Hybrid Lens Research Articles

Selling Spectacular Spaces: Hybridized Sport and Space in the Imagination of Enclaved Residential Living in India

This article explores the (dis)connections between urban housing development, (post)colonial legacies and expressions of space, and how ideas of sport and leisure are mobilized in the imagination of gated residential living in Gurgaon, India. Focused on the building of large-scale enclaved development built around golf and polo brands and identities, I challenge common analyses of gated residential complexes as examples of the imposition of neoliberal urban development agendas, or as a manifestation of new forms of architectural colonialism. Utilizing Homi Bhabha’s theorization of hybridity, I show how constructing a hierarchical, sport-based, all-encompassing mini-city is reflective of a localized response to middle-class perceptions of the failure of the state to control and develop the city, that also architecturally references urban mega projects unfolding across Asia. In addition, reflecting on the selective referencing of polo and golf brands/identities in both their past (colonial) and contemporary expressions, I argue sport is mobilized to create new forms of urban living attached with new meanings for consumers. Considered together, I assert the lens of hybridity destabilizes understandings of both sport and gated communities as (neo)colonial and neoliberal by-products by illustrating how these institutions are taken up and remade through colonial and postcolonial transmissions.

Optical degradation correction of manufacturing-perturbed glass-plastic hybrid lens systems via a joint hardware-software optimization framework

Glass-plastic hybrid lens systems are increasingly critical in various optical applications due to their unique advantages and growing demands. Due to limitations in manufacturing processes and costs, the yield rate of glass-plastic hybrid lens systems in mass production struggles to match that of mature all-plastic ones. In this work, we propose a pioneering joint hardware-software optimization framework designed for correcting optical degradation in manufacturing-perturbed glass-plastic hybrid lens systems. Our framework begins with the establishment of a differentiable imaging simulation system that is capable of simulating various manufacturing errors. This system facilitates the preliminary estimation of manufacturing deviations across individual lenses without precise measurements. Subsequently, from the perspective of the hardware assembly process, we integrate active alignment of the glass aspherical lens to mitigate degradation caused by these deviations. Moreover, we introduce a novel and lightweight degradation correction network as post-processing software to address residual optical degradation without fine-tuning for each manufacturing-perturbed lens system, significantly reducing deployment costs for mobile devices. Extensive experiments validate the efficacy of our joint hardware-software optimization framework, showing substantial improvements in imaging quality and enhanced yield rates in mass production. Overall, our framework establishes a new paradigm for optical degradation correction in glass-plastic hybrid lens systems by synergizing the front-end lens assembly process with the back-end degradation correction method. This new paradigm represents an inaugural effort within the optical engineering domain.

A Hybrid Lens to Realize Electrical Real‐Time Super‐Resolution Imaging

AbstractReal‐time dynamic super‐resolution focusing technology is crucial for various imaging applications. However, the diffraction limit significantly impedes the achievement of real‐time dynamic super‐resolution imaging. Prior studies within this domain, such as super‐resolution fluorescence imaging and structured illumination microscopy, heavily rely on fluorescent labels and intricate algorithms. This article proposes a novel approach to achieving real‐time dynamic super‐resolution imaging at microwave frequency by integrating the Mikaelian lens derived from conformal transformation optics with the space‐time‐coding metasurface antenna. Real‐time dynamic super‐resolution focusing with a resolution ranging from 0.3λ to 0.4λ is demonstrated at the periphery of the Mikaelian lens with a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.54. The proposed hybrid lens exhibits the capacity to discern features separated by about one‐third of a wavelength with high precision. The work offers a universal solution for achieving dynamic real‐time super‐resolution imaging electrically, which can be extended to terahertz waves, visible light, and other wave fields, such as acoustic and flexural waves.

Inverse problems with hybrid lenses

We design lenses composed of a combination of standard freeform refracting surface and flat metasurface refracting an arbitrary incident field into a collimated beam with a fixed direction. In the near-field case, we study the existence of such lenses refracting a bright object into a predefined image at the target.

