Optical image processing systems using an acousto-optic cell have been studied previously. However, these previous studies have been limited to two diffracted order in the Bragg regime and two spatial dimensions. Some comparisons between experimental data and theoretical predictions have been made. This dissertation studies image processing by acousto-optic Bragg diffraction to perform image enhanment. Theoretical results involving two diffracted orders in three spatial dimensions is presented. Experimental data is presented that confirms the validity of the theoretical results. Detailed analysis of several optical image processing system using acousto-optic modulators is presented. Also, the methodology use to derive an analytically expression in three spatial dimension for the interaction of an arbitrary light profile and a rectangular sound column in an acousto-optic cell is presented. Lastly, the ability to change the characteristics of the derived transfer function that mathematically represents the interaction of light and sound inside the acousto-optic cell is discussed and future research topics is given. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Approved for public release; distribution in unlimited. / Night Vision Devices (NVD) using Image Intensification (II) technology are among the most important sensors used by ground troops and aviators in night operations for modern combat. With the intensified images from these devices, soldiers can see an enemy's movement better and further in darkness. This thesis explores different test methods in evaluating the performances and sensitivities of several NVDs for future image fusion studies. Specification data such as sensitivity, resolution (Modulation Transfer Function) and pixel size are obtained. Comparative analyses of the collected results are made to characterize the performances of the different NVDs. A new method using MATLAB programming to objectively analyze digitized images for characterization of II based NVDs is proposed. This test method can also be extended to the evaluation of Thermal Imaging (TI) systems for comparative analysis with II NVDs. In addition, the feasibility of testing NVDs using both II and TI technologies, with common operating conditions and target boards is discussed. Finally, the potential of using these digitized images for image fusion studies is verified with the test and evaluation results. / Republic of Singapore

Um grande número de equipamentos utilizam sistemas ópticos ou eletro-ópticos em suas estruturas, dentre esses equipamentos tem-se os microscópios, telescópios, equipamentos médicos, câmeras de satélites, entre outros. Com isso a necessidade de métodos e ferramentas que auxiliem na determinação do desempenho e da qualidade dos sistemas ópticos é crescente. Um dos métodos mais utilizados para realizar a análise de sistemas ópticos é a determinação da Função de Transferência de Modulação (Modulation Transfer Function - MTF). A MTF representa uma verificação quantitativa e direta da qualidade da imagem, e, além disso, é um teste objetivo que pode ser utilizado em sistemas ópticos concatenados. Esse trabalho apresenta a implementação de um software, denominado de SMTF (Software Modulation Transfer Function), para cálculo da MTF de equipamentos eletro-ópticos. O software foi utilizado para realizar o cálculo da MTF do Retinógrafo Digital, Imageador Termal e Microscópio Cirúrgico Oftalmológico. A informação da MTF auxilia na análise do alinhamento e medição da qualidade óptica, e também define o limite de resolução dos sistemas ópticos, por meio do gráfico da MTF. Os resultados obtidos, com o Retinógrafo e o Imageador Termal, foram comparados com os valores teóricos adquiridos pelo Zemax, que é um software utilizado para desenvolvimento e análise de lentes ou conjuntos ópticos. Já para o Microscópio os resultados obtidos da MTF foram comparados com os resultados obtidos pela MTF medida do Microscópio marca Zeiss, considerado como padrão de qualidade de Microscópios Oftalmológicos. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que o software apresentou ótimo desempenho permitindo uma análise direta e objetiva do comportamento de sistemas ópticos. Com auxílio do software foi feito o alinhamento do Retinógrafo Digital e do Imageador Termal e foi verificada a qualidade da imagem do Microscópio Cirúrgico Oftalmológico. / A number of devices use optics or electro-optics in their structures, such as microscopes, telescopes, medical equipments, satellites cameras, among others. The need for methods and tools that assist in determining the performance and quality of optical systems is increasing. One of the methods most used to perform analysis of optical systems is to measure the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF). The MTF represents a direct and quantitative verification of the image quality, and moreover, it is an objective test that can be used in concatenated optical systems. This paper presents the implementation of software, called SMTF (Software Modulation Transfer Function), in order to calculate the MTF of electro-optical systems. The software was used for calculating the MTF of Digital Fundus Camera, Thermal Imager and Ophthalmologic Surgery Microscope. The information MTF aids the analysis of alignment and measurement of optical quality, and also defines the limit resolution of optical systems, from the graph of MTF. The results obtained with the Fundus Camera and de Thermal Imager were compared with the theorical values acquired by the Zemax, wich is a software used for analysis and development of optical assemblies or lenses. For the Microscope, the results were compared with MTF measured of Microscope Zeiss model, which is the quality standard of ophthalmological microscope. The results show that the software has a good performance by allowing a straightforward analysis of the behavior of optical systems. With the aid of the software was made to align the Fundus Camera and the Thermal Imager and the image quality of Surgical Microscope Ophthalmology was verified.

