Imaging System with Optimized Extended Depth of Focus

Abstract

An optical processor is presented for applying optical processing to a light field passing through a predetermined imaging lens unit. The optical processor comprises a pattern in the form of spaced apart regions of different optical properties. The pattern is configured to define a phase coder, and a dispersion profile coder. The phase coder affects profiles of Through Focus Modulation Transfer Function (TFMTF) for different wavelength components of the light field in accordance with a predetermined profile of an extended depth of focusing to be obtained by the imaging lens unit. The dispersion profile coder is to configured in accordance with the imaging lens unit and the predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing to provide a predetermined overlapping between said TFMTF profiles within said predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing.

Claims

1. An optical processor for applying to a light field passing through a predetermined imaging lens unit, said optical processor comprising a pattern in the form of spaced apart regions of different optical properties, said pattern being configured to define a phase coder affecting profiles of Through Focus Modulation Transfer Function (TFMTF) for different wavelength components of said light field in accordance with a predetermined profile of an extended depth of focusing to be obtained by said imaging lens unit; and a dispersion profile coder configured in accordance with the said imaging lens unit and said predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing to provide a predetermined overlapping between said TFMTF profiles within said predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing.

2. An optical processor according to claim 1, wherein the phase coder comprises a first pattern formed by a predetermined number of phase transitions being of substantially the same transparency and arranged with a low spatial frequency, so as to induce substantially non-diffractive phase effect onto the light field.

3. An optical processor according to claim 1, wherein the dispersion profile coder comprises a second pattern, which is substantially diffractive and which is configured to provide a predetermined optical power addition to the imaging lens unit, such that total optical power of an imaging lens arrangement formed by said predetermined imaging lens unit and said dispersion profile coder corresponds to a desired optical power and dispersion induced by said dispersion profile coder and the imaging lens unit effects shifting of the TFMTF profiles within said predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing.

4. An optical processor according to claim 3, wherein the first and second patterns are located at front and rear surfaces of the imaging lens unit, with respect to light propagation direction towards the imaging lens unit.

5. An optical processor according to claim 4, wherein the first and second patterns are in the form of first and second surface reliefs on said front and rear surfaces of the imaging lens unit.

6. An optical processor according to claim 3, wherein the first and second patterns are defined by phase and diffractive masks located at the same or opposite sides of the lens unit.

7. An optical processor according to claim 3, wherein the first and second patterns are incorporated in the lens unit.

8. An optical processor according to claim 3, wherein one of the first and second patterns is incorporated in the lens unit, and other of said first and second patterns is a mask located at either side of the lens unit.

9. An optical processor according to claim 3, wherein the first and second patterns define together a combined diffractive pattern comprising a superposition of said first and second patterns and being carried by the imaging lens unit.

10. (canceled)

11. An imaging lens arrangement comprising an imaging lens unit and an optical processor associated with said imaging lens unit, the optical processor comprising a pattern of spaced-apart regions of different optical properties, said pattern comprising a phase coder affecting profiles of Through Focus Modulation Transfer Function (TFMTF) for different wavelength components of a light field being imaged in accordance with a predetermined profile of an extended depth of focusing to be obtained by said imaging lens arrangement; and a dispersion profile coder configured in accordance with the said imaging lens unit and said predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing to provide a predetermined overlapping between said TFMTF profiles within said predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing.

12. An imaging lens arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the imaging lens unit is an ophthalmic lens.

13. An imaging lens arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said ophthalmic lens is one of the following lenses: a contact lens, an intraocular lens, or a intracorneal lens.

14. An imaging lens arrangement according to claims 11 to 43, wherein the lens is a single- or multi-focal lens.

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. An imaging lens comprising a pattern of spaced-apart regions of different optical properties, said pattern comprising a phase coder affecting profiles of Through Focus Modulation Transfer Function (TFMTF) for different wavelength components of a light field being imaged in accordance with a predetermined profile of an extended depth of focusing to be obtained by said imaging lens arrangement; and a dispersion profile coder configured in accordance with the said imaging lens unit and said predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing to provide a predetermined overlapping between said TFMTF profiles within said predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing.

