Abstract

Conventional imaging methods will cause a serious distortion for large object plane imaging with a limited object-to-sensor distance (OTSD). Here, we propose an imaging method based on the combination of microlens arrays and aperture arrays to realize the low-distortion, large object plane imaging range (OPIR) and compact design imaging at a close OTSD. Two-stage microlens arrays are utilized to reduce the distance between the object and sensor with low distortion, and two-stage aperture arrays are sandwiched between the microlens arrays to eliminate stray light between different microlenses. The theoretical analysis and simulation results indicate that our proposed method can realize low-distortion imaging with a large OPIR when the OTSD is seriously limited. This imaging method can be used widely in small-size optical devices where the OTSD is extremely limited.

© 2018 Optical Society of America

Image multiplexer using a planar microlens array

Atsushi Akiba and Kenichi Iga
Appl. Opt. 29(28) 4092-4097 (1990)

Design and fabrication of a freeform microlens array for a compact large-field-of-view compound-eye camera

Lei Li and Allen Y. Yi
Appl. Opt. 51(12) 1843-1852 (2012)

High precision integrated projection imaging optical design based on microlens array

Yue Liu, Dewen Cheng, Tong Yang, and Yongtian Wang
Opt. Express 27(9) 12264-12281 (2019)

Manufacturing of a microlens array mold by a two-step method combining microindentation and precision polishing

Lin Zhang and Allen Y. Yi
Appl. Opt. 59(23) 6945-6952 (2020)

Microlens array camera with variable apertures for single-shot high dynamic range (HDR) imaging

Young-Gil Cha, Jiwoong Na, Hyun-Kyung Kim, Jae-Myeong Kwon, Seok-Haeng Huh, Seung-Un Jo, Chang-Hwan Kim, Min H. Kim, and Ki-Hun Jeong
Opt. Express 31(18) 29589-29595 (2023)