Pascuala García-Martínez

Synthetic aperture superresolution with multiple off-axis holograms

An optical setup to achieve superresolution in microscopy using holographic recording is presented. The technique is based on off-axis illumination of the object and a simple optical image processing stage after the imaging system for the interferometric recording process. The superresolution effect can be obtained either in one step by combining a spatial multiplexing process and an incoherent addition of different holograms or it can be implemented sequentially. Each hologram holds the information of each different frequency bandpass of the object spectrum. We have optically implemented the approach for a low-numerical-aperture commercial microscope objective. The system is simple and robust because the holographic interferometric recording setup is done after the imaging lens.

Superresolved imaging in digital holography by superposition of tilted wavefronts

A technique based on superresolution by digital holographic microscopic imaging is presented. We used a two dimensional (2-D) vertical-cavity self-emitting laser (VCSEL) array as spherical-wave illumination sources. The method is defined in terms of an incoherent superposition of tilted wavefronts. The tilted spherical wave originating from the 2-D VCSEL elements illuminates the target in transmission mode to obtain a hologram in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer configuration. Superresolved images of the input object above the common lens diffraction limit are generated by sequential recording of the individual holograms and numerical reconstruction of the image with the extended spatial frequency range. We have experimentally tested the approach for a microscope objective with an exact 2-D reconstruction image of the input object. The proposed approach has implementation advantages for applications in biological imaging or the microelectronic industry in which structured targets are being inspected.

Three-dimensional mapping and range measurement by means of projected speckle patterns

We present a novel approach for three-dimensional (3D) measurements that includes the projection of coherent light through ground glass. Such a projection generates random speckle patterns on the object or on the camera, depending if the configuration is transmissive or reflective. In both cases the spatially random patterns are seen by the sensor. Different spatially random patterns are generated at different planes. The patterns are highly random and not correlated. This low correlation between different patterns is used for both 3D mapping of objects and range finding.

Single-step superresolution by interferometric imaging.

The use of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays for implementation of incoherent source superresolution is presented. The method uses an interferometer setup to obtain superresolution in a single step. The novelty of the method relies on the use of a VCSEL array as the light source, which provides a set of coherent sources which are mutually incoherent. The technique accomplishes the transmission of several spatial frequency bands of the objects spectrum in parallel by use of spatial multiplexing that occurs because of the tilted illumination of the source array. The recording process is done by interference of each frequency band with a complementary set of reference plane waves. After the reconstruction process, the resolution of any optical system can approach the natural lambda/2 limit. The benefit of our system is improved modulation speed and hence more rapid image synthesis. Moreover, any desired synthetic coherent transfer function can be realized at ultrafast rates if we simply change the electrical drive of the VCSEL array.

Superresolution using gray level coding

In this paper we describe a super-resolving approach based upon gray level coding of the information. Thus, the imaged object should have limited number of gray levels. The proposed approach overcomes the resolution limitations caused either by the optics or by the finite size of the detector. In contrast to other existing super resolution techniques that use time or wavelength multiplexing, in this approach one does not need to pay neither in temporal nor in wavelength degrees of freedom, but in intensity dynamic range. After the gray coding and the imaging, the high frequency spatial resolution features are decoded using the decoding gray level lookup table.

Optical implementation of the weighted sliced orthogonal nonlinear generalized correlation for nonuniform illumination conditions

Optical pattern recognition under variations of illumination is an important issue. The sliced orthogonal nonlinear generalized (SONG) correlation has been proposed as an optical pattern recognition tool to discriminate with high efficiency between objects. But, at the same time, the SONG correlation is very sensitive to gray-scale image variations. In a previous work, we expanded the definition ofthe SONG correlation to the Weighted SONG (WSONG) correlation to modify the discrimination capability in a controlled way. Here, we propose to use the WSONG when pattern recognition is obtained by means of optical correlation under nonuniform illumination. The calculation of the WSONG correlation requires the summation of many linear correlations between binary images. To implement it optically, we use a time sequential joint transform correlator.

Recognition of unsegmented targets invariant under transformations of intensity

Images taken in noncooperative environments do not always have targets under the same illumination conditions. There is a need for methods to detect targets independently of the illumination. We propose a technique that yields correlation peaks that are invariant under a linear intensity transformation of object intensity. The new locally adaptive contrast-invariant filter accomplishes this by combining three correlations in a nonlinear way. This method is not only intensity invariant but also has good discrimination and resistance to noise. We present simulation results for various intensity transformations with and without random and correlated noise. When the noise is high enough to threaten errors, the method trades off intensity invariance in order to achieve the optimum signal to noise ratio, and the peak to sidelobe ratio in the presence of clutter is always greater than one. In the presence of random disjoint noise, the signal to noise ratio is independent of the target contrast and of the level of the noise.

Color encoding for polychromatic single-channel optical pattern recognition

The common multichannel system for recognizing colored images is replaced by a color-encoded single-channel system. Amethod inspired by the Munsell color system is used for encoding the different colors as phase and amplitude functions. It is shown that for many practical cases the phase information part of the color code is sufficient for obtaining good results. An implementation based on a liquid-crystal television panel that works in a phase-modulation mode is suggested. Computer simulations that demonstrate the capabilities of the suggested method are given as well as a comparison with previously published multichannel performance.

Modified morphological correlation based on bit-map representations

Pattern recognition with high discrimination can be achieved with a morphological correlator. A modification of this correlator is carried out by use of a binary slicing process instead of linear thresholding. Although the obtained correlation result is not identical to the conventional morphological correlation, it requires fewer calculations and provides even higher discrimination. Two optical experimental implementations of this modified morphological correlator as well as some experimental results are shown.

Projection of speckle patterns for 3D sensing

In this communication we present the use of projected speckle patterns coming from a phase random mask for sensing depths and thicknesses. The sensing is based on the change of the speckle pattern with propagation and the lack of correlation between speckle patterns recorded at different depths or lateral locations. The principle is used for mapping thickness of transparent media, for depth ranging and for 3D mapping of diffuse objects.