Tilted objects EFI extracted at once by 3D output of the angular spectrum method

Since many optical imaging systems suffer from a limited depth of focus, three-dimensional (3D) objects, or even flat objects tilted with respect to the optical axis, are imaged with only a portion of them in focus. Typically, to overcome this problem, in-focus areas are extracted from different images taken at different depths. The in-focus regions are thus merged together to build the extended focus image (EFI). In this work, we propose a quasi-automatic method for the EFI construction of tilted objects, extracted at once by 3D output of the Angular Spectrum Method (ASM) from a single digitally recorded hologram. Results show that our method can be effectively used for the correction of the anamorphism due to the reconstruction on a tilted plane with respect to the hologram one.     

Extended depth of focus for transmission x-ray microscope

A fast discrete curvelet transform based focus-stacking algorithm for extending the depth of focus of a transmission x-ray microscope (TXM) is presented. By analyzing an image stack of a sample taken in a Z-scan, a fully in-focus image can be generated by the proposed scheme. With the extended depth of focus, it is possible to obtain 3D structural information over a large volume at nanometer resolution. The focus-stacking method has been demonstrated using a dataset taken with a laboratory x-ray source based TXM system. The possibility and limitations of generalizing this method to a synchrotron based TXM are also discussed. We expect the proposed method to be of important impact in 3D x-ray microscopy.     

On the extended depth of focus algorithms for bright field microscopy

Microscopes offer a limited depth of focus which precludes the observation of a complete image of a three-dimensional (3D) object in a single view. Investigations, by a variety of researchers, have led to the development of extended depth of focus algorithms for serial optical slices of microscopic 3D objects in recent years. However, to date, no quantitative comparison of the different algorithms has been performed, generally leaving the evaluation to the subjective qualitative appreciation of the observer. In this paper we use three different tests for extended depth of focus algorithm evaluation and test 10 different algorithms, some of them have been adapted (by us) for a series of optical slices. However, the main contribution of the paper is a new improved algorithm for computing the extended depth of focus.     

A microscope system based on bevel-axial method auto-focus

A microscope system based on bevel-axial method auto-focus (BAM-AFS) is proposed. The purpose is to establish an auto-focus microscope system that calculates the focus position one or many times. In this paper, we propose a bevel-axial method that had an included angle between CCD sensor and image plane with multi-parameters fusing from image to obtain the in-focus position directly in the first phase and combined Kalman estimate to obtain the in-focus position for different objects in the second phase. We discuss the relation between focus positions and image focus at the end.     

Multi-focus image fusion based on robust principal component analysis and pulse-coupled neural network

Multi-focus image fusion combines multiple source images with different focus points into one image, so that the resulting image appears all in-focus. In order to improve the accuracy of focused region detection and fusion quality, a novel multi-focus image fusion scheme based on robust principal component analysis (RPCA) and pulse-coupled neural network (PCNN) is proposed. In this method, registered source images are decomposed into principal component matrices and sparse matrices with RPCA decomposition. The local sparse features computed from the sparse matrix construct a composite feature space to represent the important information from the source images, which become inputs to PCNN to motivate the PCNN neurons. The focused regions of the source images are detected by the firing maps of PCNN and are integrated to construct the final, fused image. Experimental results demonstrate that the superiority of the proposed scheme over existing methods and highlight the expediency and suitability of the proposed method.     

The influence of structure depth on image blurring of micrometres-thick specimens in MeV transmission electron imaging

This study investigates the influence of structure depth on image blurring of micrometres-thick films by experiment and simulation with a conventional transmission electron microscope (TEM). First, ultra-high-voltage electron microscope (ultra-HVEM) images of nanometer gold particles embedded in thick epoxy-resin films were acquired in the experiment and compared with simulated images. Then, variations of image blurring of gold particles at different depths were evaluated by calculating the particle diameter. The results showed that with a decrease in depth, image blurring increased. This depth-related property was more apparent for thicker specimens. Fortunately, larger particle depth involves less image blurring, even for a 10-μm-thick epoxy-resin film. The quality dependence on depth of a 3D reconstruction of particle structures in thick specimens was revealed by electron tomography. The evolution of image blurring with structure depth is determined mainly by multiple elastic scattering effects. Thick specimens of heavier materials produced more blurring due to a larger lateral spread of electrons after scattering from the structure. Nevertheless, increasing electron energy to 2 MeV can reduce blurring and produce an acceptable image quality for thick specimens in the TEM.     

