Multichannel Close-Up Imaging Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multichannel imaging device and more specifically to a multichannel device wherein each optical channel has at least an optical low-pass angular filter configured to block any light propagating through the optical channel along a direction of propagation having an angle which is greater than a predefined angle θ.sub.L relative to the optical axis, the low-pass angular filter comprising at least one planar interface, separating a first material having a first refractive index n.sub.1 and a second material having a second refractive index n.sub.2, the ratio of the second refractive index over the first refractive index being lower than 1, preferably lower than 0.66.

Claims

1. An imaging device comprising: an array of optical channels, each optical channel having an optical axis and comprising: a first lens system including a lens defining a light entrance surface and having an optical axis; a second lens system including a lens defining a light exit surface and having an optical axis, the first and second lens systems arranged such that light propagates within the optical channel from the light entrance surface to the light exit surface and such that the optical axes of the first and second lens are aligned with the optical axis of the optical channel; a field lens system located between the first lens system and the second lens system; and an optical low-pass angular filter located between the field lens system and one of the first lens system and the second lens system, the optical low-pass angular filter comprising a planar interface that separates a first material having a first refractive index n.sub.1 and a second material having a second refractive index n.sub.2 arranged such that light propagating from the light entrance surface to the light exit surface successively propagates through the first material and the second material, wherein: a main plane of the array of optical channels is perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical channel of the array; and the planar interface of the optical low-pass filter is located a distance from the main plane that is less than z.sub.n, where:
z.sub.n=x.sub.1l/tan(θ.sub.c), z.sub.n is a distance between the first lens and a nodal plane of the field lens system along the optical axis of the optical channel, x.sub.1l is a distance in the main plane between a center of the first lens of the first lens system and a boundary of an adjacent optical channel, θ.sub.c is a critical angle that is greater than or equal to $\arcsin \left(\frac{n_1}{n_2}\right).$

2. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the planar interface of the optical low-pass filter is configured to block light propagating through the optical channel in a direction of propagation having an angle greater than or equal to the critical angle θ.sub.c relative to the optical axis of the optical channel by total internal reflection, the critical angle θ.sub.c being greater than or equal to a predefined angle θ.sub.L.

3. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the second refractive index over the first refractive index is less than 1.

4. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the first material has a refractive index greater than 1.3 and the second material has a refractive index less than 1.2.

5. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the first lens system further comprises a transparent substrate in contact with the lens thereof and the second lens system further comprises a transparent substrate in contact with the lens thereof.

6. The imaging device of claim 5, wherein each of the transparent substrate of the first lens system and the transparent substrate of the second lens system has a refractive index equal to a refractive index of the lenses of the first and second lens systems.

7. The imaging device of claim 5, wherein a surface of the transparent substrate of the first lens system opposite a surface of the transparent substrate in contact with the lens of the first lens system defines the planar interface of the optical low-pass filter.

8. The imaging device of claim 5, wherein the optical low-pass filter comprises at least one diaphragm, the at least one diaphragm located between adjacent lenses of the first lens system on the transparent substrate of the first lens system and on a portion of the lens of the first lens system.

9. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein a distance between adjacent lens of the first lens system of adjacent optical channels of the array of optical channels is between 0 μm and 300 μm.

10. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the lens of the first lens system or the second lens system is between 10 μm and 5 mm.

11. The imaging device of claim 1, further comprising another optical low-pass angular filter located between the field lens system and the other of the first lens system and the second lens system, the optical low-pass angular filter configured to block light propagating within the optical channel along a direction of propagation having an angle which is greater than a predefined angle θ.sub.L relative to the optical axis of the optical channel, the another optical low-pass angular filter comprising a planar interface that separates a first material having a first refractive index and a second material having a second refractive index arranged such that light propagating from the light entrance surface to the light exit surface successively propagates through the first material and the second material.

12. A method of using the imaging device of claim 1, comprising optically imaging an object that emits a light at a wavelength λ, wherein the second material of the optical low-pass filter has a thickness measured along the optical axis between 3λ and 30λ.

