Full-field point-by-point direct design method of off-axis aspheric imaging systems.

It is of urgent need to develop a point-by-point design method for off-axis aspheric systems in full field and full aperture. So a general full-field point-by-point method for off-axis aspheric systems is presented in this paper, in which light rays from different field angles and aperture coordinates are considered. Surface fitting is included during the point calculations, rather than after all the points are calculated. Data point calculations and aspheric surface fitting are repeated continuously to calculate an unknown aspheric surface. Both coordinate and surface normal deviations are considered. As an example, an aspheric off-axis three-mirror reflective system is designed to operate at F/2.4 with a 100-mm entrance pupil diameter and a 3° × 6° off-axis field of view. This method can also be used to design co-axial aspheric systems and novel systems with new structures.