Freeform geometrical optics I: Principles

Abstract: Lens design uses a calculation of the lens' surfaces that permit to obtain an image from a given object. A set of general rules and laws permits to calculate the essential points of the optical system such as distances, thickness, pupils, and focal distance among others. Now, the theory on which the classical lens design is based changes radically as our theoretical foundations do not rely on the classical ray tracing rules. We show that with the rules expressed in a reduced vector analytical solution set of equations, we can take into account all optical elements, i.e. refractive, reflective, catadioptric. These foundations permit to keep under control the system aberration budget in every surface. It reduces the computation time dramatically. The examples presented here were possible because of the versatility of this theoretical approach.