Abstract: A method of designing an imaging system including an optical system having a longitudinal optical axis, an image sensor and a spatial filter, the imaging system being configured to form an image of a focusing plane on the image sensor. The optical transfer function of the optical system combined with the spatial filter is calculated as a function of the image spatial frequencies, and of the focusing defect (?), so as to determine a contrast map and a phase map of the optical system combined with the pupil function of the spatial filter, the contrast map and the phase map being a function, of the spatial frequency (f), and of the focusing defect (?), and it is determined, based on these maps, a value of longitudinal extension (|P|) of the imaging system focusing depth domain in the useful range of spatial frequencies ([?fc; fc]) and an average contrast C.

Abstract: A system includes a simultaneously bifocal diffractive lens component having a first focal point, a second focal point and a plurality of diffractive zones including a central zone and a plurality of annular concentric zones surrounding the central zone, the lens component having a first optical power and a second optical power associated with the first and second focal points respectively, the first and second focal points respectively corresponding to points of convergence of the most luminous orders of diffraction generated by the lens component for a nominal wavelength, the first system focal point and the second system focal point having a position dependent upon the value of the first optical power and the second optical power of the lens respectively, the central zone having a surface area value determined as a function of the pupil of the optical system, of the first optical power and the second optical power.

Abstract: A method of designing an imaging system including an optical system having a longitudinal optical axis, an image sensor and a spatial filter, the imaging system being configured to form an image of a focusing plane on the image sensor. The optical transfer function of the optical system combined with the spatial filter is calculated as a function of the image spatial frequencies, and of the focusing defect (?), so as to determine a contrast map and a phase map of the optical system combined with the pupil function of the spatial filter, the contrast map and the phase map being a function, of the spatial frequency (f), and of the focusing defect (?), and it is determined, based on these maps, a value of longitudinal extension (|P|) of the imaging system focusing depth domain in the useful range of spatial frequencies ([?fc; fc]) and an average contrast C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transparent optical component having a cellular structure, comprising a network of walls (106), that forms a set of cells (104) that are juxtaposed parallel to a component surface. In order to produce such a component, an irregular set of points (101, 105) in the surface of the component is determined, each point being used to form a center of one of the cells. A position and an orientation of each wall are then determined such that the set of cells forms a Voronoï partition of the surface of the component. The component has a level of transparency that is compatible with an optical or ophthalmological use.

Abstract: A system includes a simultaneously bifocal diffractive lens component having a first focal point, a second focal point and a plurality of diffractive zones including a central zone and a plurality of annular concentric zones surrounding the central zone, the lens component having a first optical power and a second optical power associated with the first and second focal points respectively, the first and second focal points respectively corresponding to points of convergence of the most luminous orders of diffraction generated by the lens component for a nominal wavelength, the first system focal point and the second system focal point having a position dependent upon the value of the first optical power and the second optical power of the lens respectively, the central zone having a surface area value determined as a function of the pupil of the optical system, of the first optical power and the second optical power.

Abstract: A transparent optical element (100), includes a plurality of stacked layers (1, 2), each of which consist of cells in which optical phase-shift values are provided. The layers are arranged such that boundaries between certain contiguous cells of one of the layers cut into cells of another layer. In this way, a useful apparent cell size can be reduced so as to reproduce a target optical phase-shift distribution with greater precision. Additionally, the maximum amplitude of optical phase shift variations that are produced by the element increases with the number of stacked layers. The chromatism of the diopter function of the element can also be reduced.

Abstract: A transparent optical element (100), includes a plurality of stacked layers (1, 2), each of which consist of cells in which optical phase-shift values are provided. The layers are arranged such that boundaries between certain contiguous cells of one of the layers cut into cells of another layer. In this way, a useful apparent cell size can be reduced so as to reproduce a target optical phase-shift distribution with greater precision. Additionally, the maximum amplitude of optical phase shift variations that are produced by the element increases with the number of stacked layers. The chromatism of the diopter function of the element can also be reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transparent optical component having a cellular structure, comprising a network of walls (106), that forms a set of cells (104) that are juxtaposed parallel to a component surface. In order to produce such a component, an irregular set of points (101, 105) in the surface of the component is determined, each point being used to form a centre of one of the cells. A position and an orientation of each wall are then determined such that the set of cells forms a Voronoï partition of the surface of the component. The component has a level of transparency that is compatible with an optical or ophthalmological use.

Abstract: A transparent optical component comprises two sets of cells (1) disposed in respective superposed layers (10, 20). Each cell (1) contains an optically active material, and the cells in each set are isolated from one another by separating portions (2) within the corresponding layer. The cells (1) of one layer are offset relative to the cells of the other layer so as to be located in line with the separating portions (2) pertaining to the other layer. Such optical component exhibits transparency that is improved compared with components having a single layer of cells or cells that are superposed.

Abstract: A transparent optical component comprises two sets of cells (1) disposed in respective superposed layers (10, 20). Each cell (1) contains an optically active material, and the cells in each set are isolated from one another by separating portions (2) within the corresponding layer. The cells (1) of one layer are offset relative to the cells of the other layer so as to be located in line with the separating portions (2) pertaining to the other layer. Such optical component exhibits transparency that is improved compared with components having a single layer of cells or cells that are superposed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacture of an optical lens providing refractive index modulation, characterized in that, starting from a lens of transparent hydrophilic polymer preferably of the hydrogel type, which has previously been shaped, the lens is impregnated with a photopolymerizable composition containing at least one monomer and a photoinitiator, which are in solution in water in the case of a hydrogel, the impregnated lens is subjected to locally modulated irradiation so as to cause local selective polymerization of the monomer, whereupon the excess non-hardened photoinitiator and non-pulverizable monomer is removed.

Abstract: The manufacture of an artificial optical lens having any given power profile starts from an artificial optical lens having a different power profile. A physical-chemical treatment method modifies the power profile to obtain a required power profile. A rotating mask is used for spatial modulation of the energy flux.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ophthalmic lens which characteristically comprises at least two concentric regions having diffractive components with different phase profiles in order to use different orders of diffraction. The diffractive components may be formed by holograms in relief or index holograms.

Abstract: A diffractive contact lens in relief includes a smoothing layer (50) of optically transparent material having a smooth outside surface (51) and placed over the optical surface (16) in relief so as to immerse the relief.

Abstract: A holographic apparatus of the type comprising a conoscopic system including a birefringent crystal inserted between two polarizers, wherein the apparatus also includes an aperture angle limiter inserted on the path of the light rays and wherein one of the birefringent crystal and the aperture angle limiter is disposed off the optical axis of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical lens for correcting astigmatism. It includes diffractive components whose outlines are delimited by conic section curves having non-degenerate centers. More precisely, in accordance with the invention, the lens includes adjacent diffractive components having hyperbolic or elliptical outlines with a periodicity in r.sup.2 in two mutually orthogonal directions x and y intersecting on the axis of the lens and coinciding with the main axes of the hyperbolas or of the ellipses, which are determined respectively by the equations: .DELTA.r.sub.x.sup.2 =2.lambda..vertline.f.sub.x .vertline.; and .DELTA.r.sub.y.sup.2 =2.lambda..vertline.f.sub.y .vertline.; in which: .DELTA.r.sub.x.sup.2 represents the periodicity in r.sup.2 along the x direction; .DELTA.r.sub.y.sup.2 represents the periodicity in r.sup.2 along the y direction; .lambda. represents the mean utilization wavelength; f.sub.x represents the desired focal length in the X direction; and f.sub.