Abstract: A stereoscopic vision system uses at least two cameras having different parameters to image a scene and create stereoscopic views. The different parameters of the two cameras can be intrinsic or extrinsic, including, for example, the distortion profile of the lens in the cameras, the field of view of the lens, the orientation of the cameras, the positions of the cameras, the color spectrum of the cameras, the frame rate of the cameras, the exposure time of the cameras, the gain of the cameras, the aperture size of the lenses, or the like. An image processing apparatus is then used to process the images from the at least two different cameras to provide optimal stereoscopic vision to a display.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are directed to optical systems creating an optical image on an image sensor, the optical image having at least one foveated region of interest created using at least one localized magnification optical feature on an optical surface. The optical system can be useful to increase the number of infrared pixels that are used to image a specific target which is only in a part of the object scene, while still being able to image the whole scene in the RGB part of the spectrum. In a preferred embodiment, the optical system is used in an automotive scenario to image with higher resolution the driver in order to more efficiently run face tracking and recognition algorithms.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a wide angle image to improve the perspectives and the visual appeal thereof wide-angle images uses custom adaptive dewarping. The method is based on the scene image content of recognized objects in the image, the position of these objects in the image, the depth of these objects in the scene with respect to other objects and the general context of the image.

Abstract: A method for designing an optical system for providing reliable, robust and successful realization of a distortion variation function is presented. In a preferred embodiment, the proposed distortion variation optical system includes at least two non-symmetrical elements, which are moving in the transverse direction. The proposed freeform lens contains two transmissive refractive surfaces. The freeform elements designed with this method have preferably a flat surface and a non-symmetrical freeform surface. The two plano-surfaces are preferably made to face each other, so that a miniature camera can be offered. The value of the non-symmetrical freeform surface is used to produce variable optical power when the two freeform elements undergo a relative movement in the vertical direction. Using this method, an optical system with an active distortion, smaller form factor, and better imaging quality can be obtained.

Abstract: An optical apparatus captures images of a wide-angle scene with a single camera having a continuous panomorph zoom distortion profile. When combined with a processing unit, the hybrid zoom system creates an output image with constant resolution while allowing continuous adjustment in the magnification and field of view of the image without interpolation like a digital zoom system or without any moving parts like an optical zoom system.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a wide angle image to improve the perspectives and the visual appeal thereof wide-angle images uses custom adaptive dewarping. The method is based on the scene image content of recognized objects in the image, the position of these objects in the image, the depth of these objects in the scene with respect to other objects and the general context of the image.

Abstract: In embodiments of optical systems with at least one metalens containing at least one metasurface, the addition of the at least one metalens element is used to modify by at least ±5% either the f*tan(?) distortion, the f*? distortion or the resolution of the designed optical system compared to a reference optical system without the metalens. The method presented using at least one metalens can be used as well for monochromatic as for polychromatic optical systems. The at least one metalens element can also be used, in addition to modifying the distortion or the resolution of the optical system, to modify at the same time other optical properties like the image quality. The metalens has at least one metasurface made of nano structure elements and their shape, size, position and orientation depend on the required optical properties of the metalens.

Abstract: A method to design miniature wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses by using on-purpose distortion to have shorter focal length than usual for a given image sensor size and a desired image projection. This results in optical systems having miniaturization ratio, defined as the ratio between the total track length and the image footprint diameter, smaller than 0.8. The resulting image from these systems having on-purpose distortion can then be processed with a processor to remove the on-purpose distortion and to output an image with the targeted distortion profile.

Abstract: An optical apparatus captures images of a wide-angle scene with a single camera having a continuous panomorph zoom distortion profile. When combined with a processing unit, the hybrid zoom system creates an output image with constant resolution while allowing continuous adjustment in the magnification and field of view of the image without interpolation like a digital zoom system or without any moving parts like an optical zoom system.

Abstract: A miniature wide-angle imaging lens has a miniaturization ratio, of a total track length from the center of a first surface to a focal plane by an image circle diameter, with a value less than 3.0. The imaging lens includes, starting from an object side of the lens, a first group of at least three optical elements, a second group including an aperture stop and an optical element immediately in front of or behind the aperture stop, and a third group of at least two optical elements.

Abstract: A method to design miniature wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses by using on-purpose distortion to have shorter focal length than usual for a given image sensor size and a desired image projection. This results in optical systems having miniaturization ratio, defined as the ratio between the total track length and the image footprint diameter, smaller than 0.8. The resulting image from these systems having on-purpose distortion can then be processed with a processor to remove the on-purpose distortion and to output an image with the targeted distortion profile.

