A fast-Fourier-transform method of topography and interferometry is proposed. By computer processing of a noncontour type of fringe pattern, automatic discrimination is achieved between elevation and depression of the object or wave-front form, which has not been possible by the fringe-contour-generation techniques. The method has advantages over moire topography and conventional fringe-contour interferometry in both accuracy and sensitivity. Unlike fringe-scanning techniques, the method is easy to apply because it uses no moving components.

Fourier-transform method of fringe-pattern analysis for computer-based topography and interferometry

Current medical imaging technologies allow visualization of tissue anatomy in the human body at resolutions ranging from 100 micrometers to 1 millimeter. These technologies are generally not sensitive enough to detect early-stage tissue abnormalities associated with diseases such as cancer and atherosclerosis, which require micrometer-scale resolution. Here, optical coherence tomography was adapted to allow high-speed visualization of tissue in a living animal with a catheter-endoscope 1 millimeter in diameter. This method, referred to as "optical biopsy," was used to obtain cross-sectional images of the rabbit gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts at 10-micrometer resolution.

In Vivo Endoscopic Optical Biopsy with Optical Coherence Tomography

Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super- resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. Lens stack arrays in accordance with many embodiments of the invention include lens elements formed on substrates separated by spacers, where the lens elements, substrates and spacers are configured to form a plurality of optical channels, at least one aperture located within each optical channel, at least one spectral filter located within each optical channel, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light, and light blocking materials located within the lens stack array to optically isolate the optical channels.

Capturing and processing of images using monolithic camera array with heterogeneous imagers

An image processing apparatus and image processing method capable of providing a high-resolution image for a desired position by use of light field data are provided. The image processing apparatus may determine a position of a portion of light field data among light field data corresponding to a scene, according to a desired focusing position, generate a refocusing first image by use of the position determined portion of light field data, generate a high-resolution image having a predetermined setting ratio relative to the refocusing first image, determine a ratio for local synthesis between the high-resolution image and an enlarged image of the refocusing first image by use of a similarity with respect to the position determined portion of light field data, and generate a synthesized image by synthesizing the high-resolution image and the enlarged image of the refocusing first image according to the local synthesis ratio.

Image processing apparatus and method

There are many, many inventions described herein. In one aspect, what is disclosed is a digital camera including a plurality of arrays of photo detectors, including a first array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength and a second array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength. The digital camera further may also include a first lens disposed in an optical path of the first array of photo detectors, wherein the first lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the first wavelength, and a second lens disposed in with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors wherein the second lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the second wavelength. In addition, the digital camera may include signal processing circuitry, coupled to the first and second arrays of photo detectors, to generate a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors; wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

Apparatus for multiple camera devices and method of operating same

For defect detection or undesired object in commercial products, it is required to develop a fast measurement system that can obtain three-dimensional distribution of surface of the opaque medium such as metal or inside of the transparent medium. For this purpose, we fabricated a digital holographic microscope using a fast image sensor when the phase object is put on a fast movable stage. In the fabricated system, an image sensor operated at maximum frame rate of 2000 fps and a movable stage operated at maximum speed of 300 mm/s are introduced. Under the continuous wave illumination, motion-blurred phase object is reconstructed. By using numerical processing such as deconvolution filter, the reconstructed phase distribution is much improved. Numerical results are presented.

Improvement of reconstructed phase distribution of fast moving phase object in digital holographic microscope

Minimum optical energy required for parallel four-step phase-shifting digital holography is evaluated numerically by using photon-counting method. One of the attractive features of parallel phase-shifting digital holography is the instantaneous recording of fast 3D events where only the complex amplitude distribution of an object wave is obtained. The reconstruction is executed by numerical wave propagation such as angular spectrum propagation or Fresnel propagation. Numerical results indicate that required optical energy of an input image with 512 × 512 pixels is about 11 pJ. Under the criteria used in the evaluation, the required optical energy is independent of the image size.

Evaluation of parallel phase-shifting digital holography by photon-counting method

We review an optical secure memory card using a three-dimensional (3D) scattering medium and 3D absorbers. The
information of 3D absorbers such as position, size, and number can be used as 3D data. The strong scattering effect can
make the data secure for measuring them by interferometer. To recover the absorption distribution, a computational
method is developed. We show the numerical results of the reconstructed absorption distribution and then show how
important to control the scattering coefficient in a volume medium. We also present preliminary experimental results to
make a scattering medium by using holes created by irradiation of femtosecond laser pulse.

Optical fabrication of 3D scattering medium for secure optical memory card

Holographic three‐dimensional(3D) display system with data processing techniques is presented By use of phase shifting digital holography, the complex amplitude of 3D object is obtained Data processing techniques in complex amplitude are introduced to improve the quality of reconstructed 3D object or manipulate 3D objects Elimination and addition of objects are presented

Holographic Three‐dimensional Display with Data Processing

A method for SIMD (Single Instruction stream Multi Data Stream) processing of two dimensional images. is improved.
We study on characteristics of patterns on intermediate data in the algorithm.
From the study, it is found that the patterns are periodical.
A novel method for the improvement is developed by use of the characteristics.

We estimate effectiveness of the improved method.
The method is implemented on a personal computer and compared with the simulator based on the conventional scheme.
As results of estimation, it is verified that the computational costs of the method are about ten times as small as that with the conventional compressed scheme.

Kouichi Nitta

Papers

Improvement of reconstructed phase distribution of fast moving phase object in digital holographic microscope

Evaluation of parallel phase-shifting digital holography by photon-counting method

Optical fabrication of 3D scattering medium for secure optical memory card

Holographic Three‐dimensional Display with Data Processing

Two-dimensional pattern processing by means of image compression