Computational imaging with uncalibrated pupil phase
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsDevon G. Crowe, Caleb Knoernschild
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for improving image quality by modifying received radiation wavefronts with one or more uncalibrated variable phase plates at the pupil plane of the optical system, to produce an atmospheric-like blurred image on the focal plane with an effective increase in the sampling parameter Q. Real-time image restoration algorithms may then be applied to data sets sampled from the blurred image formed on the detector array. Numerous phase plate embodiments are provided for modifying the wavefront.
Claims13
A method of improving image quality of an optical imaging system including a pupil plane and a pixel array detector positioned at a focal plane, and having a focal plane image sampling parameter Q that is less than lcomprising:
- receiving an optical radiation wavefront at an entrance aperture of the optical imaging system;
- modifying the optical radiation wavefront with at least one uncalibrated variable phase plate at the pupil plane so as to produce a blurred image on the focal plane with an effective increase in the sampling parameter Q;
- sampling the blurred image with the pixel array detector to produce a sampled data set;
- and
- applying a real-time image restoration algorithm to the sampled data set to produce an unblurred image.
An optical imaging apparatus, comprising:
- an aperture positioned at the entrance of the optical imaging system configured to receive an optical radiation wavefront;
- an imaging detector positioned at a focal plane including an array of pixels having a pixel pitch and a focal plane image sampling parameter Q that is less than 1, where sampling parameter Q is defined as the ratio of a product of the wavelength of an incident optical radiation wavefront and the focal ratio of the system to the pixel pitch, the imaging detector configured to produce a sampled data set from the incident optical radiation wavefront;
- at least one uncalibrated variable phase plate positioned at a pupil plane optically coupled to the aperture and configured to modify the optical radiation wavefront so as to produce a blurred image on the focal plane with an effective increase in the sampling parameter Q;
- and
- a digital image processor coupled to the imaging detector and configured to apply a real-time image restoration algorithm to produce an unblurred image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.