IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,067,029
Granted Patent B2
US 10,067,029 · App. 15/290,313 · Granted Sep 4, 2018

Systems and methods for estimating modulation transfer function in an optical system

Inventors: Vlad Constantin Cardei (Redwood City, CA); Boyd Albert Fowler (Sunnyvale, CA)
Assignee: Google LLC
G01M11/0292G06T7/0085G06T7/13G06T2207/30168H05K999/99
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,067,029
App. No.
15/290,313
Filed
Oct 11, 2016
Granted
Sep 4, 2018
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2666
USPC
382/266
Abstract

A method of determining a modulation transfer function (MTF) for an image includes receiving an image captured through the optical system, performing edge detection on columns or rows in the image to calculate a plurality of edge points, calculating a plurality polynomials to fit to the calculated edge points, each of the plurality of polynomials varying in degree, selecting a polynomial from the plurality of polynomials to represent the detected edge, and estimating the MTF based on the selected polynomial.

Claims (55)

1. A method of determining an optical system modulation transfer function (MTF) based on an image captured through the optical system, comprising:

receiving an image captured through the optical system;

performing edge detection on columns or rows in the image to calculate a plurality of edge points;

calculating a plurality polynomials to fit to the calculated edge points, each of the plurality of polynomials varying in degree;

selecting a polynomial from the plurality of polynomials to represent the detected edge by:

determining a residual error value for each of the plurality of polynomials;

determining a difference in the residual error value between each of the plurality of polynomials; and

selecting a highest degree polynomial among the plurality of polynomials that results in decrease in the residual error value less than a threshold amount;

estimating the MTF based on the selected polynomial; and

configuring a configuration of the optical system based on the estimated MTF.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected polynomial has a

degree higher than a second degree.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising binning the edge point data such that the line spread function has a resolution that is at least four times higher than original data from the image.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the MTF comprises:

creating a line spread function based on the selected polynomial; and

binning edge point data of the line spread function.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the edge is a concave edge.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the edge is a circular edge.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the edge is an arbitrary smooth edge.

8. A system, comprising:

a memory storing instructions;

a processor configured to execute a process on a digital image captured by an optical system based on the instructions, the process including the operations of:

an image captured through the optical system;

performing edge detection on columns or rows in the image to calculate a plurality of edge points;

calculating a plurality polynomials to fit to the calculated edge points, each of the plurality of polynomials varying in polynomial degree;

selecting a polynomial from the plurality of polynomials to represent the detected edge by:

determining a residual error value for each of the plurality of polynomials;

determining a difference in the residual error value between each of the plurality of polynomials; and

selecting a highest degree polynomial among the plurality of polynomials that results in decrease in the residual error value less than a threshold amount;

estimating the MTF based on the selected polynomial; and

configuring a configuration of the optical system based on the estimated MTF.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the selected polynomial has a

degree higher than a second degree.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operation of estimating the MTF comprises:

creating a line spread function based on the selected polynomial; and

binning edge point data of the line spread function.

11. The system of claim 10 , the process further comprising binning the edge point data such that the line spread function has a resolution that is at least four times higher than original data from the image.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the edge is a concave edge.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the edge is a convex edge.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the edge is a circular edge.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the edge is an arbitrary smooth edge.

16. A system, comprising:

a memory storing instructions;

a processor configured to execute a process on a digital image captured by an optical system based on the instructions, the process including the operations of:

receiving the digital image captured by the optical system;

performing edge detection on columns or rows in the digital image to calculate a plurality of edge points;

calculating a current polynomial to fit to the calculated edge points;

determining a residual error value for the current polynomial;

performing a polynomial selection process by:

calculating a next polynomial to fit to the calculated edge points, the next polynomial having a greater polynomial degree than the current polynomial;

determining a residual error value for the next polynomial;

in response to a difference in the residual error values of the current and next polynomials being less than a threshold amount, selecting the current polynomial and ending the polynomial selection process; and

in response to the difference being greater than or equal to the threshold amount, assigning the next polynomial as the current polynomial and repeating the polynomial selection process;

estimating the MTF based on the selected polynomial; and

configuring a configuration of the optical system based on the estimated MTF.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 5, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 044129/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2016
From: CARDEI, VLAD CONSTANTIN; FOWLER, BOYD ALBERT
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 039985/0603 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62294786 · Feb 12, 2016
Related Publication 20170234765A1 · Aug 17, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,322,115