Optimizing optical precision of an image using curved focal plane technology

Sujay Swain; Sudhish Swain; Dianne L. Poster; Michael T. Postek

doi:10.1117/12.2583122

5 March 2021 Optimizing optical precision of an image using curved focal plane technology

Sujay Swain, Sudhish Swain, Dianne L. Poster, Michael T. Postek

Proceedings Volume 11693, Photonic Instrumentation Engineering VIII; 1169316 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2583122
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2021, Online Only

Conference Poster

Abstract

The quality of an image captured by the human eye is typically better than that obtained relative to artificial images created by cameras or telescopes. This is because humans have curved retinas. In contrast, conventional imaging cameras have flat sensors that are not well matched to the curved focal surfaces of a camera lens or telescope objective. Thus, the image cannot be at the same focus across the entire sensor field of view. It is hypothesized that as the surface of the sensor approaches the curvature of the camera lens or telescope, the image quality increases. To test this, a commercially available ray tracing software was used. The curvatures were varied from flat (0 mm) to 12 mm. As the curvature reached 9 mm, the Petzval curvature, the quality of the captured images from the camera significantly improved. However, as the curvature increased beyond 9 mm, the quality of the artificial image decreased. In addition, a simulation of a classical Cassegrain telescope was also made. For the telescope, the curvatures were varied from 0 mm to 500 mm. As the curvature approached the telescope’s focal surface curvature of 350 mm, the distortion decreased. In addition to the optical simulations, two images were generated: one with a camera and the other by a reconstruction process. The latter was reconstructed by using the central part of images taken along that curve to create an image. A comparison of these images demonstrates the superior image produced with the latter method. Devices such as cameras and telescopes with curved focal plane array detectors produce images with higher quality than those produced using devices equipped with flat focal plane array detectors.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Sujay Swain, Sudhish Swain, Dianne L. Poster, and Michael T. Postek "Optimizing optical precision of an image using curved focal plane technology", Proc. SPIE 11693, Photonic Instrumentation Engineering VIII, 1169316 (5 March 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2583122

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available