Null screens to evaluate the shape of freeform surfaces: progressive addition lenses

Abstract

We propose a method for measuring the shape of freeform surfaces such as Progressive Addition Lenses (PAL). It is based on optical deflectometry by considering a non-uniform pattern of spots computed by using the null-screen method. This pattern is displayed on a flat LCD monitor being reflected on the freeform under test and whose image is recorded on a CCD camera placed at a predefined off-axis position. We use one image to calibrate the experimental setup and another to measure the freeform surface. We develop an iterative algorithm to retrieve the surface under test and calculate the spherical and cylindrical dioptric powers of the frontal freeform of a commercial PAL under test.