Sparse sampling using a programmatically randomized signal modulating a carrier signal

A method comprising:

• generating, by a sparse sampling system having a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium, a first programmable primary carrier signal and a first secondary programmable signal that modulates the first programmable primary carrier signal through a first randomized modulation that defines X-coordinates of a set of scan pattern coordinates of an object scan;
• generating, by the sparse sampling system, a second programmable primary carrier signal and a second secondary programmable signal that modulates the second programmable primary carrier signal through a second randomized modulation that defines Y-coordinates of the set of scan pattern coordinates of the object scan, wherein each of the first and second programmable primary carrier signals comprises X-Y components of a at least two-dimensional space-filling curve, and wherein a resultant randomized modulation produced by combined action of the first and second secondary programmable signals is independent of the at least two-dimensional space-filling curve;
• generating, by the sparse sampling system, a third programmable output signal that defines Z-coordinates of the set of scan pattern coordinates of the object scan based on a predetermined rule, and
• transmitting, by the sparse sampling system, the generated first and second programmable primary carrier signals, the first and second secondary programmable signals, and the third programmable output signal to a scanning probe device.

An apparatus comprising:

• a sparse sampling pattern generator configured to generate:
• a first programmable primary carrier signal and a first secondary programmable signal that modulates the first primary carrier signal through a first randomized modulation that defines X-coordinates of a set of scan pattern coordinates of an object scan;
• and
• a second programmable primary carrier signal and a second secondary programmable signal that modulates the second primary carrier signal through a second randomized modulation that defines Y-coordinates of the set of scan pattern coordinates of the object scan;
• and
• a third programmable output signal that defines Z-coordinates of the set of scan pattern coordinates of the object scan based on a predetermined rule;
• a controller coupled to the sparse sampling pattern generator and configured to provide the first and second programmable primary carrier signal, the first and second secondary programmable signal, and the third programmable output signal to scan inputs of a scanning probe device configured to scan an object;
• at least one object signal response converter configured to receive analog scan response signals from at least one object response detector that detects a response of the object to scan probe signals directed at the object by the scanning probe device, the at least one object response converter coupled to the controller and configured to convert the analog scan response signals to digital scan response signals;
• and
• a sampling reconstruction system communicatively coupled to the controller, the sampling reconstruction system configured to receive the digital scan response signals from the controller, and responsively reconstruct an amalgamate image of the object scanned by the scanning probe device from the sampled object response signals.