Eastman-kodak Company

Darryl I Mounts

Jerold B Lisson

Dale K Mack

An improved auto focus system particularly adapted for use in a camera for automatic focus control of a camera taking lens having first and second linear arrays of photosensitive elements spaced apart laterally from one another and spaced apart in separate planes and first and second lenslets for imaging the scene to be photographed thereon. The system functions by autocorrelation of first and second signals output from the first and second linear arrays, employing parallax range derivation from the first and second signals to derive a motor drive signal, applying the motor drive signal to the taking lens focus adjustment mechanism to adjust the taking lens, employing contrast derivation from the first and second signals during adjustment of the taking lens, and halting adjustment of the taking lens when a position of best focus is indicated by the contrast derivation.

Direct focus feedback autofocus system

A method for assessing and correcting individual components of a non-monolithic imaging assembly. The method has an advantage of expanding an applicability of a classical optical transfer function, heretofore a measure only of a global monolithic imaging device performance, so that it can provide information for correcting the non-monolithic imaging assembly in terms of local area modifications.

Method for assessing and correcting individual components of a

A method for assessing and correcting via feedback, the optical quality of an imaging device. The method has an advantage of expanding the applicability of a classical optical transfer function, heretofore a measure only of global imaging device performance, so that it can provide feedback information for correcting an imaging device defect in terms of local area modifications. In a optical system which comprises a source of radiation that can output a radiation beam and an imaging device to be corrected and which can image the radiation beam to produce an imaged beam, the method comprises the steps of (1) sampling the imaged beam by an opaque mask defining at least two apertures, for generating local wavefront errors at a pupil position defined by a location of the mask, (2) computing a localized optical transfer function (LOTF) for the localized wavefront errors transmitted through the sampling apertures, the LOTF being defined by an equation relating it to a local modulation transfer function (LMTF) and a local phase transfer function (LPTF), (3) generating from the LOTF a performance map comprising a local optical quality factor (LOQF) comprising the ratio of computed LMTF to a diffraction limited LMTF and the LPTF, and (4) generating from the performance map correction feedback for applying a controlled action to the imaging device.

Method for providing feedback correction for an imaging device

A method for assessing the optical quality of an imaging device. The method is suitable for use in an optical system comprising a source of radiation that can output a radiation beam; and, an imaging device to be tested, which imaging device can image the radiation beam to produce an imaged beam. The steps of the method comprise: sampling the imaged beam by an opaque mask defining at least two apertures, for generating local wavefront errors at a pupil position defined by a location of the mask; and, computing an optical transfer function (OTF) for the localized wavefront errors transmitted through the sampling apertures. The method has an advantage of expanding the applicability of the optical transfer function, heretofore a measure only of global imaging device performance, so that it can provide information for correcting an imaging device defect in terms of local area modifications.

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Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Darryl I Mounts