Hybrid meta/refractive lens design with an inverse design using physical optics

Hybrid lenses are created by combining metasurface optics with refractive optics, where refractive elements contribute optical power, while metasurfaces correct optical aberrations. We present an algorithm for optimizing metasurface nanostructures within a hybrid lens, allowing flexible interleaving of metasurface and refractive optics in the optical train. To efficiently optimize metasurface nanostructures, we develop a scalar field, ray-wave hybrid propagation method. This method facilitates the propagation of incident and derived adjoint fields through optical elements, enabling effective metasurface optimization within the framework of adjoint gradient optimization. Numerical examples of various lens configurations are presented to illustrate the versatility of the algorithm and showcase the benefits offered by the proposed approach, allowing metasurfaces to be positioned beyond the image space of a lens. Taking a F/2, 40° field-of-view, midwave infrared lens as an example, the lens exhibits an average focusing efficiency of 38% before the integration of metasurfaces. Utilizing the new algorithm to design two metasurfaces—one in the object space and one in the image space—results in significant enhancement of the average focusing efficiency to over 90%. In contrast, a counterpart design with both metasurfaces limited to the image space yields a lower average focusing efficiency of 73%.

Modification of contact lenses via metal‐organic frameworks for glaucoma treatment

AbstractThe prevention of blindness from glaucoma requires multiple treatments to lower intraocular pressure. Here, human contact lenses are modified with highly porous metal‐organic frameworks with sustained release of brimonidine for prolonged glaucoma treatment. Various metal‐organic frameworks were screened for their attachment to lenses, loading with brimonidine, and drug‐release properties. Optimized therapeutic ocular lenses conjugated with MIL‐101(Cr) frameworks maintain optical transparency and power. Coating of lenses with MIL‐101(Cr) nanoparticles reduced brimonidine washout with tears and ensured a gradual and localized release of the drug into the eyeball through the cornea. The hybrid lenses provided a 4.5‐fold better decrease in eye pressure, compared by area under the curve (AUC) value to a commercially available brimonidine tartrate solution. Therapeutic lenses did not induce any notable eye irritation or corneal damage in vivo. The newly developed hybrid lenses are expected to provide a robust platform for the therapy and prevention of various ocular diseases.

Maternal Practice and the Chuetas of Mallorca: The Inquisitorial Trials of Pedro Onofre Cortés

Maternal Practice and the Chuetas of Mallorca: The Inquisitorial Trials of Pedro Onofre Cortés

Hybrid Contact Lenses in Children: a Case Series

Introduction : Refractive errors in children have experienced a significant increase in recent years. Contact lenses are a therapeutic option when spectacles can no longer provide maximum results. One of the most advanced design than suitable for children is Hybrid Contact Lenses (HCL). HCL feature a Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) center surrounded by a soft ridge or skirt. This design enable the hard center to provide clear vision while the soft skirt offers the comfort and ease of a soft lens. However, this type of contact lens has not been widely used in Indonesia.
 Case Illustration : Three patients were prescribed HCL to correct their high refractive errors and amblyopia; 1. 5 years old female: OD: S-14.50 C-3.25x180 6/24 OS: S-12.5 C-3.50x10 6/24; 2. 5 years old female with anisometropia: OD: S-6.00 C-2.50x180 6/12 OS: S-0.75 C-2.000x170 6/6; 3. 8 years old male with pseudophakic eyes: OD: S-9.00 C-2.00x180 6/30 OS: S-8.00 C-2.00x175 6/30. Visual Acuity after 1 month of HCL average from 6/9 to 6/6 both eyes (BE).
 Discussion : In this study, we can notice several advantages of using HCL. The main outcome are significantly increased visual acuity and reduced amblyopia. HCL also has a higher comfort level compare to RGP Lenses, the soft hydrogel skirt really help the neophyte patient to ease their initial adaptation.
 Conclusion : Contact lenses are a mainstay of optical correction options for children with special refractive needs. Due to it's design and comfort, HCL is one of the most suitable contact lenses for children. Therefore, socialization and further introduction about this contact lens is needed.

Exploring cultural hybridity, questioning cultural appropriation: Peruvian fans’ responses to Latin tropes in K-pop

Drawing on qualitative interviews with K-pop fans in Lima, Peru, this study explores how Latin fans think about and negotiate K-pop industries’ citations of Latin pop music tropes. It addresses the ways in which K-pop's practices of citing other cultures are perceived by the audience whose culture is cited. The Peruvian fans in this study suggest that the citations of other cultures observed in K-pop offer versatile entry points for them to easily engage in the cultural genre. For them, K-pop is a novel cultural genre that has become an alternative yet intimate cultural resource, especially compared to hegemonic American pop music. By providing an analysis of Latin K-pop fans’ lived experiences through the lens of cultural hybridity and appropriation, this audience study contributes to the field of transcultural media research.