基于优势特征图像融合的水下光学图像增强

针对水下光学图像颜色失真、非均匀光照、对比度低的问题,提出基于优势特征图像融合的水下光学图像增强算法.首先,提出改进的暗通道先验算法去除退化图像中的不均匀浑浊并均衡色彩;其次,对颜色校正图像分别使用基于加权分布的自适应伽玛校正算法和限制对比度自适应直方图均衡-同态滤波算法,增强颜色校正图像对比度并使其亮度均衡;最后,定义三幅融合图像即颜色校正图像、亮度均衡图像、对比度增强图像的关联权重图,通过多尺度融合算法获得融合图像.与单一预处理算法只能解决对应的退化现象相比,该算法对单幅退化图像进行多算法处理,得到三幅优势特征图像,通过不同权重的组合最大程度地将各优势特征相结合,得到的综合效果远超各单一算法优化效果,不再局限于解决颜色失真等单一问题.将本文算法与现有算法在主观评价和客观评价两方面进行实验对比,结果表明,该算法可以有效平衡水下图像的色度、饱和度及清晰度,视觉效果接近自然场景下的图像.     

Multifocus image fusion scheme using focused region detection and multiresolution

To solve the fusion problem of the multifocus images of the same scene, a novel algorithm based on focused region detection and multiresolution is proposed. In order to integrate the advantages of spatial domain-based fusion methods and transformed domain-based fusion methods, we use a technique of focused region detection and a new fusion method of multiscale transform (MST) to guide pixel combination. Firstly, the initial fused image is acquired with a novel multiresolution image fusion method. The pixels of the original images, which are similar to the corresponding initial fused image pixels, are considered to be located in the sharply focused regions. By this method, the initial focused regions can be determined, and the techniques of morphological opening and closing are employed for post-processing. Then the pixels within the focused regions in each source image are selected as the pixels of the fused image; meanwhile, the initial fused image pixels which are located at the focused border regions are retained as the pixels of the final fused image. The fused image is then obtained. The experimental results show that the proposed fusion approach is effective and performs better in fusing multi-focus images than some current methods.     

Single frame blind image deconvolution by non-negative sparse matrix factorization

Novel approach to single frame multichannel blind image deconvolution has been formulated recently as non-negative matrix factorization problem with sparseness constraints imposed on the unknown mixing vector that accounts for the case of non-sparse source image. Unlike most of the blind image deconvolution algorithms, the novel approach assumed no a priori knowledge about the blurring kernel and original image. Our contributions in this paper are: (i) we have formulated generalized non-negative matrix factorization approach to blind image deconvolution with sparseness constraints imposed on either unknown mixing vector or unknown source image; (ii) the criteria are established to distinguish whether unknown source image was sparse or not as well as to estimate appropriate sparseness constraint from degraded image itself, thus making the proposed approach completely unsupervised; (iii) an extensive experimental performance evaluation of the non-negative matrix factorization algorithm is presented on the images degraded by the blur caused by the photon sieve, out-of-focus blur with sparse and non-sparse images and blur caused by atmospheric turbulence. The algorithm is compared with the state-of-the-art single frame blind image deconvolution algorithms such as blind Richardson-Lucy algorithm and single frame multichannel independent component analysis based algorithm and non-blind image restoration algorithms such as multiplicative algebraic restoration technique and Van-Cittert algorithms. It has been experimentally demonstrated that proposed algorithm outperforms mentioned non-blind and blind image deconvolution methods.     