18. An imaging lens according to claim 17, being a spectacles lens.

19. An imaging lens according to claim 17, being an ophthalmic lens.

20. An imaging lens according to claim 19, being a contact lens, intraocular lens or intracorneal lens.

21. An imaging lens according to claim 17, being a single- or multi-focal lens.

22-27. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] FIGS. 1A to 1D illustrate dispersion effects in an imaging lens: FIGS. 1A and 1B show the TFMTF graphs for different wavelengths (FIG. 1A) and a total TFMTF (FIG. 1B) for a single or multi-focal lens, and FIGS. 1C and 1D show similar graphs for a bi-focal lens;

[0026] FIG. 2A shows schematically an imaging lens arrangement of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 2B shows a specific example of the implementation of the imaging arrangement of FIG. 2A;

[0028] FIGS. 3A-3C exemplify the light field coding technique of the invention: FIG. 3A exemplifies an EDOF phase coding pattern, FIG. 3B exemplifies the dispersion profile coding pattern, and FIG. 3C shows a combined coding (pattern) applied to the light field propagating in the imaging lens arrangement; and

[0029] FIGS. 4A to 4D show simulation results for the TFMTF of the imaging lens arrangements of the present invention: FIGS. 4A and 4B show respectively the dispersion of the TFMTF profiles for different wavelengths and the total TFMTF for a single- or multi-to focal imaging lens and FIGS. 4C and 4D show similar graphs for a bifocal imaging lens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Reference is made to FIGS. 1A to 1D illustrating dispersion occurring in an imaging lens unit utilizing EDOF phase coding. The imaging lens unit may comprise a single-focus or multi-focus lens (FIGS. 1A and 1B) or a bi-focal lens (FIGS. 1C and 1D).

[0031] FIGS. 1A and 1C show the simulation results for a Through Focus Modulation Transfer Function (TFMTF) for 100 cyc/mm spatial frequency. This simulation was carried out with Zemax, using “Arizona Eye model”, for a lens with a focal length of 16.7 mm and entrance pupil diameter of 3 mm.

[0032] In FIG. 1A, four TFMTF graphs are shown, G.sub.1-G.sub.4, corresponding to four different wavelengths in the range 0.5-0.6 μm. As shown, there is a relative shift for each wavelength: the plot for wavelength 0.6 μm is shifted 0.18 mm away from the corresponding graph for wavelength of 0.5 μm. In FIG. 1C, five TFMTF graphs R.sub.1-R.sub.5 are shown corresponding to passage of light of five different wavelengths in the range of 0.47-0.63 μm through a diffractive bi-focal lens unit. This graphs show TFMTF, being modulus of the OTF (i.e. imaging contrast) as a function of focus shift of the lens. Assuming all wavelengths are weighted the same (are of the same intensity), the resulted plots are illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 1D respectively.

[0033] Thus, for a given value of the TFMTF, the actual obtainable depth of focus (i.e. providing sufficient contrast of the image) is smaller than that for each wavelength. For example, for TFMTF=0.2, about 6 mm focal depth is obtained for each wavelength (FIG. 1A), while being about 4 mm for the total TFMTF plot (FIG. 1B).

[0034] Hence, there is a need to compensate the dispersion such as to cause the TFMTF plots overlap in the optimal way. It should be understood that the optimal way of overlapping means overlap within the required depth of focus region(s), defined by the specific applications. This may be one continuous region, or dual- or multi-region depth of focus as for example required in some ophthalmic applications or for imagers requiring improved to image quality in the near and far vision zones.

[0035] The required compensation should take into account that DOF extensions for different wavelengths are different, i.e. larger for longer wavelength and smaller for shorter one, and should also take into account the initial depth of focus requirements with respect to a specific imaging lens unit. In other words, the chromatic aberrations correction (dispersion profile coding) should be configured in accordance with the depth of focus profiles, of the imaging lens with the EDOF effect, for the multiple wavelengths, e.g. those of the primary colors.

