Lenslet array system incorporating an integral field lens/reimager lenslet array

摘要

A lenslet array system for imaging an associated object onto a final image plane includes (i) a first lens assembly including a field limiting mask and a first lenslet array having an associated image plane and (ii) a second assembly including a second lenslet array accepting light from said first lenslet array. The first lenslet array accepts a full field of view in excess of 20 degrees and forms a plurality of image sections of the associated object on an intermediate image plane. The first lenslet array includes a plurality of positive power lenslets, each of the plurality of lenslets having a focal length f.sub.1 and accepting a unique segment of the full field of view subtended by the associated object. These segments of the full field of view together comprise the full field of view, and each of the lenslets forms one image section corresponding to its segment of the full view. The second lenslet array of the second assembly accepts light from said first assembly. The second lenslet array has a plurality of positive power lenslets. Each of the lenslets of the second lenslet array (a) has a focal length f.sub.2, (b) has convex object side surface located in the vicinity of said intermediate image plane, (c) has a convex image side surface reimaging one of the image sections located at the intermediate image plane and creating an inverted image of this image section on the final image surface, and (d) together with other lenslets of the second lenslet array creates a continuous image of the associated object.