High tolerance to spherical aberrations and defects of focus with a birefringent lens

We report a systematic investigation of the imaging behavior of an optical system consisting of a lens from a uniaxial birefringent crystal sandwiched between two linear polarizers into which primary spherical aberration has been introduced. The proposed system has higher tolerance to primary spherical aberration and has a larger depth of focus than an imaging system found with an isotropic lens. Some specific cases are computed and illustrated graphically.     

声子晶体平板组合成像特性分析

用多重散射方法分析了声子晶体单平板和多平板的成像特性。发现：在特定频率范围内,引入等效负折射率后,单板负折射成像可用反Snell定律描述;多层声子晶体平板成像服从依次成像规律,可类比传统几何光学中共轴球面系统的成像,引入实物实像、虚物虚像等概念;平板透镜不改变出射波的出射方向,仅使出射位置产生平移;多平板透镜的累加成像与等厚度的单一平板透镜成像具有相同的效果。平板透镜的这些成像特点,使其在成像质量、加工方法、系统组合等方面比球面透镜更具优势。     

基于成像式照度测量的菲涅尔光学助降系统设计

为了解决菲涅尔光学助降系统的检测问题,提出了一种基于成像式照度探测法的菲涅尔灯发光强度测量方案,并研制了成像式照度探测装置。试验结果表明该装置可远距离对大口径、大发光角度的菲涅尔灯进行发光强度的探测,满足菲涅尔光学助降系统检测装置测量的要求。     

Reconfigurable lens with an electro-optical learning system

An electro-optical system is proposed to control a reconfigurable lens that is a combination of a physical lens and a two-dimensional liquid-crystal phase modulator. The functions of an imaging system employing the reconfigurable lens can be controlled by a change in the phase distribution of the modulator. A computer changes the phase distribution and evaluates the image of an optical system. This process is iteratively performed on the basis of the simulated-annealing algorithm to optimize the phase distribution. We demonstrate control of a point-spread function and the correction of imaging properties degraded by defocusing or phase objects. The corrected imaging properties are even better than the original ones.     

Analytical and Numerical Examination of the Quantitative Imaging Properties of Optical Diffraction Tomography

Abstract

The imaging properties of two-dimensional optical diffraction tomography are examined analytically and numerically. Taking into account lens aberrations in the optical system used to image the scattered light, we first derive an expression for the overall coherent transfer function. Then we use computer simulations to examine the influence of lens aberrations by comparing images obtained by a system with lens aberrations with images obtained by an aberration-free system. We also discuss the significance of systematic positioning errors in the set-up.     

Quantitative phase retrieval of complex-valued specimens based on noninterferometric imaging

In recent years, the interferometric imaging method has been applied to analyze the structure of various specimens, such as crystals and biological tissues. However, the interferometric imaging method may require a relatively complex optical recording system, such as a reference wave and temporal coherence. In this paper, we propose a method based on noninterferometric imaging for quantitative phase retrieval of complex-valued specimens. A strategy using different focal lengths in the lens function is developed, and a series of diffraction intensity maps is recorded. Numerical simulation results are presented to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

光电窥膛光学系统参数优化选择

通过分析炮管内膛影响CCD成像质量的光强，光的均匀性，视场大小和空间分辨力等因素，提出了增大CCD成像镜头的景深对光电窥膛光学系统的光路结构及其参数优化设计的方法，并建立数学模型，提高了CCD摄像机在炮管内膛的成像质量，使图像在亮度，均匀性，色彩和清晰度方面达到很好效果。     

Optical transfer function shaping and depth of focus by using a phase only filter

The design of a desired optical transfer function (OTF) is a common problem that has many possible applications. A well-known application for OTF design is beam shaping for incoherent illumination. However, other applications such as optical signal processing can also be addressed with this system. We design and realize an optimal phase only filter that, when attached to the imaging lens, enables an optimization (based on the minimal mean square error criterion) to a desired OTF. By combining several OTF design goal requirements, each represents a different plane along the beam propagation direction, an imaging system with an increased depth of focus is obtained. Because a phase only filter is used, high energetic efficiency is achieved.     

