A novel long-wave infrared high resolution continuous zoom lens with uncooled thermal detector

Abstract

Infrared imaging lens is one of the key components of a video security camera. A novel long-wave infrared continuous zoom lens is developed based on the 640×512 high resolution uncooled infrared thermal detector which can substitute the high cost cooled infrared detector. The zoom lens contains five germanium lens and one chalcogenide glass lens, which working in the wavelength range of 8~12 μm. Its F number range is in 1~ 1.1 while the focus length is changing from 20 to 120 mm. Based on the zoom lens design theory, the positive lens mechanical compensation structure is used to calculate the optical parameters and optimize the cam zoom curve, which can have a smooth continuous zoom in the range of all focus lengths. The image analysis show that the system has achieved the modulation transfer function (MTF) value above 0.45 which spatial frequency is 30 lp/mm. The spot diagrams RMS radius is less than 6.3μm which is near the diffraction limit. The real test photos indicate that the lens has the advantages of high resolution, large aperture, smooth zoom and stable image plane. Due to the high image quality and low cost, the continuous zoom lens is easily to be fabricated.