Imaging with extended depth of focus for use with polychromatic light

摘要

An imaging lens unit is presented, comprising an imaging lens having a lens region defining an effective aperture, and a phase coder. The phase coder may be incorporated with or located close to the lens region. The phase coder defines a surface relief along the lens region formed by at least three phase patterns extending along the lens region. Each of the phase patterns differently affecting light components of one of at least three different wavelength ranges while substantially not affecting propagation of light components of other of said at least three wavelength ranges. The surface relief affects light propagation through the lens region to extend a depth of focus for at least one of said at least three wavelength ranges.

主权项

1. An imaging lens unit comprising an imaging lens having a lens region defining an effective aperture, and a phase coder, said phase coder being incorporated with or located close to said lens region, said phase coder defining a surface relief along the lens region, said surface relief being a pattern formed by superposition of at least three phase patterns extending along said lens region and differently affecting light components of one of at least three different wavelength ranges while substantially not affecting propagation of light components of other of said at least three wavelength ranges, said surface relief affecting light propagation through the lens region to extend a depth of focus for at least one of said at least three wavelength ranges.