function efficiency of the image, the baffling being located at about the intermediate image plane.
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Abstract
A stacked array magnifier (SAM) forms a magnified, demagnified or unit image of an object. The SAM includes one or more non-refractive lenslet arrays and one or more refractive lenslet arrays to form a plurality of lenslet channels. Each lenslet channel has at least one refractive lenslet and at least one non-refractive lenslet. SAMs are combined and tiled to form a scaleable display of flat panel displays. Multiple SAMs are used to increase magnification selectively. Hybrid lenslet arrays of the invention are also useable for optical processing and non-imaging applications.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A stacked array magnifier for forming a magnified image of an object, comprising:
- one or more non-refractive lenslet arrays and one or more refractive lenslet arrays to form a plurality of lenslet channels, each lenslet channel having at least one refractive lenslet and at least one non-refractive lenslet, the lenslet channels between at least two adjacent arrays being sloped relative to an optical axis between the object and the image, the sloped lenslet channels further from the optical axis having larger slopes than the sloped lenslet channels closer to the optical axis, the slopes providing selective magnification between the object and the image, wherein the lenslet arrays form a stack between a first surface facing the object and a second surface facing the image, the lenslet channels being constructed and arranged to form an intermediate image at a intermediate image plane between the first and second surfaces, and further comprising a stop for one or more of (a) reducing stray light, (b) reducing crosstalk, (c) improving modulation transfer function efficiency, and (d) improving contrast transfer function efficiency of the image, the baffling being located at about the intermediate image plane.
- View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A stacked array magnifier for forming a magnified image of an object, comprising:
- one or more non-refractive lenslet arrays and one or more refractive lenslet arrays to form a plurality of lenslet channels, each lenslet channel having at least one refractive lenslet and at least one non-refractive lenslet, the lenslet channels between at least two adjacent arrays being sloped relative to an optical axis between the object and the image, the sloped lenslet channels further from the optical axis having larger slopes than the sloped lenslet channels closer to the optical axis, the slopes providing selective magnification between the object and the image, wherein each of the lenslet channels has an active, electronically addressable, adjustable f-stop, the f-stop comprising one of an actuator assembly, a tunable iris, and a shutter mechanism.
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4. A stacked array magnifier for forming a magnified image of an object, comprising:
- one or more non-refractive lenslet arrays and one or more refractive lenslet arrays to form a plurality of lenslet channels, each lenslet channel having at least one refractive lenslet and at least one non-refractive lenslet, the lens channels between at least two adjacent arrays being sloped relative to an optical axis between the object and the image, the sloped lenslet channels further from the optical axis having larger slopes than the sloped lenslet channels closer to the optical axis, the slopes providing selective magnification between the object and the image, comprising one or more active, electronically addressable, adjustable MEMS devices for changing the spacing between lenslets in order to change focal properties and magnification.
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5. A stacked array magnifier for forming a magnified image of an object, comprising:
- one or more non-refractive lenslet arrays and one or more refractive lenslet arrays to form a plurality of lenslet channels, each lenslet channel having at least one refractive lenslet and at least one non-refractive lenslet, the lenslet channels between at least two adjacent arrays being sloped relative to an optical axis between the object and the image, the sloped lenslet channels further from the optical axis having larger slopes than the sloped lenslet channels closer to the optical axis, the slopes providing selective magnification between the object and the image, comprising one or more active, electronically addressable micromechanical iris/shutter for one of changing the f-stop of lenslets and of activating/deactivating select lenslet channels.
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6. A method of manufacturing a microlens stack having an optical magnification for producing an image of an object along an optical axis, comprising the steps of:
- combining at least two refractive lenslet arrays with at least one diffractive lenslet array to form a lenslet array stack with a plurality of lenslet channels, each of the channels having a sloped axis between at least two of the arrays, and arranging the channels such that the cross product between the sloped axis and the optical axis is greater for lenslet channels further from the optical axis as compared to lenslet channels closer to the optical axis, thereby achieving the magnification selectively; and
arranging, between the arrays, one or more active, electronically addressable, actuator mechanisms fabricated into a substrate by microlithographic techniques for one of (a) changing channel f-stops, (b) shuttering lenslet channels, or (c) modulating spacing between arrays.
