Full-view imaging on dynamic closed surface by curved-to-flat conversion lens.

Abstract

Conventional full-view imaging systems, which often need complicated image processing algorithms to reconstruct full-view images captured by motional/multiple cameras from different views, cannot have good real-time imaging capability. We design curved-to-flat conversion lens (CFCL) based on optic-null medium, which can directly project/image optical patterns from closed object surface onto image plane (e.g., the focal plane of microscopy), and shows good real-time full-view imaging performance. To realize the CFCL, the reduced optic-null medium is designed by subwavelength metal channels filled with homogeneous isotropic dielectrics. Numerical simulation results verify the function of the designed CFCL, which can image various dynamic optical patterns from the closed object surface to the finite-view image plane. The designed CFCL may have many applications in real-timely observing dynamic closed surfaces in full view, e.g., living tissue/cell and soft material's surface.