Active sparse aperture imaging using independent transmitter modulation with improved incoherent Fourier...

Area of Science:

• Optics
• Imaging Science
• Signal Processing

Background:

• Sparse aperture imaging offers potential for next-generation high-resolution systems.
• Phasing errors and aberrations are key challenges in sparse aperture imaging.
• Current methods often focus on receiving path corrections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate an active sparse aperture imaging approach.
• To overcome phasing errors and correct aberrations digitally.
• To achieve higher resolution imaging beyond the diffraction limit.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing an active illumination unit with an independent pattern projector.
• Capturing raw images with scanned illumination patterns.
• Reconstructing images using an improved incoherent Fourier ptychographic algorithm.

Main Results:

• Successfully reconstructed sparse aperture images with distortions removed and contrast enhanced.
• Achieved higher resolution beyond the synthetic aperture's diffraction limit.
• Demonstrated effectiveness through both simulation and experimental results.

Conclusions:

• The proposed active sparse aperture imaging technique effectively corrects errors and enhances resolution.
• Illumination pattern modulation enables resolution beyond the diffraction limit.
• This approach offers new insights for sparse aperture systems, particularly in the transmitting path.