基于对焦深度法的光学显微镜系统设计

针对传统显微镜采用手工对焦方式存在自动化程度低、对焦过程较慢且对操作者经验要求高的问题,提出一套基于对焦深度法的光学显微镜系统。结合基于图像处理自动对焦的显微镜通用结构,设计了一套由ARM开发板、触控液晶显示屏、Arduino UNO开发板、红外对管、工业数码显微镜及步进电机等组成的光学显微镜系统。结合触控液晶显示屏的特点,设计出结合不同大小的感兴趣区域对焦窗口选择方法,并在采用常见梯度函数作为图像清晰度评价函数及爬山搜索算法的基础上,提出容错改进方法。实验分别对不同的图像清晰度评价函数及对焦窗口大小进行了实时性、灵敏度及容错性能测试。结果表明,该系统具有较高的可靠性。     

波前编码显微物镜景深扩展的研究

为了解决传统显微物镜景深与分辨率的矛盾,采用波前编码的方法,设计研究了波前编码的10倍显微物镜,结合传统光学设计软件,采用基于MTF一致性的相位板参数的优化方法,实现了在像面附近一定范围内系统的点扩散函数一致性;此外,还设计了扩展三次相位编码板的10倍显微物镜,比较了采用两种不同相位板系统的焦深扩展的效果,结果显示三次相位板的焦深扩展效果较好,可以将传统10倍显微物镜的焦深扩展15倍。成像模拟仿真结果显示滤波后的编码像在±15倍焦深范围内成像清晰,从而扩大了系统的景深。     

基于边缘的SSIM图像质量客观评价方法

在图像处理领域中,准确判断所处理图像的质量是一项关键技术.本文在基于结构相似度的图像质量评价方法的基础上,考虑了边缘信息对人眼感知结构的重要性,提出了基于边缘结构相似度的图像质量评价方法.实验中,对实验图像进行客观指标的提取与计算,最后统计分析实验数据.结果表明,该方法对图像质量的评价结果优于基于结构相似度的图像质量评价方法,能够正确反映图像质量且更加符合人眼的主观感受.     

A new method to accelerate depth extraction for aperture-coded camera

Depth extraction, or the retrieval of three-dimensional information of the captured scene from camera, is an important problem in computer vision and image processing. The aperture-coded camera has certain advantages in depth extraction. However, such calculation will cost huge time as it contains weighted iterative deconvolution. In order to solve the problem, this paper proposes an improved algorithm in which the image is firstly segmented and then the small image regions are sampled for deconvolution and depth judgment. Experimental results prove that the proposed method can greatly reduce time consumption and save computer memory. On this basis, by using the characteristics of aperture-coded camera obtaining image and depth, we propose a framework to handle the application of stitching the images of occluded scene, and then carry out experiments.     

X射线皮秒变象管分幅相机研究

本文介绍了我们提出的一种新的实现皮秒分幅摄影的技术方案,其优点是对控制线路要求不高,给出了用计算机对此方案进行数值模拟的结果和新设计的用于这种分幅方案的变象管特性,用直流X射线源测出该变象管的静态空间分辨率为20lp/mm。用激光打靶产生的脉冲X射线测量了相机动态特性,已得到了四幅动态像,每幅曝光时间150ps,空间分辨率3lp/mm。     

Interlaced scan CCD image motion deblur for space-variant motion blurs

Motion blur is caused by camera shakes or object motions during exposure when the shutter speed is relatively slow. As for the object motion blur, the degradation of a CCD image is often characterized by space-variant motion blurs, since objects are often moving in different directions at different speeds. But most image restorations for space-variant motion blurs are addressed only for progressive scan CCD images. To address the space-variant image restorations for interlaced scan images, we propose a novel image restoration scheme. First, one interlaced scan image frame is required, which is divided into the odd field and the even field images. These two field images are further segmented into rectangular blocks. The motion vectors are computed in these rectangular blocks using an efficient block matching algorithm. Second, image restoration is performed in these rectangular blocks using a constrained least square algorithm in the odd or even field image, which can both preserve edge structures and remove noises. Our novel scheme is illustrated by restoring a space-variant blurred moving boat image and a synthetic blurred image.     