线聚焦光学相干层析术的研究

提出了一种高速光学相干层析(OCT)成像技术方案。利用柱面镜的成像特性将传统OCT的点聚焦成像模式改变为线聚焦成像模式,从而降低二维OCT图像的扫描维数,达到提高成像速度的目的。利用ZEMAX光学软件对系统进行光线追迹获得光束经过柱面镜后的聚焦情况。随后采用635nm的激光光源和柱面镜构建了实验系统,实验结果很好地验证了光线追迹仿真结果。     

Multidirectional curved integral imaging with large depth by additional use of a large-aperture lens

We propose a curved integral imaging system with large depth achieved by the additional use of a large-aperture lens in a conventional large-depth integral imaging system. The additional large-aperture lens provides a multidirectional curvature effect and improves the viewing angle. The proposed system has a simple structure due to the use of well-fabricated, unmodified flat devices. To calculate the proper elemental images for the proposed system, we explain a modified computer-generated pickup technique based on an ABCD matrix and analyze an effective viewing zone in the proposed system. From experiments, we show that the proposed system has an improved viewing angle of more than 7 degrees compared with conventional integral imaging.     

Design, assembly, and optical bench testing of a high-numerical-aperture miniature injection-molded objective for fiber-optic confocal reflectance microscopy

The design, analysis, assembly methods, and optical-bench test results for a miniature injection-molded plastic objective lens used in a fiber-optic confocal reflectance microscope are presented. The five-lens plastic objective was tested as a stand-alone optical system before its integration into a confocal microscope for in vivo imaging of cells and tissue. Changing the spacing and rotation of the individual optical elements can compensate for fabrication inaccuracies and improve performance. The system performance of the miniature objective lens is measured by use of an industry-accepted slanted-edge modulation transfer function (MTF) metric. An estimated Strehl ratio of 0.61 and a MTF value of 0.66 at the fiber-optic bundle Nyquist frequency have been obtained. The optical bench testing system is configured to permit interactive optical alignment during testing to optimize performance. These results are part of an effort to demonstrate the manufacturability of low-cost, high-performance biomedical optics for high-resolution in vivo imaging. Disposable endoscopic microscope objectives could help in vivo confocal microscopy technology mature to permit wide-scale clinical screening and detection of early cancers and precancerous lesions.     

Optical synthetic aperture radar

A method is proposed for increasing the resolution of an object and overcoming the diffraction limit of an optical system installed on top of a moving imaging system, such as an airborne platform or satellite. The resolution improvement is obtained via a two-step process. First, three low resolution differently defocused images are captured and the optical phase is retrieved using an improved iterative Gershberg–Saxton based algorithm. The phase retrieval allows numerical back propagation of the field to the aperture plane. Second, the imaging system is shifted and the first step is repeated. The obtained optical fields at the aperture plane are combined and a synthetically increased lens aperture is generated along the direction of movement, yielding higher imaging resolution. The method resembles a well-known approach from the microwave regime called the synthetic aperture radar in which the antenna size is synthetically increased along the platform propagation direction. The proposed method is demonstrated via Matlab simulation as well as through laboratory experiment.     

Optical screen for direct projection of integral imaging

We describe a way to display three-dimensional images by integral imaging using an ordinary projector. We first explain a method that uses a large-aperture converging lens, then we explain the proposed method that uses two sets of lens array. Based on the principle of this new approach, front projection as well as rear projection is possible. Only a proper viewing area can be formed on the optical screen by this method, which improves the brightness of images on the screen. The projector itself does not need an additional optical system. We report on the results of an experiment carried out to confirm the validity of the proposed method.     

Finite conjugate embedded relay lens hyperspectral imaging system (ERL-HIS)

We present a novel embedded relay lens hyperspectral imaging system (ERL-HIS) with high spectral resolution (nominal spectral resolution of 2.8 nm) and spatial resolution (30 μm×8 μm) that transfers the scanning plane to an additional imaging plane through the internal relay lens so as to alleviate all outside moving parts for the scanning mechanism used in the traditional HIS, where image scanning is achieved by the relative movement between the object and hyperspectrometer. The ERL-HIS also enables high-speed scanning and can attach to a variety of optical modules for versatile applications. Here, we also demonstrate an application of the proposed ERL-HIS attached to a microscopic system for observing autofluorescent images of sliced cancer tissue samples.     

Reconfigurable imaging systems using elliptical nanowires

Materials that have subwavelength structure can add degrees of freedom to optical system design that are not possible with bulk materials. We demonstrate two lenses that are composed out of lithographically patterned arrays of elliptical cross-section silicon nanowires, which can dynamically reconfigure their imaging properties in response to the polarization of the illumination. In each element, two different focusing functions are polarization encoded into a single lens. The first nanowire lens has a different focal length for each linear polarization state, thereby realizing the front end of a nonmechanical zoom imaging system. The second nanowire lens has a different optical axis for each linear polarization state, demonstrating stereoscopic image capture from a single physical aperture.     

