Abstract:
A compact three-surface wafer-level lens system for imaging a scene onto an image plane includes a one-sided wafer-level lens and a two-sided wafer-level lens disposed between the one-sided wafer-level lens and the image plane. The total track length of the wafer-level lens system is no more than 2.2 millimeters. The maximum transverse extent (in dimensions transverse to the optical axis) of the lens system and associated light propagating therethrough is no greater than 1.8 millimeters. The field of view angle of the lens system is at least 100 degrees.
Abstract:
A wide-angle camera and fabrication method thereof includes a sensor with a plurality of pixel sub-arrays and an array of optical elements on a first side of a substrate. Each of the optical elements is capable of forming an image from a field of view onto a different one of the pixel sub-arrays. The wide-angle camera also includes an array of achromatic doublet prisms on a second side of the substrate, where each of the achromatic doublet prisms is aligned to provide a viewing angle with a different one of the optical elements. The sensor captures a wide-angle field of view while having a compact format.
Abstract:
A wide-angle camera and fabrication method thereof includes a sensor with a plurality of pixel sub-arrays and an array of optical elements on a first side of a substrate. Each of the optical elements is capable of forming an image from a field of view onto a different one of the pixel sub-arrays. The wide-angle camera also includes an array of achromatic doublet prisms on a second side of the substrate, where each of the achromatic doublet prisms is aligned to provide a viewing angle with a different one of the optical elements. The sensor captures a wide-angle field of view while having a compact format.
Abstract:
A near-eye display device includes (a) a display unit for displaying a display image, (b) a viewing unit for presenting the display image to the eye and transmitting ambient light from an ambient scene toward the eye, and (c) an eye imaging unit including (i) an illumination module for generating at least three infrared light beams propagating along at least three different, non-coplanar directions, respectively, (ii) a first beamsplitter interface, disposed between the display unit and the viewing unit, for merging at least a portion of each of the infrared light beams with visible display light to direct each portion toward the eye via the viewing unit, and (iii) a camera for imaging, via the viewing unit and the first beamsplitter interface, pupil of the eye and reflections of the infrared light beams incident on the eye, to form one or more images indicative of gaze direction of the eye.
Abstract:
A lensed beam-splitter prism array includes a beam-splitter substrate with a plurality of planar and parallel thin-film coatings each spanning a top substrate surface and a bottom substrate surface, and making an oblique angle therebetween, and a lens form layer formed on the top surface and having a plurality of lens forms, each lens form being above one of the plurality of coatings. A method for fabricating a lensed beam-splitter prism includes bonding a plurality of substrates to form a substrate stack having a coating between each adjacent substrate pair. The method also includes forming a stack slice by applying a plurality of parallel cuts at an oblique angle with respect to each coating. Each coating spans a first stack-slice surface and a second stack-slice surface opposing the first stack-slice surface. The method also includes forming a lens form layer on the first stack-slice surface spanning one or more coatings.
Abstract:
A method for packaging applies to packaging a plurality of wafer-level lenses. Each wafer-level lens includes (a) a substrate with opposite facing first and second surfaces and (b) a respective lens element on at least one of the first and second surfaces. Each lens element has a lens surface facing away from the substrate. The method includes partially encasing the plurality of wafer-level lenses with a housing material to produce a wafer of packaged wafer-level lenses. In the wafer of packaged wafer-level lenses, the housing material supports each of the plurality of wafer-level lenses by contacting the respective substrate, and the housing is shaped to form a plurality of housings for the plurality of wafer-level lenses, respectively.
Abstract:
A wafer-level lens system includes a first substrate, a first lens having a planar surface in contact with the first substrate and a concave aspheric surface, a second substrate, a second lens having a convex aspheric surface facing the first lens and a planar surface in contact with the second substrate, a third lens having a planar surface in contact with the second substrate and a concave aspheric surface, a third substrate, a fourth lens having a convex aspheric surface facing the third lens and a planar surface in contact with the third substrate, and a fifth lens having a planar surface in contact with the third substrate and a concave aspheric surface.
Abstract:
A passive speckle-suppressing diffuser includes a microlens array for diffusing a light field originating from one or more coherent light beams, and a diffractive optical element mounted in series with the microlens array and having a pixelated thickness distribution, characterized by a spatial variation across the diffractive optical element, to impose a spatially varying phase shift on the light field. The pixelated thickness distribution may be configured such that the spatially varying phase shift suppresses speckle of the light field while minimizing introduction of distinct diffraction structure. A method for passive speckle-suppressing diffusion a light field originating from one or more coherent light beams may include refracting the light field, through a microlens array, to diffuse the light field, and imposing a spatially varying phase shift on the light field to decohere the light field without introducing any first-order diffraction components deflected beyond angle spread introduced by the microlens array.
Abstract:
An endoscope imager includes a system-in-package and a specularly reflective surface. The system-in-package includes (a) a camera module having an imaging lens with an optical axis and (b) an illumination unit. The system-in-package includes (a) a camera module having an imaging lens with an optical axis and (b) an illumination unit configured to emit illumination propagating in a direction away from the imaging lens, the direction having a component parallel to the optical axis. The specularly reflective surface faces the imaging lens and forming an oblique angle with the optical axis, to deflect the illumination toward a scene and deflect light from the scene toward the camera module.
Abstract:
A low-height projector assembly includes a biconvex lens, a converging lens, an aperture stop, and a beam-steerer between the biconvex lens and the converging lens. The biconvex lens has a principal plane, a focal length, and a first optical axis. The converging lens has a second optical axis laterally offset from the first. The beam-steerer is configured to steer light from the biconvex lens to the converging lens. An aperture-stop plane intersects the second optical axis and the aperture stop. On the second optical axis, at least one of a front surface and a back surface of the converging lens is between the aperture-stop plane and the beam-steerer. The axial chief ray's propagation distance from the principal plane to the aperture stop differs from the focal length by less than half the depth of focus of the biconvex lens.