Imaging using a multifocal aspheric lens to obtain extended depth of field
US7554750B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jun 30, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 3, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/80
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system for imaging with a circularly symmetric multifocal aspheric lens is provided for obtaining an extended depth of field. The system includes a camera for capturing an image of at least one object through a circularly symmetric multifocal aspheric lens to provide a blurred image, and a computer system for processing the captured blurred image to provide a recovered image of the object having an extended depth of field. The recovered image may be outputted to a display or other peripheral device. Processing of the blurred image utilizes one of inverse filtering, convolution matrix (e.g., edge sharpening matrix), or maximum entropy. The computer system performing image processing may be in the camera or represent a computer system external to the camera which receives the blurred image. The extended depth of field is characterized by the object being in focus over a range of distances in the recovered image.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.