[0036] The present invention solves the above problem by providing an all-optical processor to be applied to a light field incident onto a predetermined imaging lens unit (e.g. passing through the lens unit). This optical processing is implemented by passing light through a pattern of spaced apart regions of different optical properties. This pattern defines a phase coder affecting TFMTF profiles for different wavelength components in accordance with predetermined EDOF profiles for certain imaging lens unit, and also defines a dispersion profile coder configured to provide a predetermined overlapping between the TFMTF profiles within the EDOF profile.

[0037] Reference is made to FIG. 2A showing schematically an imaging arrangement 10 of the present invention. The imaging arrangement 10 includes an imaging lens unit 12 and an optical processor 14. The imaging lens unit 12 may include one or more optical elements configured and operable to create an image of an object in an imaging plane. The optical processor 14 may be a separate unit located close to (up to physical contact with) the imaging lens unit 12 (generally located so as to be in the vicinity of the effective aperture of the lens unit) located at either sides of the lens unit or both of them; or may be at least partially incorporated within the lens unit (embedded therein). The optical processor is configured to provide a desired profile of the extended depth of focus for the given imaging lens unit and a desired TFMTF profiles of multiple wavelengths within said profile of the extended depth of focus.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2A, the optical processor 14 includes a phase coder (mask) 16 defined by a first pattern PC, and a dispersion profile coder 18 (e.g. mask) defined by a second pattern DC. In this example, the masks 16 and 18 are shown as being separate elements both separated from the lens unit, the phase coding mask 16 being located upstream of the lens unit and the dispersion coding mask 18 being located downstream of the lens with respect to the light propagation direction. It should however be noted that for the purposes of the invention the lens 12 and the coders 16, 18 may be arranged differently. Also, the codes of masks 16 and 18 may be integrated in a single pattern (mask) being separated from the lens or being integral therewith (e.g. embedded therein).

[0039] It should be understood that the imaging arrangement 10 is configured with one or more optical powers, to provide predetermined extension profile for the focus (focii) defined by said optical power, and to have a desired chromatic dispersion profile. The phase coder is configured to provide said predetermined extension profile, while substantially not adding any optical power to the lens unit. The desired optical power of the entire imaging arrangement for each wavelength is a sum of the respective optical powers of the elements of such arrangement. The dispersion coder is thus configured with a certain optical power (for each wavelength) selected such that the dispersion coder provides desirable shifts of the TFMTFs within the predetermined depth of focus extension profile. It should be understood that desired TFMTFs may be multi-lobe functions. Accordingly, for the given imaging lens with EDOF assembly, different dispersion codings might be used in order to achieve the desired overlap between different wavelength lobes.

[0040] FIG. 2B illustrates schematically an imaging arrangement 100 according to an example of the invention. The same reference numbers identify components common in all examples. The imaging arrangement 100 includes an imaging lens unit 12 (formed by a single lens in the present example), and an optical processor 14 which is carried by opposite sides 12A and 12B of the lens unit. Here, the phase and dispersion coders (patterns PC and DC) are implemented as surface patterns on the lens unit rear and front surfaces 12A and 12B. One of these patterns or both may be in the form of a surface relief; or may be formed by spaced-apart regions of a material having refractive index different from that of the lens.

[0041] Reference is made to FIGS. 3A-3C exemplifying the effect of the optical processor according to the light field coding technique of the invention. FIG. 3A exemplifies a radial profile of the EDOF phase coding pattern PC (mask), which is a phase only, substantially not diffractive pattern designed to provide a desired EDOF profile for the imaging lens unit. FIG. 3B exemplifies a radial profile of the dispersion profile coding pattern DC, which is a diffractive pattern designed in accordance with the imaging lens with the EDOF profile to desirably shift the EDOF components of different wavelengths within said desired profile. FIG. 3C shows a combined coding (pattern) applied to the light field propagating in the imaging lens arrangement.

[0042] Let us consider the above coding of the imaging lens unit similar to that of the example of FIGS. 1A-1B. The function of the chromatic aberrations corrector (dispersion profile coder), configured for properly shifting the EDOF TFMTF plots, is implemented by a diffractive element (e.g. Fresnel lens).