Automatic focusing in digital holography and its application to stretched holograms

The searching and recovering of the correct reconstruction distance in digital holography (DH) can be a cumbersome and subjective procedure. Here we report on an algorithm for automatically estimating the in-focus image and recovering the correct reconstruction distance for speckle holograms. We have tested the approach in determining the reconstruction distances of stretched digital holograms. Stretching a hologram with a variable elongation parameter makes it possible to change the in-focus distance of the reconstructed image. In this way, the proposed algorithm can be verified at different distances by dispensing the recording of different holograms. Experimental results are shown with the aim of demonstrating the usefulness of the proposed method, and a comparative analysis has been performed with respect to other existing algorithms developed for DH.     

显微标本无损分析仪的研究

将传统光学显微镜和CCD、计算机相结合,实现对标本的无损显微观察.在介绍系统硬件组成的同时,着重说明了图像清晰度评价与图片重建的核心算法,并用VC++加以验证和实现.清晰度评价函数采用自行设计的类灰度方差算法,即采用图像的灰度值方差作为图像的清晰度.无损显微分析仪通过精密位置控制机械结构上下移动载物台,采集样本和显微物镜在不同距离时的多幅局部清晰的图像,通过清晰度评价算法找到满足清晰度要求的局部图像,再对多个清晰的局部图像进行合成,得到清晰的整体图像.     

Terahertz interferometric synthetic aperture tomography for confocal imaging systems

Terahertz (THz) interferometric synthetic aperture tomography (TISAT) for confocal imaging within extended objects is demonstrated by combining attributes of synthetic aperture radar and optical coherence tomography. Algorithms recently devised for interferometric synthetic aperture microscopy are adapted to account for the diffraction-and defocusing-induced spatially varying THz beam width characteristic of narrow depth of focus, high-resolution confocal imaging. A frequency-swept two-dimensional TISAT confocal imaging instrument rapidly achieves in-focus, diffraction-limited resolution over a depth 12 times larger than the instrument's depth of focus in a manner that may be easily extended to three dimensions and greater depths.     

Quantification of cerebral perfusion using the "bookend technique": an evaluation in CNS tumors

We present a method of quantifying cerebral blood volume using dynamic susceptibility contrast. Our approach combines T₂-weighted echo planar imaging (EPI) pulse sequences and reference scans that determine the parenchymal T₁ changes resulting from an injection of a gadolinium chelate. This combined T₂- and T₁-weighted approach (the “bookend” technique) has been shown to be effective in the quantification of gradient-echo (GRE) (T₂*-weighted) perfusion images but has not been applied to spin-echo EPI (SE-EPI) (T₂-weighted) images. The physics related to blood volume measurement based on T₂- and T₂*-weighted EPI sequences is known to be different, and there is a question as to whether the bookend approach is effective with SE-EPI. We have compared the quantitative SE-EPI with GRE-EPI in a series of patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors. We found that quantitative cerebral blood volume (qCBV) values for SE-EPI and GRE-EPI are in agreement with each other and with historical reference values. A subjective evaluation of image quality showed that image quality in the SE-EPI scans was high and exhibited high interreader agreement. We conclude that measuring qCBV using the bookend technique with SE-EPI images is possible and may be a viable alternative to GRE-EPI in the evaluation of CNS tumors.     

In-focus Fourier-domain Optical Coherence Tomography by Complex Numerical Method

We introduce a numerical in-focus Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography(in-focus FD-OCT) which can measure cross-sectional images of samples with the high lateral resolution comparable with the resolution in the focal plane in overall range of measurement. In this method, the lateral resolution is enhanced by lateral signal processing of a complex OCT image obtained with FD-OCT. Quantitative evaluation of this method and application to measurement of a porcine eyeball are presented.