Abstract: Systems and methods include optics having one or more phase modifying elements that modify wavefront phase to introduce image attributes into an optical image. A detector converts the optical image to electronic data while maintaining the image attributes. A signal processor subdivides the electronic data into one or more data sets, classifies the data sets, and independently processes the data sets to form processed electronic data. The processing may optionally be nonlinear. Other imaging systems and methods include optics having one or more phase modifying elements that modify wavefront phase to form an optical image. A detector generates electronic data having one or more image attributes that are dependent on characteristics of the phase modifying elements and/or the detector. A signal processor subdivides the electronic data into one or more data sets, classifies the data sets and independently processes the data sets to form processed electronic data.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a wavefront coding element that codes a wavefront forming an optical image, a detector for converting the optical image to a data stream and an image processor for processing the data stream with a reduced set filter kernel to reverse effects of wavefront coding and generate a final image. The reduced set filter kernel may include a reduced set distributive filter kernel. An image processing method includes wavefront coding a wavefront that forms an optical image, converting the optical image to a data stream, and processing the data stream with a reduced set filter kernel to reverse effects of wavefront coding and generate a final image. The processing consists of processing the image, for each pixel, with filter tap logic consisting of a shifter.

Abstract: An image processing method includes wavefront coding a wavefront that forms an optical image, converting the optical image to a data stream and processing the data stream with a reduced set filter kernel to reverse effects of wavefront coding and generate a final image. An optical imaging system includes a wavefront coding element that codes a wavefront forming an optical image, a detector for converting the optical image to a data stream and an image processor for processing the data stream with a reduced set filter kernel to reverse effects of wavefront coding and generate a final image. The image processor implements a filter tap, for each pixel, with logic consisting of (a) a shifter or (b) a shifter and an adder.

Abstract: Systems and methods include optics having one or more phase modifying elements that modify wavefront phase to introduce image attributes into an optical image. A detector converts the optical image to electronic data while maintaining the image attributes. A signal processor subdivides the electronic data into one or more data sets, classifies the data sets, and independently processes the data sets to form processed electronic data. The processing may optionally be nonlinear. Other imaging systems and methods include optics having one or more phase modifying elements that modify wavefront phase to form an optical image. A detector generates electronic data having one or more image attributes that are dependent on characteristics of the phase modifying elements and/or the detector. A signal processor subdivides the electronic data into one or more data sets, classifies the data sets and independently processes the data sets to form processed electronic data.

Abstract: Zoom lens systems and methods for imaging incoming rays over a range of ray angles are disclosed. The incoming rays are characterized by at least phase. The zoom lens system includes an optical axis and is characterized by a plurality of modulation transfer functions (MTFs) corresponding at least to the range of ray angles. The zoom lens system includes an optical group disposed along the optical axis, including at least one variable optical element that has a variable focal length selectable between at least two distinct focal length values. The optical group also includes a wavefront coding element. The wavefront coding element alters at least the phase of the incoming rays, such that the plurality of MTFs corresponding to the range of ray angles, for each one of the two distinct focal length values, are less sensitive to misfocus-like aberrations than a corresponding system without the wavefront coding element.

Abstract: An optical imaging system includes optics for imaging a wavefront of electromagnetic radiation to form an image at a detector. The system also includes a plurality of optical phase filters. Each of the phase filters alters phase of the wavefront. The phase filters cooperate to make the system less sensitive to misfocus, as compared to the optical imaging system without the phase filters. Another optical imaging system includes a detector and optics having two or more optical elements for imaging a wavefront onto the detector. The optical elements include aspherical surfaces that cooperate to alter phase of the wavefront such that the optics are less sensitive to defocus as compared to the optics without the aspherical surfaces. The system also includes a post processor for reversing phase alteration induced by the aspherical surfaces to produce an in-focus electronic image.

Abstract: An imaging system for reducing aberrations from an intervening medium, and an associated method of use are provided. The system may be an optical or task-based optical imaging system including optics, such as a phase mask, for imaging a wavefront of the system to an intermediate image and modifying phase of the wavefront such that an optical transfer function of the system is substantially invariant to focus-related aberrations from the medium. A detector detects the intermediate image, which is further processed by a decoder, removing phase effects from the optics and forming a final image substantially clear of the aberrations. Other systems may employ an encoder that codes wavefronts of acoustical waves propagating through a medium to make the wavefronts substantially invariant to acoustical aberrations from the medium. Imaging and decoding of the wavefronts reverse effects of the wavefront coding and produce sounds substantially free of the aberrations.