Revolutionizing contact lens manufacturing: exploring cutting-edge techniques and innovations for enhanced vision and comfort

Abstract This review paper delves into the advancements and innovations revolutionizing contact lens (CL) manufacturing, focusing on techniques and technologies aimed at improving vision quality and wearer comfort. The article begins by tracing the evolution of CL fabrication techniques, paying homage to Leonardo da Vinci’s early contributions. It then discusses traditional methods such as lathe-cutting, spincasting, molded lens fabrication, and the recent advent of 3D printing in CL production. The review further explores advanced CL designs, including spherical, aspheric, toric, and bifocal/multifocal CLs, highlighting their specific applications and benefits. Material innovations in lens manufacturing are examined, with an emphasis on silicone hydrogel CL, hybrid lenses combining different materials, and the development of biocompatible and gas-permeable (GP) materials. Evaluation of optical design efficiency is another crucial aspect covered in this paper, encompassing visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, through-focus curves, reading performance, peripheral refraction, and patient-reported outcomes for quality of vision. Additionally, the role of nanotechnology and surface modifications in enhancing lens properties is explored, along with advances in lens coating and surface treatments, including antimicrobial and UV protection coatings. Nanocomposites of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and TiO2 showed refractive indices between 1.52 and 1.59, while combining TiO2 NPs with poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) yielded values ranging from 1.47 to 1.53. PGMA-TiO2 nanocomposites exhibited refractive indices between 1.47 and 1.50. Furthermore, nanocomposites of PVP-PVA-Ag with silver (Ag) NPs achieved higher refractive indices within the range of 1.45 to 1.49. This article concludes by discussing the challenges and future directions in CL manufacturing, focusing on addressing lens discomfort, improving oxygen permeability and moisture retention, and enhancing manufacturing efficiency and scalability. Overall, this review offers valuable insights into the cutting-edge techniques and innovations transforming CL production and paving the way for improved vision correction and wearer satisfaction.

Fitting RPG Progressive Bitoric Lenses after Bilateral Glaucoma Surgery

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases which result in damage to the optic nerve and vision loss. Glaucoma can be divided in two groups’ open-angle and closed-angle. The importance in glaucoma disease is to treat it early because vision loss from this pathology, once it has occurred, is permanent. The main risk of factors for glaucoma includes increased pressure in the eye, a family history of the condition and high blood pressure . Generally, it is possible to treat glaucoma with laser and this treatment may be affective in both open-angle and closed-angle. A number of types of glaucoma surgeries may be used in people who do not sufficiently respond to other measure and treatment of closed-angle glaucoma is a medical emergency. After the laser treatment, if the ophthalmologist gives permission, it is possible to fit contact lenses to achieve better vision or correct patients with spectacles. This case report shows the fitting of rigid gas permeable progressive bitoric lenses after laser treatment because visual acuity achieved with spectacles was not good. Due to the intervention and patient needs, it was not possible to fit a scleral or hybrid lens.

Free-form and hybrid lens models for SDSS J1004+4112: substructure and central image time delay constraints

ABSTRACT SDSS J1004+4112 is a well-studied gravitational lens with a recently measured time delay between its first and fourth arriving quasar images. Using this new constraint, we present updated free-form lens reconstructions using the lens inversion method grale, which only uses multiple image and time delay data as inputs. In addition, we obtain hybrid lens reconstructions by including a model of the brightest cluster galaxy as a Sersic lens. For both reconstructions, we use two sets of images as input: one with all identified images, and the other a revised set leaving out images that have been potentially misidentified. We also develop a source position optimization Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) routine, performed on completed grale runs, that allows each model to better match observed image positions and time delays. All the reconstructions produce similar mass distributions, with the hybrid models finding a steeper profile in the centre. Similarly, all the mass distributions are fitted by the Navarro–Frenk–White profile, finding results consistent with previous parametric reconstructions and those derived from Chandra X-ray observations. We identify an ∼5 × 1011 M⊙ substructure apparently unaffiliated with any cluster member galaxy and present in all our models, and study its reality. Using our free-form and hybrid models, we predict a central quasar image time delay of ∼2980 ± 270 and ∼3280 ± 215 d, respectively. A potential future measurement of this time delay will, while being an observational challenge, further constrain the steepness of the central density profile.