13. A method of manufacturing an image device, comprising: stacking a first lens system and a second lens system to form an array of optical channels in which the first lens system and the second lens system are separated by a gap in which an optical low-pass filter and field lens system are located, wherein: a main plane of the array of optical channels is perpendicular to an optical axis of each optical channel in the array; a first lens system includes a lens defining a light entrance surface and having an optical axis; and a second lens system including a lens defining a light exit surface and having an optical axis, the first and second lens systems stacked such that light propagates within the optical channel from the light entrance surface to the light exit surface and such that the optical axes of the first and second lens are aligned with the optical axis of the optical channel; locating the optical low-pass angular filter between the field lens system and one of the first lens system and the second lens system, the optical low-pass angular filter comprising a planar interface that separates a first material having a first refractive index n.sub.1 and a second material having a second refractive index n.sub.2 arranged such that light propagating from the light entrance surface to the light exit surface successively propagates through the first material and the second material; and locating the planar interface of the optical low-pass filter a distance from the main plane of the array of optical channels, the distance from the main plane being less than z.sub.n, where:
z.sub.n=x.sub.1l/tan(θ.sub.c), z.sub.n is a distance between the first lens and a nodal plane of the field lens system along the optical axis of the optical channel, x.sub.1l is a distance in the main plane between a center of the first lens of the first lens system and a boundary of an adjacent optical channel, θ.sub.c is a critical angle that is greater than or equal to $\arcsin \left(\frac{n_1}{n_2}\right).$

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the planar interface configured to block light propagating through the optical channel in a direction of propagation having an angle greater than or equal to the critical angle θ.sub.c relative to the optical axis of the optical channel by total internal reflection, the critical angle θ.sub.c being greater than or equal to a predefined angle θ.sub.L.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising selecting a thickness of the second material of the optical low-pass filter to have a thickness measured along the optical axis between 3λ and 30λ, where λ is a wavelength of a light emitted by an image to be imaged by the imaging device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The invention will be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates a single optical channel of the prior art,

[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates a multichannel close-up optical device from the prior art wherein each lens array comprises a transparent substrate,

[0038] FIG. 3 illustrate a multichannel close-up imaging device from the prior art comprising diaphragms,

[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates a multichannel close-up imaging device comprising planar interfaces, according to a possible embodiment of the invention,

[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates a multichannel close-up imaging device comprising planar interfaces and diaphragms, according to a possible embodiment of the invention,

[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates a multichannel close-up imaging device comprising planar interfaces and diaphragms, according to a possible embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0042] General Architecture of the Device

[0043] Referring to FIG. 4, the device 1 comprises a two-dimensional array 3 of optical channels 4. FIG. 4 is a section view of the array 3 following the main plane 5, illustrating three successive optical channels 4, respectively ch.sub.−1, ch.sub.0 and ch.sub.1.

[0044] Each optical channel 4 has an optical axis 6. Every optical channel 4 is arranged such that the optical axis 6 is perpendicular to the main plane 5. The optical channels 4 of the array 3 can be arranged in a lattice, notably a periodic squared lattice, a linear lattice, and/or preferably hexagonal lattice. Borders of the optical channels 4 are illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 by vertical dotted lines. The borders of two neighbor optical channels 4 can match or can be separated, for example when the device comprises diaphragms and/or when a portion of the lens is masked.

[0045] Two neighbor optical channels 4 can be in contact with each other, or separated by a distance δ+2ε.

[0046] Each optical channel 4 comprises a first lens system 7, comprising at least a first lens 8. A first surface of the first lens is a light entrance surface of the optical channel. A first lens system 7 is aimed at forming an intermediate image of the object in the device 1, at an image plan π.sub.i. The first lens system 7 can also comprise a plurality of first lenses 8. The advantage of a first lens system 7 comprising a plurality of first lenses 8 can be a reduction of the overall focal length of the first lens system 7 and/or an improvement of the numerical aperture of the first lens system 7, which can ease the removal of cross-talk, and/or an adaptation of the working distance of the device 1 to downsize the device 1, and/or an improvement of the image quality by compensation of optical aberration.