Step-zoom dual-field-of-view infrared telescope

The design of a dual-field-of-view telescope for an 8-12-microm imaging waveband is described. Preliminary calculations are made to determine the first-order parameters of the narrow- and the wide-field modes. To achieve a switchable dual-field-of-view system, one use an optical configuration based on the axial motion of a single lens group along the optical axis. The same lens is also used for focusing at near objects and for athermalization by small axial movement. A total of six lenses with one conic surface are used in the design, making the telescope cost effective and lightweight. The final optical design is presented, along with the aberrations curves and modulation transfer function plots, showing excellent performance in both fields of view.     

Generalized free-space diffuse photon transport model based on the influence analysis of a camera lens diaphragm

The camera lens diaphragm is an important component in a noncontact optical imaging system and has a crucial influence on the images registered on the CCD camera. However, this influence has not been taken into account in the existing free-space photon transport models. To model the photon transport process more accurately, a generalized free-space photon transport model is proposed. It combines Lambertian source theory with analysis of the influence of the camera lens diaphragm to simulate photon transport process in free space. In addition, the radiance theorem is also adopted to establish the energy relationship between the virtual detector and the CCD camera. The accuracy and feasibility of the proposed model is validated with a Monte-Carlo-based free-space photon transport model and physical phantom experiment. A comparison study with our previous hybrid radiosity-radiance theorem based model demonstrates the improvement performance and potential of the proposed model for simulating photon transport process in free space.     

用于毫米波焦面阵成像系统的扩展半球介质透镜

毫米波成像是近年来毫米波领域的一个研究热点,而焦面阵成像因其具有实时成像的优点更加受到重视。中分析可用为面阵成像的扩展半球介质透镜。这种焦面阵成像结构将集成天线阵贴附在透镜背面接收透镜聚焦的功率,消除了集成天线工作在毫米波频段时存在的表面波对天线性的影响,具有尺寸紧凑、损耗小的特点。采用Stratton-Chu公式和射线追迹分析了电磁波入射到扩展半球透镜上时在其背面的场分布,即透镜的焦区场分布,以获得透镜用于焦面阵成像时的性能。为验证分析方法的正确性,对平面波垂直入射和会聚高斯束入射两种情形进行了实验验证,实验结果与理论分析吻合较好。该透镜天线还可用来消除常规集成毫米波系统中抛物面天线与集成前端之间的过渡,以降低损耗,改善系统性能,也可用于与准光系统的连接或耦合。该结果将对上述应用提供理论指导。     

Zoom lens design for a novel imaging spectrometer that controls spatial and spectral resolution individually

A novel imaging spectrometer can individually control spatial and spectral resolution by using zoom lenses as the foreoptics of the system and a focusing lens. By varying the focal length we can use the focusing lens to change the spatial and spectral dimensions; with the foreoptics, however, we can change only the spatial dimension. Therefore the spectral resolution and the spectral range are affected by the zoom ratio of the focusing lens, whereas the spatial resolution and the field of view are affected by the multiplication of the zoom ratios of the foreoptics and the focusing lens. By properly combining two zoom ratios, we can control the spectral resolution with a fixed spatial resolution or the spatial resolution with a fixed spectral resolution. For an imaging spectrometer with this novel zooming function, we used the lens module method and third-order aberration theory to design an initial four-group zoom system with an external entrance pupil for the focusing lens. Furthermore, using the optical design software CODE V, we obtained an optimized zoom lens with a focal-length range of 50 to 150 mm. Finally, the zoom system with its transmission grating in the Littrow configuration performs satisfactorily as the focusing lens of an imaging spectrometer in the wavelength range 450-900 nm.     

Optical design comparison of 60 degrees eyepieces: one with a diffractive surface and one with aspherics

An optical design comparison is made between two 60 degrees field-of-view long-eye-relief eyepieces used for viewing a flat image-intensifier P-43 phosphor screen output. One eyepiece contains both spherical glass elements and plastic aspheric elements. The other eyepiece consists of spherical glass elements and a diffractive surface. Both optical designs were optimized by use of identical system constraints for size and weight. The eyepiece containing the diffractive surface provided an improved modulation transfer function performance and has been fabricated and tested. The fabricated lens characteristics and modulation transfer function performance closely matched the design expectations.