Learning zero-shot dense light field reconstruction from heterogeneous imaging

Due to the limited sensor size, light field (LF) imaging usually suffers from an essential trade-off between its spatial and angular resolutions. Recently, some approaches have been proposed to use hybrid lens imaging to enhance spatial resolution, but LF angular reconstruction has not been involved. In this paper, we propose a zero-shot learning-based method for reconstructing a dense LF image from a heterogeneous imaging system that integrates a 2D digital camera and a commercial LF camera. Our main insight is that the high-resolution information of the 2D digital image can assist in enhancing the spatial resolution of the LF image, and further, the spatially enhanced LF image can guide the angular reconstruction of the 2D digital image. To avoid ambiguity, it is pointed out that this paper focuses on the latter, i.e., enhancing the angular resolution of the 2D image. Specifically, we first construct two unsupervised modules to learn the geometric property of the acquired LF image and the correlation between the LF image and 2D image, so as to perform the initial reconstruction. Afterwards, an LF detail refiner is constructed to improve the reconstruction quality, and a cycle consistency constraint is designed to realize unsupervised training. Consequently, we can learn the dense LF reconstruction from the heterogeneous imaging data itself without extra training samples. Experimental results show that the proposed method can faithfully reconstruct high-quality densely-sampled LF images, and surpasses some state-of-the-art methods in both quantitative and qualitative evaluations. Furthermore, the proposed method can be combined with existing LF view stitching methods to further enhance the field of view of the reconstructed LF image. Our code will be released at https://github.com/YeyaoChen/ZLFSR.

Secondary lens with hybrid structure of freeform surface and microstructure for ultra-thin backlight unit.

Ultra-thin has become the development trend of the direct-lit backlight unit (BLU). Double freeform surface lenses are commonly used in direct-lit BLUs to reduce thickness. However, for an ultra-thin BLU with quite small optical distance (OD) and a large LED pitch distance, the curvature of the designed lens would be quite large, which would make the final optical performance heavily affected by fabrication errors. This paper proposes a lens with freeform surfaces and microstructures. The rays from LEDs are first collimated by the freeform surfaces and the collimated rays are then reflected by the microstructures to the bottom of the BLU, which can effectively enlarge the spot size and reduce the OD. The simulation results show that the uniformity can be improved from 41.3% of the conventional double freeform surface lens to 83% when OD is 3mm. Such hybrid lenses can avoid the fabrication of freeform surfaces with large curvature and the advantages of easy design and easy fabrication.

Design of achromatic hybrid metalens with secondary spectrum correction.

Metasurface can be used in combination with singlet refractive lens to eliminate chromaticity, in which the metasurface usually works as a dispersion compensator. Such a kind of hybrid lens, however, usually has residual dispersion due to the limit of meta unit library. Here, we demonstrate a design method that considers the refraction element and metasurface together as a whole to achieve large scale achromatic hybrid lens with no residual dispersion. The tradeoff between the meta-unit library and the characteristics of resulting hybrid lenses is also discussed in detail. As a proof of concept, a centimeter scale achromatic hybrid lens is realized, which shows significant advantages over refractive lenses and hybrid lenses designed by previous methods. Our strategy would provide guidance for designing high-performance macroscopic achromatic metalenses.

Phase-Optimized Multi-Step Phase Acoustic Metasurfaces for Arbitrary Multifocal Beamforming.

Focused ultrasound featuring non-destructive and high sensitivity has attracted widespread attention in biomedical and industrial evaluation. However, most traditional focusing techniques focus on the design and improvement of single-point focusing, neglecting the need to carry more dimensions of multifocal beams. Here we propose an automatic multifocal beamforming method, which is implemented using a four-step phase metasurface. The metasurface composed of four-step phases improves the transmission efficiency of acoustic waves as a matching layer and enhances the focusing efficiency at the target focal position. The change in the number of focused beams does not affect the full width at half maximum (FWHM), revealing the flexibility of the arbitrary multifocal beamforming method. Phase-optimized hybrid lenses reduce the sidelobe amplitude, and excellent agreement is observed between the simulation and experiments for triple-focusing beamforming metasurface lenses. The particle trapping experiment further validates the profile of the triple-focusing beam. The proposed hybrid lens can achieve flexible focusing in three dimensions (3D) and arbitrary multipoint, which may have potential prospects for biomedical imaging, acoustic tweezers, and brain neural modulation.

