Imaging system, methodology, and applications employing reciprocal space optical design

A digital image, comprising:

• at least one image pixel;
• and
• a storage medium to capture the image pixel,
• the pixel generated from a sensor having one or more receptors, the one or more receptors associated with a pitch parameter,
• the one or more receptors energized from an image transfer medium having a diffraction-limited spot size in an object plane matched to about a projected pixel size in an object plane.

A machine vision system, comprising:

• an imaging system for collecting image data from a product or process, comprising:
• a sensor having one or more receptors to generate image data;
• and
• at least one image transfer device associated with the one or more receptors of the sensor, where a projected pixel have a size in the object plane approximately matched with diffraction-limited spot size of the image transfer device in the object plane and
• a controller that receives the image data and employs the image data in connection with fabrication or control of the product or process.