[0047] Each optical channel 4 comprises a second lens system 9, comprising at least a second lens 10. A second surface of the second lens is a light exit surface of the optical channel. Light propagates from the light entrance surface to the light exit surface within the optical channel. The second lens system 9 is aimed at forming the final image of the object out of the device 1. The second lens system 9 can also comprise a plurality of second lenses 10. The advantage of a second lens system 9 comprising a plurality of first lenses 10 can be a reduction of the overall focal length of the first lens system 9 and/or an improvement of the numerical aperture of the first lens system 9, which can ease the removal of cross-talk, and/or an adaptation of the working distance of the device 1 to downsize the device 1, and/or an improvement of the image quality by compensation of optical aberration. Preferably, the second lens system 9 can be aimed at reconstructing the final image. Preferably, each optical channel 4 further comprises a field lens system 11, at least comprising a field lens. The field lens system 9 can be aimed at manipulating the light within the device 1 for tuning the different parameters of the final image. The field lens system 11 can also be aimed at manipulating the light within the device 1 to avoid optical effects perturbating the final image, such as vignetting. The field lens system 11 can be at least partially defined by principal planes H and H′ and by nodal planes N and N′ (principal plane H and nodal plane N being illustrated in FIG. 4 by the same dashed direction x.sub.2, and principal plane H′ and nodal plane N′ being illustrated by another dashed direction, parallel to x.sub.2).

[0048] The device 1 has at least one low-pass angular filter, and preferably at least two low-pass angular filters. The angular filter(s) are configured to block any light propagating through the optical channel 4 along a direction of propagation having an angle which is greater than a predefined angle θ.sub.L relative to the optical axis 6. The low-pass angular filters comprise(s) at least a planar interface 14 separating a first material having a first refractive index n.sub.1 and a second material having a second refractive index n.sub.2, the ratio of the second refractive index over the first refractive index being lower than 1, preferably lower than 0.66, so that the light arriving at the planar interface 14 in a said optical channel 4, for example from another optical channel 4, is reflected by the planar interface 14. The first material and the second material are arranged such that light propagating from the light entrance surface to the light exit surface successively propagates through the first material and the second material. Preferably, the second material is a gas and preferably air. Therefore, as gas has a low refractive index, the contrast of refractive index between the first material and the second material can be maximized and the critical angle can be minimized.

[0049] Therefore, a light arriving at a planar interface 14 along a direction of propagation having an angle which is greater than the critical angle θ.sub.c relative to the optical axis is reflected by the planar interface 14 by total internal reflection. The relation between the critical angle θ.sub.c, the first refractive index n.sub.1 and the second material having a second refractive index n.sub.2 is given from the Snell-Descartes relation, by θ.sub.c≥θ.sub.l=arc sin(n.sub.1/n.sub.2).

[0050] The critical angle θ.sub.c can be chosen depending on the geometry of each optical channel 4, so as a light propagating through the device 1 with an angle relative to the optical axis 6 involving a crosstalk is reflected by the planar interface 14.

[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates a device 1 comprising a low-pass angular filter comprising two planar interfaces 14. The device 1 can comprise two planar interfaces 14. A first planar interface 14 can be arranged between the first lens system 7 and the field lens system 11. A second planar interface 14 can be arranged between the field lens system 11 and the second lens system 9, both planar interfaces 14 separating the first material having the first refractive index n.sub.1 and the second material having the second refractive index n.sub.2.

[0052] Two different typical crosstalk optical rays are illustrated. The optical rays illustrated in dashed lines (c) and (f) have respectively a critical angle θ.sub.c with the optical axis 6 at the first planar interface 14 located between the first lens system 7 and the field lens system 11, and with the optical axis 6 at the second planar interface 14 located between the field lens system 11 and the second lens system 9.

