Abstract: Scene intensity measuring and illumination source detection apparatus for determining scene illuminant and appropriate exposure settings for an image capture device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a diffractive optical element including an off-axis segment for dispersing incident scene illumination into its spectral components and for focusing the incident scene illumination, a structure responsive to the spectral intensities of the spectral components of the incident scene illumination for producing detection signals corresponding to such spectral components, a structure coupled to the sensing means for producing digitized detection signals, and a structure responsive to the digitized detection signals for determining the scene illuminant and the appropriate exposure settings for the image capture device.

Abstract: A lenslet array system for imaging an associated object onto a final image plane includes (i) a first assembly including a baffle structure and a first lenslet array having an associated image plane and (ii) a second assembly including a second lenslet array.The first lenslet array accepts a full field of view subtends by the associated object and forms a plurality of image sections of the associated object on an intermediate image plane. The first lenslet array includes a plurality of positive power lenslets, each of the plurality of lenslets having a focal length f.sub.1 and accepting a unique segment of the full field of view subtended by the associated object. These segments of the full field of view together comprise the full field of view, and each of the lenslets forms one image section corresponding to its segment of the full view.

Abstract: A catadioptric lens system may be operated in the telephoto mode to allow images of distant objects to be formed with large image plane magnification and be part of a camera body wherein a rear reflective section of the catadioptric lens system is provided by a front face of the camera body which has a clear aperture centered about the optical axis. An image is focused at the film plane. The catadioptric lens system has a diffractive/refractive hybrid singlet lens which corrects off-axis aberrations and decreases the overall lens length. The front surface of the lens defines an asphere. The back surface has a diffractive lens with annular blazed zones. The back surface also has an inner portion which is reflective and may have the same curvature as the transmissive section of the singlet (the back surface base curve of the from which the blazed zones extend). The lens system provides catadioptric imaging (sometimes called contracurrent or katoptric imaging) at the film plane.

Abstract: A lenslet array system for imaging an associated object onto a final image plane includes (i) a first lens assembly including a field limiting mask and a first lenslet array having an associated image plane and (ii) a second assembly including a second lenslet array accepting light from said first lenslet array. The first lenslet array accepts a full field of view in excess of 20 degrees and forms a plurality of image sections of the associated object on an intermediate image plane. The first lenslet array includes a plurality of positive power lenslets, each of the plurality of lenslets having a focal length f.sub.1 and accepting a unique segment of the full field of view subtended by the associated object. These segments of the full field of view together comprise the full field of view, and each of the lenslets forms one image section corresponding to its segment of the full view. The second lenslet array of the second assembly accepts light from said first assembly.

Abstract: A wide angle zoom lens suitable for use in cameras for providing sufficiently wide range of field angles to cover a frame of a film in the camera provides performance comparable to zoom lenses having more elements. The wide angle zoom lens has four elements in three groups which are moveable with respect to each other. The front group has a diffractive lens formed on a curved surface thereof. The second or intermediate group and the front group has surfaces are aspheres for aberration correction as does a surface of a single element third group. Chromatic aberration is corrected by the diffractive lens in combination with the lens of the other groups over the zoom range. The third group lens is formed with glass with lower dispersion (higher Abbe number) than the lenses of the other groups. The second group has two lenses one of which may be a low power, negative, meniscus lens which is made of plastic thereby further reducing the cost of the zoom lens.

Abstract: A compact zoom lens with three lens units of positive, positive and negative optical powers, respectfully. The front and the rear lens units move together for zooming and the middle unit moves independently. There is one aspheric surface in each of the three lens units. An aperture stop is located with the front lens unit.

Abstract: A hybrid refractive and diffractive achromatic lens suited for single-use or inexpensive single-lens cameras operating in visible spectral range. The lens comprises a body of optically transmissive material having an index of refraction at a wavelength approximately at the center of said range of at least 1.45. The lens body having a first and second surface on opposite sides thereof, at least one of said surfaces being curved to provide a refractive portion having power and introduces chromatic aberration, the lens having a diffractive portion having power which substantially achromatizes the lens for the chromatic aberration of the refraction portion over about 440 nm to about 650 nm range.

Abstract: A viewfinder having an optical axis and comprising a negative lens component including a lens element having a first diffractive surface which introduces a phase modification .phi.(r) into a light wavefront passing through this diffractive surface and a positive lens component receiving phase modified light from the negative power lens component.

