Optical system with inter-lens baffles

1. An inter-baffle lens unit for an imaging system, comprising:

a plurality of baffles positioned between at least two lens elements, wherein each of the plurality of baffles are contoured to extend between a concave surface of a first lens element and a convex surface of a second lens element such that each of the plurality of baffles is parallel to an optical path of the imaging system; and

wherein, over a portion of a field of view, the first lens element and the second lens element each act as a telecentric lens having a constant viewing angle at any point across a pupil aperture of the imaging system.

2. The inter-baffle lens unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of baffles are arranged in rows and columns.

3. The inter-baffle lens unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of baffles include a plurality of co-axial conical baffle sections.

4. The inter-baffle lens unit of claim 1 , wherein the baffles are made of optically absorbing material selected from a group consisting of carbon composite, plastic and thin black metallic material.

5. The inter-baffle lens unit for an imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of baffles eliminates an introduction of stray light into the imaging system.

6. An optical system, comprising:

at least a first lens and a second lens; and

an array of baffles extending between a concave surface of the first lens and a convex surface of the second lens, forming a baffled lens unit such that each baffle in the array of baffles is parallel to an optical path of the optical system; wherein the array is contoured so that over a portion of a field of view, the first lens element and the second lens element each act as a telecentric lens having a constant viewing angle at any point across a pupil aperture of the optical system.

7. The optical system of claim 6 , wherein the array of baffles includes a plurality of baffles arranged in rows and columns.

8. The optical system of claim 6 , wherein the array of baffles includes a plurality of co-axial conical baffle sections.

9. The optical system of claim 6 , wherein the baffles are made of optically absorbing material selected from a group consisting of carbon composite, plastic and black metallic material.

10. The optical system of claim 6 is used in terrestrial cameras and telescopes of a space vehicle.

11. The optical system of claim 10 , wherein the space vehicle includes a space shuttle, a missile, a space station and an aircraft.

12. The optical system of claim 6 , wherein the array of baffles eliminates an introduction of stray light into the optical system.

13. An optical system, comprising:

a plurality of lenses; and

an array of baffles positioned between each of a plurality of lenses, forming a baffled lens unit; wherein each baffle in the array fits between a concave surface of one lens and a convex surface of another lens and wherein, over a portion of a field of view, each of the plurality of lenses acts as a telecentric lens having a constant viewing angle at any point across a pupil aperture of the optical system.

14. The optical system of claim 13 , wherein the baffles are made of optically absorbing material selected from a group consisting of carbon composite, plastic and black metallic material.

15. The optical system of claim 13 , wherein the array of baffles includes a plurality of baffles arranged in rows and columns.

16. The optical system of claim 13 , wherein the array of baffles includes a plurality of co-axial conical baffle sections.

17. The optical system of claim 13 is used in terrestrial cameras and telescopes of a space vehicle.

18. The optical system of claim 17 , wherein the space vehicle includes a space shuttle, a missile, a space station and an aircraft.

19. The optical system of claim 13 , wherein the array of baffles eliminates an introduction of stray light into the optical system.