- combining at least two refractive lenslet arrays with at least one diffractive lenslet array to form a lenslet array stack with a plurality of lenslet channels, each of the channels having a sloped axis between at least two of the arrays, and arranging the channels such that the cross product between the sloped axis and the optical axis is greater for lenslet channels further from the optical axis as compared to lenslet channels closer to the optical axis, thereby achieving the magnification selectively; and
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7. A tiled array image for generating an image of an object along an optical axis between the object and the image:
- at least two tiled arrays forming a lenslet array stack arranged substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, each of the tiled arrays formed of a plurality of lenslet arrays including one or more non-refractive lenslet arrays and one or more refractive lenslet arrays, each lenslet array within a tiled array acting substantially in concert as a single lenslet array, the tiled arrays forming a plurality of lenslet channels, each lenslet channel between at least two arrays having a channel axis with a predefined slope relative to the optical axis, the lenslet channels further from the optical axis having larger slopes than lenslet channels closer to the optical axis, the slopes providing demagnification between the object and the image.
- View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. Scene generating apparatus, comprising:
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a computer for generating signals representative of an selected pattern;
flat panel display means responsive to the signals to display the pattern, the display means having a display center and a normal vector perpendicular to a face of the display means;
a plurality of lenslet arrays formed into a stack having a plurality of lenslet channels, the channels between at least two arrays having a sloped channel axis relative to the surface normal vector, the lenslet arrays being constructed and arranged to generate an image of the pattern on the display means, the cross product of the sloped channel axis and the surface normal vector being larger for channels further from the center as compared to channels closer to the center wherein selective magnification of the image is achieved. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A digital camera, comprising:
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a film-formatted camera body and camera lens which generate an image of a scene at an image plane within the camera body and in a format corresponding to 35 mm film;
one or more non-refractive lenslet arrays and one or more refractive lenslet arrays formed into a stack with a first outer surface and a second outer surface, the stack being constructed and arranged to fit within the camera body such that the first surface is at the image plane, the lenslet arrays forming a plurality of lenslet channels which act in concert to form a secondary image that is sized to a solid state focal plane array; and
a solid state focal plane array arranged at the secondary image.
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15. A digital camera, comprising:
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a solid state imaging device of the type that includes an array of detector pixels responsive to electromagnetic radiation within a range of wavelengths;
a window for protecting the device and for imaging the radiation onto the device, the window having one or more non-refractive lenslet arrays and one or more refractive lenslet arrays formed into a stack, the stack being constructed and arranged over the device and forming a plurality of lenslet channels which act in concert to form an image that is sized to the device. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A four-array reimaging system for generating an image of an object along an optical axis, comprising:
- a pair of refractive lenslet arrays sandwiched between a pair of diffractive lenslet arrays, the arrays being substantially perpendicular to the optical axis and forming an array of co-registered lenslet channels, each of the lenslet channels having a plurality of refractive lenslets and a plurality of diffractive lenslets.
- View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- 26. Hybrid lenslet imaging apparatus, comprising an array of lenslet channels, each channel having at least one refractive optical element and at least one non-refractive optical element, the array forming an image of an object plane wherein a plurality of lenslet channels contribute to each point in the object plane.
- 28. Discrete pixel array image relay apparatus, comprising at least one refractive lenslet array and one non-refractive lenslet array, the arrays being constructed and arranged between first and second surfaces to form a plurality of lenslet channels which, in combination, generate an image of a discrete pixel array.
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31. A compact optical correlator for imaging an object to a solid state detector, comprising:
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a first stack and a second stack arranged substantially perpendicular to an axis formed between the object and the detector, each stack having one or more non-refractive lenslet arrays and one or more refractive lenslet arrays, the lenslet arrays forming a plurality of lenslet channels wherein each channel includes one lenslet from each of the other arrays, the first stack generating a Fourier image between the first and second stacks at a filtering plane, the second stack generating an image of the Fourier image such that the object is reimaged onto the detector; and
an optical filter arranged at the filtering plane for selectively filtering electromagnetic energy so as to achieve selected optical processing.
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Specification