Based on reflective liquid crystal spatial light modulator (SLM), a new foveated optical imaging system is proposed. High quality imaging can be realized at any region of interest (ROI) within the field-of-view (FOV) by utilizing the SLM to correct the aberration of different regions dynamically. A reflective cassegrain optical structure is proposed, which is designed, optimized and matched with the reflective SLM to construct a more practical foveated imaging system. This reflective imaging system has a large aperture so that enough light can reach the image plane. It also makes the total length of the system shorter and therefore more practical. We also simulate and analyze the system. This kind of foveated optical imaging system can be applied in wide FOV imaging aspects to reduce bandwidth and optics complexity, and to achieve weight reduction and miniaturization.

Date Published: 9 November 2010
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 7849, Optical Design and Testing IV, 78491I (9 November 2010); doi: 10.1117/12.868771

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7849:
Optical Design and Testing IV
Yongtian Wang; Julie Bentley; Chunlei Du; Kimio Tatsuno; Hendrik P. Urbach, Editor(s)