In many applications from industry and technology computer simulations are performed using models which can be formulated by systems of differential equations. Often the equations underlie additional algebraic constraints. In this context we speak of descriptor systems. Very important characteristic values of such systems are the $L_\infty$-norms of the corresponding transfer functions. The main goal of this thesis is to extend a numerical method for the computation of the $L_\infty$-norm for standard state space systems to descriptor systems. For this purpose we develop a numerical method to check whether the transfer function of a given descriptor system is proper or improper and additionally use this method to reduce the order of the system to decrease the costs of the $L_\infty$-norm computation. When computing the $L_\infty$-norm it is necessary to compute the eigenvalues of certain skew-Hamiltonian/Hamiltonian matrix pencils composed by the system matrices. We show how we extend these matrix pencils to skew-Hamiltonian/Hamiltonian matrix pencils of larger dimension to get more reliable and accurate results. We also consider discrete-time systems, apply the extension strategy to the arising symplectic matrix pencils and transform these to more convenient structures in order to apply structure-exploiting eigenvalue solvers to them. We also investige a new structure-preserving method for the computation of the eigenvalues of skew-Hamiltonian/Hamiltonian matrix pencils and use this to increase the accuracy of the computed eigenvalues even more. In particular we ensure the reliability of the $L_\infty$-norm algorithm by this new eigenvalue solver. Finally we describe the implementation of the algorithms in Fortran and test them using two real-world examples.

Um grande número de equipamentos utilizam sistemas ópticos ou eletro-ópticos em suas estruturas, dentre esses equipamentos tem-se os microscópios, telescópios, equipamentos médicos, câmeras de satélites, entre outros. Com isso a necessidade de métodos e ferramentas que auxiliem na determinação do desempenho e da qualidade dos sistemas ópticos é crescente. Um dos métodos mais utilizados para realizar a análise de sistemas ópticos é a determinação da Função de Transferência de Modulação (Modulation Transfer Function - MTF). A MTF representa uma verificação quantitativa e direta da qualidade da imagem, e, além disso, é um teste objetivo que pode ser utilizado em sistemas ópticos concatenados. Esse trabalho apresenta a implementação de um software, denominado de SMTF (Software Modulation Transfer Function), para cálculo da MTF de equipamentos eletro-ópticos. O software foi utilizado para realizar o cálculo da MTF do Retinógrafo Digital, Imageador Termal e Microscópio Cirúrgico Oftalmológico. A informação da MTF auxilia na análise do alinhamento e medição da qualidade óptica, e também define o limite de resolução dos sistemas ópticos, por meio do gráfico da MTF. Os resultados obtidos, com o Retinógrafo e o Imageador Termal, foram comparados com os valores teóricos adquiridos pelo Zemax, que é um software utilizado para desenvolvimento e análise de lentes ou conjuntos ópticos. Já para o Microscópio os resultados obtidos da MTF foram comparados com os resultados obtidos pela MTF medida do Microscópio marca Zeiss, considerado como padrão de qualidade de Microscópios Oftalmológicos. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que o software apresentou ótimo desempenho permitindo uma análise direta e objetiva do comportamento de sistemas ópticos. Com auxílio do software foi feito o alinhamento do Retinógrafo Digital e do Imageador Termal e foi verificada a qualidade da imagem do Microscópio Cirúrgico Oftalmológico. / A number of devices use optics or electro-optics in their structures, such as microscopes, telescopes, medical equipments, satellites cameras, among others. The need for methods and tools that assist in determining the performance and quality of optical systems is increasing. One of the methods most used to perform analysis of optical systems is to measure the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF). The MTF represents a direct and quantitative verification of the image quality, and moreover, it is an objective test that can be used in concatenated optical systems. This paper presents the implementation of software, called SMTF (Software Modulation Transfer Function), in order to calculate the MTF of electro-optical systems. The software was used for calculating the MTF of Digital Fundus Camera, Thermal Imager and Ophthalmologic Surgery Microscope. The information MTF aids the analysis of alignment and measurement of optical quality, and also defines the limit resolution of optical systems, from the graph of MTF. The results obtained with the Fundus Camera and de Thermal Imager were compared with the theorical values acquired by the Zemax, wich is a software used for analysis and development of optical assemblies or lenses. For the Microscope, the results were compared with MTF measured of Microscope Zeiss model, which is the quality standard of ophthalmological microscope. The results show that the software has a good performance by allowing a straightforward analysis of the behavior of optical systems. With the aid of the software was made to align the Fundus Camera and the Thermal Imager and the image quality of Surgical Microscope Ophthalmology was verified.