Abstract: A method for designing an optical system for providing reliable, robust and successful realization of a distortion variation function is presented. In a preferred embodiment, the proposed distortion variation optical system includes at least two non-symmetrical elements, which are moving in the transverse direction. The proposed freeform lens contains two transmissive refractive surfaces. The freeform elements designed with this method have preferably a flat surface and a non-symmetrical freeform surface. The two plano-surfaces are preferably made to face each other, so that a miniature camera can be offered. The value of the non-symmetrical freeform surface is used to produce variable optical power when the two freeform elements undergo a relative movement in the vertical direction. Using this method, an optical system with an active distortion, smaller form factor, and better imaging quality can be obtained.

Abstract: Miniature optical lenses are disclosed having a ratio of the optical image diameter divided by the total track length that is greater than 0.85. These thin optical lenses are often used in applications requiring large image sensors and small thickness like in consumer electronic applications. The miniature optical lenses presented have fields of view between 130° and 170° or more specifically inside the well-desired 140° to 160° field of view range in order to cover the ultra-wide-angle field of view range. The optical lenses presented also respect some dimensionless ratios in order to maximize the optical performance of the lenses.

Abstract: A stereoscopic vision system uses at least two cameras having different parameters to image a scene and create stereoscopic views. The different parameters of the two cameras can be intrinsic or extrinsic, including, for example, the distortion profile of the lens in the cameras, the field of view of the lens, the orientation of the cameras, the positions of the cameras, the color spectrum of the cameras, the frame rate of the cameras, the exposure time of the cameras, the gain of the cameras, the aperture size of the lenses, or the like. An image processing apparatus is then used to process the images from the at least two different cameras to provide optimal stereoscopic vision to a display.

Abstract: A method for designing an optical system creating at least two optical images with different field of view on a common image plane. The optical system includes at least one common optical element receiving the rays of light from the object, at least one splitting element to separate the rays of light in a primary and at least one secondary optical path, at least one reflecting element to orient the rays, at least one element forming an image in the primary path and at least one element forming an image in each secondary path. When an image sensor is located in the common image plane, at least one digital image file can be created from the optical images. Further image processing of the at least one digital image is possible in order to further improve the output from the system.

Abstract: A method for designing an optical system for providing reliable, robust and successful realization of a distortion variation function is presented. In a preferred embodiment, the proposed distortion variation optical system includes at least two non-symmetrical elements, which are moving in the transverse direction. The proposed freeform lens contains two transmissive refractive surfaces. The freeform elements designed with this method have preferably a flat surface and a non-symmetrical freeform surface. The two plano-surfaces are preferably made to face each other, so that a miniature camera can be offered. The value of the non-symmetrical freeform surface is used to produce variable optical power when the two freeform elements undergo a relative movement in the vertical direction. Using this method, an optical system with an active distortion, smaller form factor, and better imaging quality can be obtained.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a wide angle image to improve the perspectives and the visual appeal thereof wide-angle images uses custom adaptive dewarping. The method is based on the scene image content of recognized objects in the image, the position of these objects in the image, the depth of these objects in the scene with respect to other objects and the general context of the image.

Abstract: A stereoscopic vision system uses at least two cameras having different parameters to image a scene and create stereoscopic views. The different parameters of the two cameras can be intrinsic or extrinsic, including, for example, the distortion profile of the lens in the cameras, the field of view of the lens, the orientation of the cameras, the positions of the cameras, the color spectrum of the cameras, the frame rate of the cameras, the exposure time of the cameras, the gain of the cameras, the aperture size of the lenses, or the like. An image processing apparatus is then used to process the images from the at least two different cameras to provide optimal stereoscopic vision to a display.

Abstract: A method for controlling an optical system including at least one active light-controlling element to better control the illumination of a scene when imaged on an image sensor is presented. This active light-controlling element is used to control the amount of light in an image zone depending on an electric signal from a controller. This allows imaging scenes with bright objects without over-exposure or scenes with dark objects without under-exposure on the image sensor. After image processing to reverse the effect of the active light-controlling element, the resulting processed images have an enhanced depth without the drawbacks associated to traditional HDR imaging. The method can use any shape of sub-elements in the active light-controlling element depending on the application. The method can also be used with multiple active light-controlling surfaces to further control the light on the image sensor, including separating the colors in the image.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a wide angle image to improve the perspectives and the visual appeal thereof wide-angle images uses custom adaptive dewarping. The method is based on the scene image content of recognized objects in the image, the position of these objects in the image, the depth of these objects in the scene with respect to other objects and the general context of the image.