All-optical axially multi-regional super resolved imaging

In this paper we present a new approach of all-optical extended depth of focus providing two ( or more) discrete ranges of focused imaging for close as well as far ranges. The fact that the extended depth of focus is not continuous allows obtaining improved contrast in the two ( or more) axial regions of extended depth of focus. The design is aimed for the cell phone camera applications where dual range extended depth of focus can allow simultaneous reading of business cards at very short distance as well as very high contrasted imaging at far range. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.