Phase Diversity Wavefront Sensor for Atmospheric Turbulence Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively correct images distorted by atmospheric and aero-optic turbulence, which affects the accuracy of radiant energy focusing and imaging, especially in remote locations where uncorrected aberrations lead to blurred images.
Innovation Solution
A phase-diversity system utilizing two-dimensional arrays of sensors to generate images at different focus positions, combined with a phase diversity processor that iteratively solves inverse problems to reconstruct a corrected image and estimate wavefront distortions, and adaptive optics components to mitigate these distortions, allowing for precise focusing and image fusion across various wavelengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If images are captured through atmospheric and aero-optic turbulence, then radiant energy can be detected from remote locations, but the images become distorted and blurred due to uncorrected aberrations
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures a first image at a first focus position and a second image at a second focus position before processing. By obtaining images at multiple known focus positions in advance, the system prepares the necessary data to later estimate and correct wavefront distortions caused by atmospheric turbulence, thereby improving image quality despite the harmful turbulent conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the captured images at different focus positions to estimate wavefront distortions and generate a corrected image. This feedback loop where the distorted images themselves are used to calculate the corrections needed allows the system to compensate for atmospheric turbulence effects and produce high-quality corrected images
2Measurement precision
If a single focus position is used for imaging, then the imaging system is simpler, but the ability to correct wavefront distortions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple sensors at the same focus position, the system introduces the dimension of focus position variation by capturing images at different focal planes. This dimensional approach allows wavefront distortion estimation using only a single sensor, achieving high measurement precision while avoiding the complexity of multiple simultaneous sensors or complex optical paths
3Measurement precision
If adaptive optics components are added to correct distortions, then image quality improves, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical adaptive optics components (such as deformable mirrors and complex wavefront sensors) with a computational approach. By using algorithms to estimate wavefront distortions from images captured at different focus positions and generating corrected images through digital processing, the system achieves high correction accuracy while significantly reducing mechanical complexity and cost
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system generates clear, corrected images and enables precise aiming of electromagnetic energy, even in challenging conditions like night or through atmospheric turbulence, by reconstructing wavefront errors and compensating for aberrations, enhancing image quality and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The phase diversity wavefront sensor includes two, two-dimensional arrays of sensors of electromagnetic energy, or cameras, which generate images (10 in FIG. 1) of the object in two known positions
Implementation Method 2
The phase diversity processor is adapted to (or programmed to) perform phase diversity image reconstruction using the phase diversity wavefront sensor generated images (10 in FIG. 1) to generate a corrected image (18 in FIG. 1) and an estimate of wavefront distortions (26 in FIG. 1)
Implementation Method 3
adaptive optics components to mitigate these distortions, allowing for precise focusing and image fusion across various wavelengths
Implementation Method 4
The adaptive optics components are electromechanically controlled using the wavefront errors (26 in FIG. 1) to mitigate distortion effects of intervening media on the wavefront of the object's (6 in FIGS. 1-3) return trip through the media
Data Source
AI summary
A phase diversity system and method for producing a corrected image and/or for aiming electromagnetic energy.