[0053] The optical ray (b) has an angle lower than the critical angle of the first planar interface 14: it is not stopped and propagates through the device 1 towards the second planar interface 14. After propagating through the field lens system 11, the optical ray (b) becomes the optical ray (e) and has an angle relative to the optical axis 6 which is greater the critical angle of the second interface 14. A crosstalk in the rest of the device 1 is avoided by a total internal reflection of ray (e) at the second planar interface 14.

[0054] The optical ray (d) has an angle greater than the critical angle of the first planar interface 14. A crosstalk of the optical ray (d) is avoided by a total internal reflection of the optical ray (d) on the first planar interface 14.

[0055] The optical ray (g) would be the propagated optical ray (d) had it not been filtered before the field lens system 11.

[0056] The first planar interface 14 can be arranged in a plane parallel to the main plane 5, at a distance of the main plane 5 lower than z.sub.n, z.sub.n being chosen as parameter of the field lens system so as:

z.sub.n=x.sub.1l/tan(θ.sub.c)   (1)

x.sub.11 being the distance between the optical axis 6 of a given optical channel 4 and the border of an adjacent optical channel 4 along the axis x.sub.2, i.e. the distance in the main plane 5 between the center of a first lens 8 and the border of adjacent optical channel 4.

[0057] Indeed, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, two groups of optical rays can be distinguished: [0058] for a given optical channel 4, for example optical channel ch.sub.0, wherein x.sub.2 is defined as equal to zero at the intersection of the optical axis 6 of the optical channel ch.sub.0 and the nodal plane N, the first group of rays comprises the rays coming from the adjacent optical channel 4, for example the optical channel ch.sub.1, said rays virtually arriving at the nodal plane N in x.sub.2, x.sub.2 being lower than 0. The optical rays (d) that becomes (g) after the field lens system 11 is for example part of this group. After propagating through the field lens system 11, the angle of the ray (g) becomes lower than the angle of the ray (d) but also lower than the critical angle, [0059] for the same optical channel 4, for example the channel ch.sub.0, the second group of rays corresponds to the rays coming from the adjacent optical channel 4, for example the optical channel ch.sub.1, said rays arriving at the nodal plane N in x.sub.2, x.sub.2 being greater than 0. The optical rays (b) which becomes (e) after the field lens system 11 are for example in this group. After propagating through the field lens system 11, the angle of the ray (e) is greater than both the angle of the ray (b) but also than the critical angle θ.sub.c.

[0060] Therefore, by designing the device 1 with the condition of the relation (1), the rays of the second group of rays are reflected by the second planar interface 14.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 5, the device 1 can comprise at least a lens array 16, which is a two-dimensional array, comprising a transparent substrate 13 and lenses in contact with the transparent substrate 13. Preferably, the refractive index of the transparent substrate 13 is equal to the refractive index of the lenses of the lens array 16. Therefore, an incident optical ray is not deflected by propagating through an interface between the lens and the substrate 13. This structure simplifies the fabrication of the lens array 16. It avoids, for example, an individual mechanical anchoring of the different lenses. However, this lens array 16 structure does not allow for the fabrication of vertical absorptive walls that could prevent crosstalk of optical rays between the optical channels 4, as in the optical channel illustrated on FIG. 1. The substrate 13 can have at least two opposite surfaces: one surface can be in contact with the lenses of the lens array 16, and the other surface delimits the planar interface 14. Therefore, the crosstalk can be avoided by total internal reflection of the optical rays having an angle above the critical angle θ.sub.c defined by the first material of the substrate 13 and the second material in contact with the substrate 13 at the planar interface 14.

[0062] The device 1 can comprise a plurality of lens arrays 16. The array 3 of optical channels 4 can thus comprise superimposed lens arrays 16. Each optical channel 4 thus comprises aligned lenses of each lens array 16.

[0063] Diaphragm 15

[0064] In addition, the low-pass filter of the device 1 can also comprise at least one diaphragm 15.

