NONROTATIONALLY SYMMETRIC LENS, IMAGING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
A singlet lens with opposing first and second surfaces has at least one surface being nonrotationally symmetric, the singlet lens substantially maintaining a ratio of magnification along orthogonal axes. The nonrotationally symmetric surface may be used in an imaging system, which may be used in a mobile handset.
1 . A singlet lens having opposing first and second surfaces, at least one surface being nonrotationally symmetric, the singlet lens substantially maintaining a ratio of magnification along orthogonal axes.
2 . The singlet lens as claimed in claim 1 , wherein both first and second surfaces are nonrotationally symmetric.
3 . The singlet lens as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the nonrotationally symmetric surface is an xy polynomial or a Zernike polynomial.
4 . An imaging system, comprising:
a first optical surface adjacent an input plane;
a detector; and
a second optical surface between the first optical surface and the detector, the second optical surface being non-rotationally symmetric, wherein the first optical surface, the detector, and the second optical surface are linearly arranged.
5 . The imaging system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the second optical surface is a closest optical surface to the detector.
6 . The imaging system as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising a third optical surface between the first optical surface and the second optical surface, the third optical surface being non-rotationally symmetric.
7 . The imaging system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the third optical surface is opposite the second optical surface on a substrate.
8 . The imaging system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein at least two of the first optical surface, the detector, and the second optical surface are secured on a wafer level before being singulated.
9 . The imaging system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the detector is a non-rotationally symmetric array of sensing elements and the second optical surface is optimized for the non-rotationally symmetric array.
10 . The imaging system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the non-rotationally symmetric array is a rectangle.
11 . The imaging system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the second optical surface is an xy polynomial or a Zernike polynomial.
12 . The imaging system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the second optical surface is an xy polynomial or a Zernike polynomial.
13 . The imaging system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the second optical surface is spaced from an aperture stop of the imaging system.
14 . The imaging system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the second optical surface serves as a vignetting aperture for the imaging system.
15 . A mobile handset including an imaging system as claimed in claim 4 .
16 . A method of creating a nonrotationally symmetric lens surface, comprising:
replacing a radial term in a conventional lens design with a nonrotationally symmetric polynomial;
optimizing a nonrotationally symmetric lens design; and
forming a plurality of nonrotationally symmetric lens surfaces on a wafer in accordance with the optimized nonrotationally symmetric lens design.
17 . The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the nonrotationally symmetric polynomial is an XY polynomial or a Zernike polynomial.
18 . The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein forming includes replicating the plurality of nonrotationally symmetric lens surfaces on the wafer.
19 . The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein optimizing includes matching the nonrotationally symmetric lens design to a nonrotationally symmetric element in a system into which the nonrotationally symmetric lens surface is to be incorporated.
20 . The method as claimed in claim 19 , further comprising, before separating the plurality of nonrotationlly symmetric lens surfaces from the wafer, securing a plurality of nonrotationally symmetric elements adjacent the nonrotationally symmetric lens surfaces.