Design of refractive–diffractive hybrid lenses for space–time focusing ultrashort laser pulses

We propose a simple formulation for the baseline design of a hybrid lens, consisting of refractive and diffractive elements, intended for focusing ultrashort laser pulses. Lens dispersions up to the second order are considered to obtain easy-to-use formulas. Using this formulation, we designed a refractive–diffractive triplet for near-infrared femtosecond laser pulses and observed that once radius-dependent temporal distortions are removed, chromatic distortions are removed as well, and vice versa. Furthermore, we found that the derived equations for removal of pulse distortions can be readily transformed to traditional lens design equations for optical imaging. This finding facilitates the design of hybridized triplets for ultrafast focusing optics.

Hybrid Multiphase Fresnel Lenses on Silicon Wafers for Terahertz Frequencies

The hybrid multi-phase Fresnel lenses (H-MPFLs) were developed on silicon (Si) wafer at the selected frequency of 585 GHz. For this reason, the design of a standard MPFL was modified thoroughly in various outer zone areas in order to reduce complexity and manufacturing time of the diffractive optical elements (DOEs) by employing the direct laser ablation (DLA) processes. The phase offset was found by a precise control over the phase shift of incoming radiation in steps of π/12, revealing its optimal value to be of +π/4 independently on the hybridization order of the lens, the focusing gain of which was found to be up to 10 % higher than that achieved with a standard design MPFL. The numerical modeling data were confirmed by experiments demonstrating the effective THz beam focusing with H-MPFL samples to the diffraction limited spot size. Proposed development procedure can be further modified by scaling the hybrid lens design to other frequencies with different zone numbers and/or by employing other materials suitable for THz photonics integration on-chip with the semiconductor devices.

Achromatic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal lens with diffractive–refractive hybrid structure

The focal length of liquid crystal Fresnel lens is electrically controllable, but the disadvantage is the chromatic aberration is obvious. In this paper, the electrically controlled zoom characteristics of liquid crystal lens and the basic theory of Fresnel lens achromatic are analyzed, and a diffractive–refractive hybrid lens model made of polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal (PDLC) material is proposed. Fresnel liquid crystal lenses and PDLC hybrid lenses are tested with light at R (700.0 nm), G (546.1 nm) and B (435.8 nm) wavelengths, respectively. The simulation results show that the hybrid lens provides a greater range of adjustment of the focus position. After voltage modulation, the measured light with three different wavelengths have the same focal length, which means that the axial chromatic aberration is eliminated. In addition, with the elimination of axial chromatic aberration, the zoom range of the hybrid lens is doubled by further accurately controlling the electrode, which breaks through the limitation that the traditional liquid crystal lens can only work in monochromatic light spectrum.

Blackness, Koreanness, and Han: Unmasking Race in Korean Hip Hop

Previous studies have analyzed Korean hip hop through the lens of authenticity, language, and cultural hybridity, but not through the lens of race. One of the main characteristics of hip hop culture is that it emerged in the form of resistance against dominant hegemony and as a form of resistance to systemic injustice; however, it is difficult to find K-hip hop artists that defy the racial supremacy of Koreanness and racism through their art. This article utilizes Yoon Mi-rae, who is half-Black and half-Korean, as a significant text to explore how race plays a role in Korean society and how Blackness, Koreanness, and han intersect in the K-hip hop scene. Utilizing the concept of community cultural wealth, interest convergence principle, and Koreanness, the study analyzes how Yoon Mi-rae’s “Black Koreanness” was consumed by Korean media and music industry, and how Yon Mi-rae, as an embodiment of Blackness and Han, uses hip hop and her intersectionality as a tool of resistance to both the mainstream American and mainstream Korean racial ideology and discourse. With the growing influence and popularity of K-hip hop globally, the article problematizes the message K-hip hop is reflecting and sending the world about race.