[0065] The diaphragm(s) 15 can be arranged between the first lens system 7 and the field lens system 11, and/or in the field lens system 11, and/or between the field lens system 11 and the second lens system 9 and/or between the first lens system 7 and the second lens system 9. Referring to FIG. 5, a diaphragm 15 of diameter aperture D.sub.AP is arranged in the back focal plane of the first lens system 7. The diaphragm 15 can, for example, define a first lens system 7 numerical aperture of 0.33. Another diaphragm 15 is in contact with the first surface, over a distance δ separating adjacent first lenses 8. This diaphragm can for example be deposited over the surface of the first lens array 16.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 6, the angular low-pass filter can preferably comprise a diaphragm 15 arranged between the first lens system 7 and the field lens system 11, notably in contact with the surface of the substrate delimiting the first planar interface 14. The diaphragm 15 has a diameter D.sub.cut. Therefore, rays having an angle lower than the critical angle but crossing the nodal plane at x greater than 0 are absorbed and consequently filtered. Therefore, this diaphragm 15 can define the angular limit θ.sub.c of the low-pass angular filter of the device 1.

[0067] Numerical Aperture

[0068] The numerical aperture NA of the first lens system 7 can be above 0.35, notably comprised between 0.4 and 0.7, and more preferably comprised between 0.45 and 0.6. The numerical aperture NA of the first lens system 7 can be adapted to the numerical aperture NA.sub.sys of the overall device 1, below the value NA.

[0069] Diameter of the Optical Channel 4 and Diameter of the Lenses 8

[0070] The diameter of the first lens 8 can be comprised between 10 μm and 5 mm, notably between 100 μm and 500 μm and preferably between 150 μm and 250 μm. The diameter of the first lens 8 can preferably set the diameter of the optical channel 4, wherein all the lenses can have the same diameter. Diameters of the first lens equal to 200 μm and to 220 μm are respectively illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0071] Depending on the diaphragm 15 deposited on the first lens array 16, the effective radius R.sub.eff of each first lens 8 is within half of the ranges of the first lens 8. The effective radius R.sub.eff can be for example equal to 70 μm.

[0072] Arrangement of the Lenses of a Lens Array 16

[0073] The distance δ between two adjacent first lenses 8 can be comprised between 0 and 300 μm, notably between 0 and 150 μm and preferably between 0 and 50 μm. Therefore, by reducing the distance δ within this range, it is possible to avoid inhomogeneity in the final image and to enhance the contrast of the final image.

[0074] First Material and Second Material

[0075] Lowering the cut-off angular frequency of the filter of the device 1 can be done be lowering the ratio between the first refractive index and the second refractive index, preferably under 0.66.

[0076] Preferably, the first material has a first refractive index greater 1.3, notably greater than 1.4. The first material can be chosen for example from glass, transparent polymer or plastic or any material suitable for lens array fabrication.

[0077] Preferably, the second material has a second refractive index lower than 1.2, notably greater than 1.1. The second material can be chosen for example from gas, preferably air.

[0078] Considering an object emitting a light at a wavelength λ, the second material can have a thickness measured along the optical axis 6 comprised between 3λ and 30λ, preferably between 4λ and 15λ. Therefore, the thickness of the second material is great enough for avoiding transmission of power by quantum tunneling and is low enough to keep the device compact.

[0079] Intermediate Image

[0080] The first lens 8 has a first object focal plane and a numerical aperture. Those parameters can be configured so that an image of the object generated by the first lens 8 in the first image plane is smaller than or equal to the diameter of optical channel 4. More generally, the first lens system 7 has a first object focal plane and a numerical aperture such that an image of the object generated by the first lens system in the first image plane is smaller than the radius of the optical channel 6. The object of the optical channel 6 can be for example a portion of the overall object imaged by the device 1, every object of every optical channel 6 comprising the overall object imaged by the device 1. In other terms, any image generated by the first lens system in the first image plane is smaller than the radius of the optical channel 6. Therefore, there is no overlap of the different sub images from different optical channels in the intermediate image plane. The radius of the optical channel 6 can be defined by the radius of the first lens 8 of the optical channel 6, or, when the first lens 8 is covered by a diaphragm, by the radius of portion of the first lens 8 uncovered by the diaphragm.

