Triple Coding Empowered FDMA-CDMA Mode High Security CAOS Camera

For the first time, the hybrid triple coding empowered Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mode of the CAOS (i.e., Coded Access Optical Sensor) camera is demonstrated. Compared to the independent FDMA and CDMA modes, the FDMA-CDMA mode has a novel high security space-time-frequency triple signal encoding design for robust, faster, linear irradiance extraction at a moderately High Dynamic Range (HDR). Specifically, this hybrid mode simultaneously combines the linear HDR strength of the FDMA mode Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) Digital Signal Processing (DSP)-based spectrum analysis with the high Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) provided by the many simultaneous CAOS pixels photodetection of the CDMA mode. In particular, the demonstrated FDMA CDMA mode with P FDMA channels provides a P times faster camera operation versus the equivalent linear HDR Frequency Modulation (FM)CDMA mode. The active FDMA CDMA mode CAOS camera operation is also demonstrated using P equal to 3 LED light sources, each with its unique optical spectral content driven by its independent FDMA frequency. This illuminated target spectral signature matched active CAOS mode allows simultaneous capture of P images without the use of P time multiplexed slots operation tunable optical filter.

Calibration based Minimalistic Multi-Exposure Digital Sensor Camera Robust Linear High Dynamic Range Enhancement Technique Demonstration

Demonstrated for a digital image sensor based camera is a calibration target optimized method for finding the Camera Response Function (CRF). The proposed method uses localized known target zone pixel outputs spatial averaging and histogram analysis for saturated pixel detection. Using the proposed CRF generation method with a 87 dB High Dynamic Range (HDR) silicon CMOS image sensor camera viewing a 90 dB HDR calibration target, experimentally produced is a non-linear CRF with a limited 40 dB linear CRF zone. Next, a 78 dB test target is deployed to test the camera with this measured CRF and its restricted 40 dB zone. By engaging the proposed minimal exposures, weighting free, multi-exposure imaging method with 2 images, demonstrated is a highly robust recovery of the test target. In addition, the 78 dB test target recovery with 16 individual DR value patches stays robust over a factor of 20 change in test target illumination lighting. In comparison, a non-robust test target image recovery is produced by 5 leading prior-art multi-exposure HDR recovery algorithms using 16 images having 16 different exposure times, with each consecutive image having a sensor dwell time increasing by a factor of 2. Further validation of the proposed HDR image recovery method is provided using two additional experiments, the first using a 78 dB calibrated target combined with a natural indoor scene to form a hybrid design target and a second experiment using an uncalibrated indoor natural scene. The proposed technique applies to all digital image sensor based cameras having exposure time and illumination controls. In addition, the proposed methods apply to various sensor technologies, spectral bands, and imaging applications.

FDMA-CDMA Mode CAOS Camera Demonstration using UV to NIR Full Spectrum

For the first time, the hybrid Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mode of the CAOS (i.e., Coded Access Optical Sensor) camera is demonstrated. The FDMA CDMA mode is a time frequency double signal encoding design for robust and faster linear High Dynamic Range (HDR) image irradiance extraction. Specifically, it simultaneously combines the strength of the FDMA-mode linear HDR Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) Digital Signal Processing (DSP) based spectrum analysis with the CDMA mode provided many simultaneous CAOS pixels high Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) photo-detection. The FDMA CDMA mode with P FDMA channels provides a faster camera operation versus the linear HDR Frequency Modulation (FM) CDMA mode. Visible band imaging experiments using a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) based CAOS camera demonstrate a P equal to 4 channels FDMA CDMA mode high quality image recovery of a calibrated 64 dB 6 patches HDR target versus the CDMA and FM CDMA CAOS modes that limit dynamic range and speed, respectively. Simultaneous dual image capture capability of the FDMA-CDMA mode is also demonstrated for the first time in Ultraviolet (UV) to Near Infrared (NIR) 350 to 1800 nm full spectrum using Silicon (Si) and Germanium (Ge) point photo-detectors.