Overlapping Apertures Diffractive Optical Lens

This invention describes a diffractive optical lens that utilizes overlapping apertures for higher resolution images than conventional methods. The inventors have created a lens design, method of manufacturing, and an imaging instrument to utilize the lens that is based on overlapping apertures where a single coherent light illumination is used, and multiple images of the object are measured simultaneously, which can be used to construct a higher resolution image of the object. This has the potential to be superior in function and resolution in image capturing compared to the current standard.

Background:
In many optical applications such as handheld or smartphone cameras, multi-focal lenses, and flat lenses use a traditional method of object construction by measuring multiple images of the object under different coherent light illumination with specific measurements to reconstruct the resulting image.

Applications:

  • Smartphone cameras
  • Handheld cameras and camera lenses
  • Medical imaging
  • Remote sensing
  • Surveillance
  • Laser collimation and illumination


Advantages:

  • Higher resolution
  • Overlapping aperture technology
  • Low form factor
Patent Information: