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2D Sub-pixel Point Spread Function Measurement Using a Virtual Point-Like Source

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Abstract

2D point spread function (PSF) is a commonly used measure to assess the quality of various imaging systems. The most convenient way of 2D PSF measurement is taking an image of a light source with its size well below the diffraction limit of the imaging system. In this paper, we present a novel method that allows formation of such a virtual point-like source by a simple setup with a convex spherical mirror and a collimated light source. Sub-pixel 2D PSF measurements are possible by displacing the setup in sub-pixel steps. Comparison of the 1D modulation transfer functions estimated by the proposed method and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 12233 standard shows that the proposed method presents a viable alternative to the ISO 12233 standard. Furthermore, future work on calibration patterns and algorithms for sub-pixel 2D PSF estimation from a single image could benefit from the presented method, which provides ground truth sub-pixel 2D PSF measurements for real imaging systems.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Slovenian Research Agency, under Grants J7-6781, J2-5473, L2-5472 and L2-4072.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Imaging Technologies, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška 25, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Jurij Jemec, Franjo Pernuš, Boštjan Likar & Miran Bürmen

  2. SENSUM, Computer Vision Systems, Tehnološki park 21, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Franjo Pernuš & Boštjan Likar

Authors
  1. Jurij Jemec
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  2. Franjo Pernuš
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  3. Boštjan Likar
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  4. Miran Bürmen
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Correspondence to Jurij Jemec.

Additional information

Communicated by Y. Sato.

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Jemec, J., Pernuš, F., Likar, B. et al. 2D Sub-pixel Point Spread Function Measurement Using a Virtual Point-Like Source. Int J Comput Vis 121, 391–402 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11263-016-0948-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11263-016-0948-8

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