Abstract: An autofocus module generates a beam of light that is divergent in the horizontal direction and collimated in the vertical direction. The beam is formed using a laser diode and a diffractively achromatized toroidal lens. A pair of receiver lenses which have focal lengths that are longer and shorter than the distance to a photodetector plane are positioned to receive the beam reflecting from an object. A pair of photodetectors, positioned at the photodetector plane, each providing an output signal that is indicative of the amount of light received by a associated receiving lens. The difference in the output signals is a function of the distance of the object from the detector plane and may be used to drive a camera lens to a desired focus position or to provide an indication of the object from the module.

Abstract: In one embodiment a diffractive element, having at least one surface formed as a plurality of blazed diffractive features that are curved and decentered to focus and chromatically disperse incident light into Red Green and Blue spots. An array of the diffractive elements is disclosed for separating incident light from a color image to form Red, Green, and Blue, separations of the image without the use of filters.

Abstract: A blur filter for use with a multi-element electro-optical sensor is formed with a plurality of diffractive elements positioned adjacent each other with each of the elements being comprised of uniformly spaced concentric diffractive features. The plurality of diffractive elements are secured in a plane near the sensing surfaces of a multi-element electro-optical sensor. Each element of the multi-element sensor has a plurality of sensing surfaces for receiving incident light from a plurality of diffractive features.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a diffractive surface comprising: rotating a surface to be cut at a rate W>1,500 RPM; translating a cutting tip at low speed V where V<1.2 mm/minute; and cutting the surface with the cutting tip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing on to a photosensitive material. The apparatus includes a light source for producing light composed of at least two colors, a collimator for collimating the light produced by the light source so as form a beam of light, a modulator for modulating the beam of light in accordance with one of the predetermined color components, a filter for filtering out the color component which has been modulated, and a beam directing device for directing the modulated colored filter beam of light, onto a photosensitive material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a diffractive surface comprising: rotating a surface to be cut at a rate W>1,500 RPM; translating a cutting tip at low speed V where V<1.2 mm/minute; and cutting the surface with the cutting tip.

Abstract: A hybrid refractive and diffractive achromatic lens suited for single-use or inexpensive single-lens cameras operating in visible spectral range. The lens comprises a body of optically transmissive material having an index of refraction at a wavelength approximately at the center of said range of at least 1.45. The lens body having a first and second surface on opposite sides thereof, at least one of said surfaces being curved to provide a refractive portion having power and introduces chromatic aberration, the lens having a diffractive portion having power which substantially achromatizes the lens for the chromatic aberration of the refraction portion over about 440 nm to about 650 nm range.

Abstract: A multispot autofocus system, usable with a camera, includes a radiation emitter for emitting visible or infrared radiation. The radiation is divided into at least three discrete beams of radiation by one or more holographic and/or diffractive optical elements. The beams of radiation are directed to different areas of a scene to be recorded. An amount of radiation reflected from the scene is measured. A correct focus position of an optical system of the camera is determined based on the amount of radiation reflected from the scene which is measured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for writing onto a photosensitive material with a single white light source. The apparatus includes a light source for producing a light composed of at least two color components, a collimating lens for collimating the light emanating from the light source so as to form a beam of light, and a beam splitter for splitting the beam of light into a plurality of individual predetermined beams of light, each having a different color. A modulator is also provided for modulating the intensity of each of the color beams of light individually in accordance with image data for each of the colors. The individual light beams are then recombined into a single beam of light and directed onto a photosensitive material.

Abstract: A hybrid refractive and diffractive achromatic lens suited for single-use or inexpensive single-lens cameras operating in visible spectral range. The lens comprises a body of optically transmissive material having an index of refraction at a wavelength approximately at the center of said range of at least 1.45. The lens body having a first and second surface on opposite sides thereof, at least one of said surfaces being curved to provide a refractive portion having power and introduces chromatic aberration, the lens having a diffractive portion having power which substantially achromatizes the lens for the chromatic aberration of the refraction portion over about 440 nm to about 650 nm range.

Abstract: A device for identifying a perimeter of a scene to be recorded by an image recording apparatus, such as a camera, includes one or more laser diodes for emitting visible radiation which can be formed into a plurality of beams. The beams are arranged to impinge on a scene substantially along a perimeter of the scene. The visible light impinging on the scene allows a camera operator to identify the scene which is within the camera's field of view without the camera operator having to look through the camera's viewfinder.

Abstract: A camera includes a laser diode for emitting visible laser light towards a human subject whose image is to be recorded. The laser light is divided into a plurality of discrete, aiming beams of radiation by a pair of holographic and/or diffractive elements. The discrete beams are separated by a distance of at least about 7 mm. The laser light identifies where the camera is being aimed without damaging the retina of the human subject.