What is an Extended-Depth-of-Focus Meta-Lens

EDOF meta-lenses use a metasurface—a carefully engineered array of subwavelength structures—to shape the wavefront so that focus is extended along the optical axis rather than confined to a thin focal plane. Unlike conventional lenses, which are optimized for a single focal plane, EDOF meta-lenses are designed to keep features in acceptable focus over a significant depth range while retaining high resolution.​

• Traditional lenses: Sharp focus in a narrow plane; defocus quickly degrades image quality.​

• EDOF meta-lenses: Maintain usable focus over a much longer axial region, reducing blur for objects at different distances.​

  
  

This wavefront engineering approach allows EDOF meta-lenses to deliver extended depth without moving parts, enabling thinner, more robust optical assemblies.​

Why Extended-depth-of-focus meta-lens (EDOF Meta-Lenses Matter)

Extended-depth-of-focus meta-lenses directly address several pain points in modern optics and imaging.​

• Compactness: EDOF meta-lenses can significantly reduce the length of optical systems by removing or minimizing focus and zoom mechanics.​

• Speed & robustness: With no moving parts required for focusing, systems become faster, more robust, and easier to seal for harsh environments.​

• Digital synergy: Because the depth extension is engineered optically, downstream image processing or reconstruction can be simpler and more consistent than with heavily defocused images.​

For precision optics users, this means higher system reliability and lower mechanical complexity while still meeting demanding imaging requirements.​

Key Application Areas

EDOF meta-lenses—such as those offered in commercial platforms like Edmund Optics’ EDOF metalens families—fit naturally into a wide range of markets where size, speed, and depth performance are tightly coupled.​

• Machine vision & automation: Keep parts and features in focus across conveyor height variation or tilted components without refocusing.​​

• 3D sensing & time-of-flight: Maintain performance across a working volume, improving depth accuracy and point cloud quality.​​

• Miniaturized imaging systems: Enable thin camera modules in embedded, wearable, or portable devices that still require robust focus over depth.​​

• Precision manufacturing & inspection: Support inspection of curved, stepped, or non-planar surfaces without complex motion or refocus sequences.​

How EDOF Meta-Lenses Differ from Conventional Optics

While traditional methods for increasing depth of focus rely on stopping down the aperture or using complex multi-element designs, EDOF meta-lenses achieve this optically at the surface level.​

• Aperture stop-down: Increases depth of field but dramatically reduces light, hurting SNR and requiring longer exposures.​

• Complex lens stacks: Add cost, weight, and alignment challenges.​

• EDOF meta-lens approach: Encodes depth extension into the metasurface pattern, preserving throughput while extending focus.​

In many designs, EDOF meta-lenses can also reduce aberrations and maintain good contrast over the extended depth range, which is essential for imaging and metrology tasks.

Conclusion

Engineers and system designers who want to move from concept to hardware quickly can now access extended-depth-of-focus meta-lenses directly through Edmund Optics’ commercial platform. Their EDOF metalens families provide detailed datasheets, mechanical drawings, and off‑the‑shelf availability at key laser wavelengths, making evaluation and integration straightforward.​

To see available focal lengths, supported wavelengths, and performance data, visit Edmund Optics’ Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) Metalenses product page and review the specifications for your target system. For projects that may benefit from custom meta-optics or application-specific optimization, use Edmund Optics’ inquiry tools or contact your Edmund sales engineer to discuss requirements, prototyping paths, and volume scaling options.

Learn More about EDOF Lenses