Abstract: A method of generating a digital video image uses a wide-angle field of view (WFOV) lens positioned closely in front of an image sensor array so that the image field of the lens is so curved at the sensor array that different regions of the image field are substantially in focus on the sensor array for different positions of the lens. The method comprises selecting a desired region of interest in the image field of the lens, and adjusting the lens/array distance to bring the region of interest into focus on the sensor array. The in-focus region of interest is stored and at least partially corrected for field-of-view distortion due to the WFOV lens. The corrected image is displayed, locally and/or remotely. These steps are cyclically repeated to provide the video image.

Abstract: An iris image acquisition system for a mobile device, comprises a lens assembly arranged along an optical axis and configured for forming an image comprising at least one iris of a subject disposed frontally to the lens assembly; and an image sensor configured to acquire the formed image. The lens assembly comprises a first lens refractive element and at least one second lens element for converging incident radiation to the first refractive element. The first refractive element has a variable thickness configured to counteract a shift of the formed image along the optical axis induced by change in iris-lens assembly distance, such that different areas of the image sensor on which irises at different respective iris-lens assembly distances are formed are in focus within a range of respective iris-lens assembly distances at which iris detail is provided at sufficient contrast to be recognised.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A method of generating a digital video image uses a wide-angle field of view (WFOV) lens positioned closely in front of an image sensor array so that the image field of the lens is so curved at the sensor array that different regions of the image field are substantially in focus on the sensor array for different positions of the lens. The method comprises selecting a desired region of interest in the image field of the lens, and adjusting the lens/array distance to bring the region of interest into focus on the sensor array. The in-focus region of interest is stored and at least partially corrected for field-of-view distortion due to the WFOV lens. The corrected image is displayed, locally and/or remotely. These steps are cyclically repeated to provide the video image.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A portrait lens configuration for meeting handheld device form factor constraints. First and second meniscus lenses each have a reflective surface to provide internal reflections for transmitting light toward a focal plane. A third lens is positioned between the meniscus lenses and the focal plane. The first lens includes an anterior concave surface having a reflective material extending over a portion thereof. Light received by the first meniscus lens can be transmitted therethrough. The reflective material is positioned along the anterior concave surface to receive light transmitted therethrough and reflected back from the second lens. In an associated method the first meniscus lens is positioned to receive light through a first of two opposing refractive surfaces. After each lens provides an internal reflection, reflected light is transmitted through the second of the two opposing surfaces and then through a bore positioned within the second lens to the third lens.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A method of generating a digital video image uses a wide-angle field of view (WFOV) lens positioned closely in front of an image sensor array so that the image field of the lens is so curved at the sensor array that different regions of the image field are substantially in focus on the sensor array for different positions of the lens. The method comprises selecting a desired region of interest in the image field of the lens, and adjusting the lens/array distance to bring the region of interest into focus on the sensor array. The in-focus region of interest is stored and at least partially corrected for field-of-view distortion due to the WFOV lens. The corrected image is displayed, locally and/or remotely. These steps are cyclically repeated to provide the video image.

Abstract: A portrait lens configuration for meeting handheld device form factor constraints. First and second meniscus lenses each have a reflective surface to provide internal reflections for transmitting light toward a focal plane. A third lens is positioned between the meniscus lenses and the focal plane. The first lens includes an anterior concave surface having a reflective material extending over a portion thereof. Light received by the first meniscus lens can be transmitted therethrough. The reflective material is positioned along the anterior concave surface to receive light transmitted therethrough and reflected back from the second lens. In an associated method the first meniscus lens is positioned to receive light through a first of two opposing refractive surfaces. After each lens provides an internal reflection, reflected light is transmitted through the second of the two opposing surfaces and then through a bore positioned within the second lens to the third lens.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: An optical system for an image acquisition device comprises an image sensor comprising an array of pixels including pixels sensitive to IR wavelengths for acquiring an image. A lens assembly includes a collecting lens surface with an optical axis, the lens assembly being arranged to focus IR light received from a given object distance on the sensor surface. The lens assembly includes at least a first reflective surface for reflecting collected light along an axis transverse to the optical axis so that a length of the optical system along the optical axis is reduced by comparison to a focal length of the lens assembly.

Abstract: An iris image acquisition system for a mobile device, comprises a lens assembly arranged along an optical axis and configured for forming an image comprising at least one iris of a subject disposed frontally to the lens assembly; and an image sensor configured to acquire the formed image. The lens assembly comprises a first lens refractive element and at least one second lens element for converging incident radiation to the first refractive element. The first refractive element has a variable thickness configured to counteract a shift of the formed image along the optical axis induced by change in iris-lens assembly distance, such that different areas of the image sensor on which irises at different respective iris-lens assembly distances are formed are in focus within a range of respective iris-lens assembly distances at which iris detail is provided at sufficient contrast to be recognised.