[0043] Diffractive lens focal length, f.sub.Diff, has the following wavelength dependency:

[00001]$f_{\mathrm{Diff}}=\frac{{\lambda }_0{f}_0}{\lambda }$$P_{\mathrm{Diff}}=\frac{1}{f_{\mathrm{Diff}}}=\frac{\lambda }{{\lambda }_0{f}_0}$

[0044] where f.sub.0 is the focal length for a central wavelength λ.sub.0.

[0045] FIG. 4A shows that application of the appropriately designed diffraction pattern to the EDOF imaging lens provides that the TFMTFs for multiple wavelength are well co-aligned (generally desirably overlap), giving a desired total TFMTF. The latter is shown in FIG. 4B.

[0046] The diffractive lens 18 used for dispersion profile coding was simulated as made of PMMA material with total thickness, T.sub.thick, determined as:

[00002]$\mathrm{Tthick}=\frac{\lambda }{n_{\mathrm{pmma}}-n_{\mathrm{air}}}$

n.sub.pmma and n.sub.air being respective refractive indices. The optical power of such diffractive lens is determined as that of refractive plano-convex lens having power, and in the present example is:

[00003]$P_{\mathrm{diff}}=\frac{\left(n_{\mathrm{pmma}}-n_{\mathrm{air}}\right)}{R}=3.33\mathrm{Diopt}$

where R=150 mm is the radius of the plano-convex refractive lens carrying the above described diffractive pattern. In this example, the diffractive lens is configured for ophthalmic application considering the optical power of the eye lens.

[0047] FIGS. 4C and 4D show similar simulation results for the bi-focal lens where an EDOF pattern was added to the bi-focal diffractive lens. As can be seen from the figures, the depth of focus is extended around each focus of the diffractive bifocal lens (attached to eye model) relative to the narrow depth of focus seen in FIGS. 1C and 1D.

[0048] Lenses as described herein can be used in ophthalmic applications, as a being a spectacles lens or a lens embodied as any suitable ophthalmic lens. The term “ophthalmic lens” refers to an artificial lens for use with the eye. Preferred ophthalmic lenses are made of biomedical materials suitable for contact with eye tissue. The term “ophthalmic lens” includes but is not limited to intraocular lenses (IOLs), contact lenses, and corneal onlays or inlays (intracorneal lenses).

[0049] It will be appreciated that non-optical components may be added in some embodiments of ophthalmic lenses (e.g., in intraocular lenses, one or more haptics may be added). Lenses according to aspects of the present invention can comprise combinations of surfaces having any suitable shape (piano, convex, concave). The illustrated embodiments of lenses have only one zone; however, other embodiments may have multiple zones, the zones having different optical powers.

[0050] In some embodiments, the lenses may be embodied as intraocular lenses adapted to provide accommodative movement. For example, a lens according to aspects of the present invention can be used in a dual element accommodative lens as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,708 issued Dec. 4, 2002, to Sarfarazi, or a single element accommodative lens as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,282, issued Sep. 7, 1997, to Cumming.

[0051] A pattern may be placed on a surface of the lens by various techniques known in the art. As a first example, the pattern may be lathe cut, lased or etched directly into the lens surface. As a second example, the pattern may be provided on a mold having a molding surface for forming the lens surface, wherein the pattern is transferred to the mold during casting of the lens. For example, a conventional manner of making contact lenses involves casting a mixture of lens-forming monomers in a two-part plastic mold. One mold part includes a molding surface for forming the front lens surface, and the second mold part includes a molding surface for forming the back lens surface. The monomer mixture is polymerized, or cured, while in the two-part mold to form a contact lens. The plastic mold to parts are injected molded from a metal tool. For such a method, the pattern may be provided on the metal tools, such as by lathing, and thus transferred to the contact lens surface during the casting process.

[0052] Having thus described the inventive concepts and a number of exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be implemented in various ways, and that modifications and improvements will readily occur to such persons. Thus, the embodiments are not intended to be limiting and presented by way of example only. The invention is limited only as required by the following claims and equivalents thereto.