| dc.description.abstract | The aim of the work reported in this thesis is to analyse and develop hybrid imaging
systems. Hybrid imaging systems are electro-optical imaging systems with optical
elements implemented in the aperture-stop and digital post-image processing applied
to the acquired image, jointly optimised for task-based imaging. Extended depth-of-field is one of the benefits that hybrid imaging systems provide.
In particular, and as main objective of this thesis, we analyse and develop a hybrid
and compact optical zoom lens with a single moving element and extended-depth-of-field. We show how a specific hybrid imaging technique can be used and implemented
to miniaturise these zoom lenses such that they can be implemented in a mobile
phone. We demonstrate that the implementation of a given phase mask and digital
image restoration of the recorded images can imply two important trade-offs, namely
image artifacts and noise amplification in the restored images.
Image artifacts have not been given much attention in hybrid imaging systems.
Despite of this, the image artifacts have probably been the main reason why no
commercial products have been manufactured until now. In this thesis, we analyse
for the first time the form of specific image artifacts, which imply that we are
able to fully understand the physics of the artifacts. Based on the understanding,
we develop a technique to remove the image artifacts. Furthermore, we develop a
hybrid imaging system with adjustable noise amplification.
Our original contributions to hybrid imaging techniques, which include the understanding
of depth-of-field in various hybrid imaging systems (with and without sampling),
understanding and development of a compact zoom lens with a single moving
element, the understanding and removal of image artifacts, and development of a hybrid
imaging system with adjustable noise amplification, will make the development
of future and commercial hybrid imaging systems possible. | en_US |
