Variable Optical Transfer Function Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional optical imaging systems are limited by aberrations, which restrict their ability to collect and detect light, leading to reduced image quality and increased complexity, size, and cost, while existing computational imaging techniques struggle to effectively correct for these issues across varying field and spectral bands.
Innovation Solution
The use of a configurable optical component, such as a deformable mirror, to reconfigure the optical system and capture images with different optical transfer functions, allowing for field-dependent and spectral-dependent compensation of aberrations through post-processing algorithms, enabling high-resolution, wide-field-of-view and multispectral imaging with reduced complexity and size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional optical design is used to avoid or reduce aberrations, then image quality is improved, but size, cost, and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical optical correction systems with computational processing. Instead of using multiple optical elements to correct aberrations, the system captures degraded images and applies computational algorithms to restore image quality, thereby reducing optical system complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from correcting optical parameters during image formation to modifying image parameters during post-processing. By changing from optical domain correction to digital domain processing, the system achieves improved image quality without increasing device complexity
2Device complexity
If computational imaging techniques are used to compensate for aberrations, then device complexity is reduced, but correction ability is limited by optical information loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic, reconfigurable optical element (such as a deformable mirror or liquid crystal lens) that can change its properties in real-time. This dynamic element allows the system to adaptively compensate for optical information loss by adjusting the optical transfer function based on the specific aberrations present, thereby improving correction ability while maintaining reduced device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback loop where the system measures the actual optical transfer function and uses this information to guide computational correction. By continuously monitoring and adjusting based on measured optical characteristics, the system overcomes the limitation of fixed computational algorithms and achieves better correction of optical information loss
3Device complexity
If fixed optical transfer function is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but field-dependent and spectral compensation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic optical element that can be reconfigured to provide different optical transfer functions for different fields of view and spectral bands. This allows the simple system to achieve adaptability by changing the optical properties in real-time, enabling field-dependent and spectral compensation without significantly increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single optical element perform multiple functions by making it reconfigurable. The same element can provide different optical transfer functions for different fields, spectral bands, and correction requirements, thereby achieving high adaptability while maintaining system simplicity through multi-functionality
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
This approach enables the creation of high-resolution, wide-field-of-view and multispectral imaging systems with reduced size, weight, and power consumption, effectively addressing aberrations and improving image quality without significant performance loss, particularly suitable for night vision applications.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of different optical arrangements may correspond to a different configuration of the optical hardware, for example, a different perturbation of the deformable mirror (or other configurable optical component). Each of the different optical arrangements may yield a known optical transfer function.
Data Source
AI summary
In selected embodiments, improved image restoration is realized using extensions of Wiener filtering combined with multiple image captures acquired after simple, fast reconfigurations of an optical imaging system. These reconfigurations may yield distinct OTF responses for each capture. The optical imaging system may reduce fabrication cost, power consumption, and/or system weight/volume by correcting significant optical aberrations. The system may be configured to perform independent correction of fields within the total field-of-regard. The system may also be configured to perform independent correction of different spectral bands.