Abstract: An image acquisition system for acquiring iris images for use in biometric recognition of a subject includes an optical system comprising a cluster of at least 2 lenses arranged in front of a common image sensor with each lens optical axis in parallel spaced apart relationship. Each lens has a fixed focus and a different aperture to provide a respective angular field of view. The lens with the closest focus has the smallest aperture and the lens with the farthest focus has the largest aperture so that iris images can be acquired across a focal range of at least from 200 mm to 300 mm.

Abstract: An iris image acquisition system comprises an image sensor comprising an array of pixels including pixels sensitive to NIR wavelengths; at least one NIR light source capable of selectively emitting light with different discrete NIR wavelengths; and a processor, operably connected to the image sensor and the at least one NIR light source, to acquire image information from the sensor under illumination at one of the different discrete NIR wavelengths. A lens assembly comprises a plurality of lens elements with a total track length no more than 4.7 mm, each lens element comprising a material with a refractive index inversely proportional to wavelength. The different discrete NIR wavelengths are matched with the refractive index of the material for the lens elements to balance axial image shift induced by a change in object distance with axial image shift due to change in illumination wavelength.

Abstract: An optical system for an image acquisition device comprises a filter comprising a central aperture arranged to transmit both visible and selected near infra-red (NIR) wavelengths and a peripheral aperture arranged to block visible wavelengths and to transmit the NIR wavelengths. An image sensor comprises an array of pixels including pixels sensitive to visible wavelengths and corresponding pixels sensitive to the NIR wavelengths. A lens assembly is axially located between the filter and the image sensor and comprises a plurality of lens elements. The lens elements are arranged to simultaneously focus NIR light received from a given object through central and peripheral apertures of the filter and visible light received from the object through the central aperture onto the sensor surface.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for viewing images on an interactive computing device comprises displaying an image from a stack comprising a display image and at least one compressed sub-image of nominally the same scene, each of the sub-images of the stack having been acquired at respective focal distances. Responsive to a user selecting a portion of the displayed image, the selected portion is mapped to a corresponding mapped portion of a sub-image within the stack according to the difference in focal distances between the displayed image and the sub-image. At least one row of compressed image blocks of the at least one sub-image extending across the mapped portion; and a reference value for a point in the compressed image stream of the sub-image preceding the row of compressed image blocks is determined.

Abstract: A portrait lens configuration for meeting handheld device form factor constraints. First and second meniscus lenses each have a reflective surface to provide internal reflections for transmitting light toward a focal plane. A third lens is positioned between the meniscus lenses and the focal plane. The first lens includes an anterior concave surface having a reflective material extending over a portion thereof. Light received by the first meniscus lens can be transmitted therethrough. The reflective material is positioned along the anterior concave surface to receive light transmitted therethrough and reflected back from the second lens. In an associated method the first meniscus lens is positioned to receive light through a first of two opposing refractive surfaces. After each lens provides an internal reflection, reflected light is transmitted through the second of the two opposing surfaces and then through a bore positioned within the second lens to the third lens.

Abstract: A portrait lens configuration for meeting handheld device form factor constraints. First and second meniscus lenses each have a reflective surface to provide internal reflections for transmitting light toward a focal plane. A third lens is positioned between the meniscus lenses and the focal plane. The first lens includes an anterior concave surface having a reflective material extending over a portion thereof. Light received by the first meniscus lens can be transmitted therethrough. The reflective material is positioned along the anterior concave surface to receive light transmitted therethrough and reflected back from the second lens. In an associated method the first meniscus lens is positioned to receive light through a first of two opposing refractive surfaces. After each lens provides an internal reflection, reflected light is transmitted through the second of the two opposing surfaces and then through a bore positioned within the second lens to the third lens.

Abstract: An optical system for an image acquisition device comprises a filter comprising a central aperture arranged to transmit both visible and selected near infra-red (NIR) wavelengths and a peripheral aperture arranged to block visible wavelengths and to transmit the NIR wavelengths. An image sensor comprises an array of pixels including pixels sensitive to visible wavelengths and corresponding pixels sensitive to the NIR wavelengths. A lens assembly is axially located between the filter and the image sensor and comprises a plurality of lens elements. The lens elements are arranged to simultaneously focus NIR light received from a given object through central and peripheral apertures of the filter and visible light received from the object through the central aperture onto the sensor surface.

Abstract: A method of generating a digital video image uses a wide-angle field of view (WFOV) lens positioned closely in front of an image sensor array so that the image field of the lens is so curved at the sensor array that different regions of the image field are substantially in focus on the sensor array for different positions of the lens. The method comprises selecting a desired region of interest in the image field of the lens, and adjusting the lens/array distance to bring the region of interest into focus on the sensor array. The in-focus region of interest is stored and at least partially corrected for field-of-view distortion due to the WFOV lens. The corrected image is displayed, locally and/or remotely. These steps are cyclically repeated to provide the video image.