Applications of microcomputers in interactive image processing

Abstract

Interactive image processing systems are reviewed and a system incorporating a charge coupled device imaging array, a microprocessor computing element, and a real time image display is described. Applications are given, including the description of a system capable of collecting multispectral images for satellite imagery calibration. A new technique, called shift and add, which allows nearly diffraction limited images to be formed of objects viewed through a randomly distorted, turbulent media is formulated. The successful simulation of the method in an optical laboratory is reported. Results are given which show that if the method is applied in large telescope, optical astronomical imaging, nearly diffraction limited images may be obtained through the earth's atmosphere. It is shown that this can be achieved even though the telescope may have severe aberrations and when using a much wider bandwidth than that used at present in stellar Speckle Interferometry.