Device and method for extended depth of field imaging

Abstract

A device and method for extended depth of field imaging are provided. The device includes an optical device configured to simultaneously form intermediate images of an object at different distances with a blur effect on at least parts of images of the object, the optical device comprising at least one optical element and at least two pupil zones formed to provide a predetermined distribution of optical powers and aberrations within each of the at least two pupil zones, based on which point spread function is formed, defined by a curve with minimized side peaks compared to a central peak in a given range of object distances, each of the at least two pupil zones corresponding to a respective given range of object distances and a respective given range of field angles, a sensor configured to simultaneously register the intermediate images formed by the optical device from different object distances and at different field angles, and an image processor communicatively connected to the sensor and the optical device, wherein the image processor is configured to process the intermediate images of the object with the blur effect on at least parts of the images of the object registered by the sensor, the intermediate images being processed based on an obtained point spread function over the given range of object distances and field angles, and reconstruct resulting images without the blur effect at output regardless of object distances.