Abstract: A method for reducing optical distortion within an optical system employing adaptive optics, includes modifying phase of a wavefront of the optical system with a wavefront coding element. Image data of the optical system is post-processed to remove phase effects induced by the wavefront coding element, to reduce optical distortion caused by the adaptive optics and associated with one or more of quilting, stuck actuator and piston error.

Abstract: A singlet imaging system for imaging an object onto a detector includes a lens configured for producing transverse ray intercept curves which are substantially straight, sloped lines. A wavefront coding element is formed on a surface of the lens and configured such that a modulation transfer function of the lens and wavefront coding element, combined, exhibits reduced variation, over a range of spatial frequencies and caused, at least in part, by aberrations of the lens, as compared to a modulation transfer function of the lens alone, without the wavefront coding element. A post processor is configured for generating an improved modulation transfer function, over the range of spatial frequencies, as compared to the modulation transfer function of the lens and the wavefront coding element.

Abstract: An interference contrast imaging system images phase objects. The system includes an illumination source, illumination optics, polarizing optics for splitting the illumination into orthogonal polarizations and for recombining the polarizations, objective optics that form an image at a detector, a wavefront coding element and a post processor for processing the image by removing a phase shift imparted by the wavefront coding element. The wavefront coding element has an aperture, is between the phase object and the detector, and provides an altered optical transfer function of the imaging system by imparting the phase shift to the illumination transmitted through the wavefront coding element. The altered optical transfer function is insensitive to an object distance between the phase object and the objective optics over a greater range of object distances than would be provided by an optical transfer function of a corresponding interference contrast imaging system without the wavefront coding element.

Abstract: An infrared imaging system for imaging infrared radiation from an object onto a detector includes optics configured for producing, with the infrared radiation, transverse ray intercept curves that are substantially straight, sloped lines. A wavefront coding element is configured such that a modulation transfer function of the optics and wavefront coding element, combined, exhibits reduced variation, over a range of spatial frequencies and caused, at least in part, by thermal variation within the imaging system, as compared to a modulation transfer function of the optics alone, without the wavefront coding element. A post processor is configured for generating an improved modulation transfer function, over the range of spatial frequencies, as compared to the modulation transfer function of the optics and the wavefront coding element.

Abstract: Low height imaging systems may include one or more optical channels and a detector array. Each of the optical channels may be associated with one or more detectors of the array, have one or more optical components and a restrictive ray corrector, and be configured to direct steeper incident angle field rays onto the detectors. Alternatively, each of the optical channels may be associated with at least one detector, and have an aspheric GRIN lens. Another low height imaging system has an array of detectors and a GRIN lens having a surface with wavefront coding and configured to direct steeper incident angle field rays onto more than one of the detectors. One method forms a lens with wavefront coding. The method includes positioning a lens in a mold; and curing material onto a surface of the lens to form an aspheric surface of the lens with wavefront coding.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved Wavefront Coding imaging apparatus and methods composed of optics, a detector, and processing of the detected image. The optics are constructed and arranged to have the characteristic that the transverse ray intercept curves form substantially straight, sloped lines. The wavefront coding corrects for known or unknown amounts of “misfocus-like” aberrations by altering the optical transfer function of the imaging apparatus in such a way that the altered optical transfer function is substantially insensitive to aberrations. Post processing then removes the effect of the coding, except for the invariance with regard to aberrations, thereby producing clear images.

Abstract: A system, method and software product to optimize optical and/or digital system designs. An optical model of the optical system design is generated. A digital model of the digital system design is generated. Simulated output of the optical and digital models is analyzed to produce a score. The score is processed to determine whether the simulated output achieves one or more goals. One or more properties of at least one of the optical model and the digital model is modified if the goals are not achieved. The analyzing, processing and modifying is repeated until the goals are achieved, and an optimized optical system design and optimized digital system design are generated from the optical and digital models.

Abstract: An imaging system for imaging an object onto an image plane. An optical arrangement forms an intermediate image of the object at an intermediate plane with a first value of axial resolution. The imaging system also includes a digital processor configured to process the intermediate image to form a final image of the object at the image plane. The imaging system further includes a specially designed optical element that cooperates with the optical arrangement and the digital processor to define a second value of axial resolution that is greater than the first value.