Monocentric lenses have recently changed from primarily a historic curiosity to a potential solution for panoramic high-resolution imagers, where the spherical image surface is directly detected by curved image sensors or optically transferred onto multiple conventional flat focal planes. We compare imaging and waveguide-based transfer of the spherical image surface formed by the monocentric lens onto planar image sensors, showing that both approaches can make the system input aperture and resolution substantially independent of the input angle. We present aberration analysis that demonstrates that wide-field monocentric lenses can be focused by purely axial translation and describe a systematic design process to identify the best designs for two-glass symmetric monocentric lenses. Finally, we use this approach to design an $F/1.7$, 12 mm focal length imager with an up to 160° field of view and show that it compares favorably in size and performance to conventional wide-angle imagers.

© 2012 Optical Society of America

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• FOCOIVA Lens: A Scanner in the Lateral and Longitudinal Directions (AO)
• Design of a relay lens with telecentricity in a holographic recording system (AO)
• Design of a freeform varifocal panoramic optical system with specified annular center of field of view (OE)
• Analysis of three-element zoom lens based on refractive variable-focus lenses (OE)
• Space-bandwidth scaling for wide field-of-view imaging (AO)

Related Conference Papers

• Twenty-First Century Optical Tolerancing: A Look at the Past and Improvements for the Future
• Optical Design of a Compact and Anastigmatic Telescope with Three Mirrors
• Tuning a Lens Design Optimization for Digital Mammography Applications
• Tapered Gradient Index Microlenses for Compound Lens Arrays
• Mathematical and Computer Model for Designing Telescope with Segmented-Mirror