Wavefront coding for detection and estimation with a single-lens incoherent optical system

We present a unique method of designing incoherent optical systems for detection and estimation tasks. Our approach is novel in that it physically consists of a phase mask placed at the lens of a standard incoherent optical system. This phase mask provides the ability to shift the phase of the incoming light at discrete regions at the lens. The use of this phase mask allows control of the optical transfer function (OTF) and impulse response, or point spread function (PSF), of the incoherent optical system. With the combination phase mask/incoherent optical system, and digital processing of resulting intermediate image, the overall detection and estimation performance of the system can be greatly enhanced. We describe three applications of this method. These are single-lens, single-image passive range estimation, high-resolution extended depth of field, and passive range detection