Field Curvature Correction Using Focal Sweep

Camera optics design has become increasingly complex to keep pace with the demand for ever increasing imaging resolution. This complexity results in several disadvantages, including significant increase in size, cost, and weight of the camera. In this paper, we propose methods to simplify the lens of an imaging system without sacrificing resolution. Our approach is to use either the focal stack or the focal sweep method to emulate a curved image sensor. This enables us to design a lens without the need to correct for field curvature. The end result is a lens with significantly lower complexity than a lens that is corrected for field curvature. We have verified the performance and practical viability of our approach using both simulations and experiments with prototype focal stack and focal sweep cameras.