[0081] In a configuration where the first lens system 7 comprises one single lens 8, the working distance WD, i.e. the distance between the object plane and the first lens 8, can be written as:

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}WD=f_1\left(1-\frac{1}{m_i}\right)& \left(2\right)\end{array}$

with f.sub.1 being the focal distance of the first lens system 7, and m.sub.i the intermediate magnification of the first lens system 7.

[0082] When the device 1 does not comprise a field diaphragm 15, the radius y.sub.M of the field-of-view of one optical channel 4, i.e. the radius from the point of the object plane on the optical axis 6 to the last point in the object plane from which the first lens system 7 can collect an optical ray for an intermediate image formation, as defined by its numerical aperture NA.sub.sys, can be expressed as:

y.sub.M=NA.sub.sys*WD+R.sub.eff   (3)

with NA.sub.sys being the sine of the maximal angle α.sub.sys, α.sub.sys being the maximal angle of light that can enter or exit the first lens system 7 to be focused within the optical channel.

[0083] Thus, the intermediate image has the radius y.sub.M,I defined as:

y.sub.M,i=m.sub.1.Math.y.sub.M   (4)

[0084] Therefore, the design of the device 1 addresses the inequality (5):

y.sub.M,i≤R.sub.eff   (5)

The focal length f.sub.1 of the first lens 8 of the first lens system 7 can be expressed as:

[00002]$\begin{array}{cc}{f}_1=R\sqrt{\frac{1}{{\mathrm{NA}}_1^2}-1}& \left(6\right)\end{array}$

The distance between the central axis of an optical channel (6) and the border of an adjacent optical channel (4) is defined by:

x.sub.1l=R+δ+∈  (7)

[0085] ε being an eventual masking ring thickness defined by a diaphragm 15 deposited on the first lens 8.

Blocking the first group of rays is achieved for:

[00003]$\begin{array}{cc}\frac{R+\delta +\epsilon }{z_n}\ge \tan {\theta }_l& \left(8\right)\end{array}$

[0086] Increasing the pitch by increasing δ can help filtering the light but decreases the contrast of the image. One can thus help to find a trade-off by adding a diaphragm 15 in contact with a planar interface 14 and preferably in contact with the first planar interface 14. In the optimal case where a diaphragm 15 is placed to avoid high values of ε and δ, one can place a diaphragm of width w with:

w=x.sub.1−R−δ/2−∈  (10)

said diaphragm 15 being arranged at the distance z.sub.D from the first lens 8 along the optical axis 6:

[00004]$\begin{array}{cc}{Z}_D=\frac{w}{2\tan {\theta }_c}& \left(11\right)\end{array}$

[0087] R, ε, δ and z.sub.D can be optimized so as to filter the first group of rays with an appropriate cut-off angular frequency. The angle θ.sub.2 of the optical rays of the second group of rays after the refraction by the field lens system 11 is then:

[00005]$\begin{array}{cc}{\theta }_2={\theta }_1+\frac{x_2}{f_{\mathrm{FL}}}& \left(12\right)\end{array}$

θ.sub.1 being the angle of the ray coming from the adjacent optical channel 4 (for example ch.sub.1) into the given optical channel (for example ch.sub.0), and x.sub.2 the coordinate (positive for the second group of rays) of the hitting point of the ray in the nodal plane N of the field lens system 11. The field lens system 11 can comprise an additional second lens array 16, comprising two lens arrays 16 identical to the first lens array 7. Then the focal length of the field length system f.sub.FL is:

[00006]$f_{\mathrm{FL}}=\frac{f_1}{2}$

Then:

[0088] [00007]${\theta }_2=\frac{x_1}{f_1}+\frac{x_2}{f_1}$

These rays are then automatically filtered when the rays of the first group are filtered.