Intraoral Imaging Phase Modulator Depth of Field

The patent applies wavefront coding by modifying the phase parameter of light waves passing through the optical system. A phase modulator (such as a cubic phase plate) is introduced to encode depth information into the wavefront phase, allowing extended depth of field through digital processing without affecting illumination intensity. This parameter change in the optical path enables DOF extension while preserving light levels.

The patent replaces conventional mechanical or optical methods for extending depth of field (such as stopping down the aperture) with a wavefront coding approach. Instead of mechanically adjusting optical components to increase DOF, the system uses phase modulation and digital image processing to achieve extended depth of field, thereby avoiding the loss of illumination that would result from mechanical aperture reduction.

The patent introduces wavefront phase modulation as a new parameter control mechanism in compact optics. By encoding depth information into the phase of light waves using a phase modulator, the system compensates for defocus aberrations in miniaturized optical systems. This allows small-camera designs to maintain image quality across extended depth ranges through digital processing of the phase-encoded information.

The patent introduces a phase modulator as an intermediary element in the optical path of compact cameras. This component encodes depth information into the wavefront phase, acting as a mediator that allows small optics to capture extended depth information. The phase modulator enables the compact optical system to preserve image quality by embedding focus information that can be recovered through digital processing.

The patent transforms the focus parameter from a spatial positioning parameter to a phase encoding parameter. Instead of requiring precise camera positioning to achieve focus, the system encodes depth information into the phase of light waves. This parameter transformation allows a broader range of positions to produce usable images, as the phase-encoded information can be digitally processed to recover focus regardless of exact camera position.

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where depth information is encoded into the wavefront phase and then recovered through digital processing of captured images. The system uses the phase-modulated light to carry depth information back to the processor, which then reconstructs focused images from the encoded data. This feedback loop eliminates the need for precise manual positioning, as the system automatically extracts focus information from the phase encoding.