In many applications from industry and technology computer simulations are performed using models which can be formulated by systems of differential equations. Often the equations underlie additional algebraic constraints. In this context we speak of descriptor systems. Very important characteristic values of such systems are the $L_\infty$-norms of the corresponding transfer functions. The main goal of this thesis is to extend a numerical method for the computation of the $L_\infty$-norm for standard state space systems to descriptor systems. For this purpose we develop a numerical method to check whether the transfer function of a given descriptor system is proper or improper and additionally use this method to reduce the order of the system to decrease the costs of the $L_\infty$-norm computation. When computing the $L_\infty$-norm it is necessary to compute the eigenvalues of certain skew-Hamiltonian/Hamiltonian matrix pencils composed by the system matrices. We show how we extend these matrix pencils to skew-Hamiltonian/Hamiltonian matrix pencils of larger dimension to get more reliable and accurate results. We also consider discrete-time systems, apply the extension strategy to the arising symplectic matrix pencils and transform these to more convenient structures in order to apply structure-exploiting eigenvalue solvers to them. We also investige a new structure-preserving method for the computation of the eigenvalues of skew-Hamiltonian/Hamiltonian matrix pencils and use this to increase the accuracy of the computed eigenvalues even more. In particular we ensure the reliability of the $L_\infty$-norm algorithm by this new eigenvalue solver. Finally we describe the implementation of the algorithms in Fortran and test them using two real-world examples.

Ce projet de recherche a été mené dans le cadre du groupe de recherche NECOTIS (Neurosciences Computationnelles et Traitement Intelligent du Signal). Ce groupe de recherche agit principalement dans le domaine du traitement de l’image et de l’audio grâce à des méthodes de traitement de signal bio-inspirées. Différentes applications ont été développées en reconnaissance de la parole, dans la séparation de sources sonores ou encore en reconnaissance d’images. Bien qu’ils existent depuis plus de quarante ans, les systèmes d’aide aux personnes atteintes de déficiences visuelles, que cela soit des prothèses visuelles (invasif) ou des système de substitution sensorielle (non invasif), n’ont pas percé dans le milieu du handicap. Il serait difficile d’imputer cet état de fait à des limitations technologiques : depuis les premières approches, les prothèses visuelles ou les systèmes de substitution sensorielle n’ont cessé de se perfectionner et de se diversifier. Toutefois, si la question de savoir comment transmettre le signal est bien documentée, la question de savoir quel signal transmettre a été plus rarement abordée. Différents systèmes ont été développés mais le plus impressionnant est le récit des utilisateurs de tels systèmes. Ainsi, il fait plaisir de lire que l’artiste Neil Harbisson, qui ne voit aucune couleur, explique comment une caméra attachée à se tête lui permet d’entendre des couleurs et ainsi de pouvoir peindre [Montandon, 2004]. Un autre exemple tout aussi impressionnant, la scientifique Wanda Díaz-Merced, qui travaille pour xSonify, explique comment elle analyse différentes données en les encodant de façon sonore [Feder, 2012]. C’est dans ce cadre que ce projet de substitution sensorielle de la vision vers l’audition a été développé. En effet, nous avons utilisé le traitement de signal bio-inspiré afin d’extraire différentes caractéristiques représentatives de la vision. De plus, nous avons essayé de générer un son agréable à l’oreille et représentatif de l’environnement dans lequel évolue la personne. Ce projet a donc davantage été axé sur la nature du signal transmis à la personne ayant des déficiences visuelles.

This thesis resulted in the development of robust chironomid-based transfer-functions for February mean air temperature and the concentration of total nitrogen (TN) in lake-water. The New Zealand transfer-functions for both variables compare favourably with chironomid-based transfer-functions for equivalent variables from elsewhere in the world, and diatom-based transfer-functions for nutrients and lake production from New Zealand. The application of the temperature and TN transfer-functions provided insight into New Zealand climate conditions during the last glacial and served as validation for the reconstructions. Chironomid-based Temperature reconstructions from lake silts preserved in the banks of Lyndon Stream indicate a maximum cooling of ca 4 ℃ between 26.6 and 24.5 ka BP, which is consistent with estimates based on beetles and plant macrofossils. A cooling of 4 ℃ is insufficient to explain the lack of canopy tree pollen in many New Zealand pollen records at this time. Other environmental parameters additional to temperature may have limited the expansion forest cover. The chironomid-based TN reconstructions infer a trend of rapidly deteriorating water-quality in a small doline in north-west Nelson, in the South Island of New Zealand following deforestation immediately surrounding the lake ca. 1970 AD. The overall trend and timing of eutrophication inferred from the chironomids was consistent with other biological proxies and actual observations of changes in lake water quality. The chironomid-based transfer-functions provide a valuable new tool for the study of longterm climate variability and improving our understanding of the response of aquatic ecosystems to long-term natural and human induced environmental change in New Zealand lakes. I have identified some possibilities for future research which should improve the performance of these transfer-functions. The improvement of the chironomid taxonomy and the expansion of the training set should be the highest priorities.

Hydrologic catchment response varies in time. The goal of this dissertation is to investigate how and why it varies and what controls these variations. In order to tackle these questions the first step is to develop a method that permits the capturing of the temporal variation of transit time distributions (TTDs). To this end, the established transfer function-convolution approach using time series of stable water isotopes was modified so that it is now able to determine variable mean transit times (mTTs). The type and the shape parameter of the transfer function also vary in time. We found that antecedent moisture content, saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil depth and subsequent precipitation intensity are all potential controls. We propose a dimensionless number that integrates these controls and relates available storage to incoming and outgoing water fluxes in combination with information on antecedent moisture conditions to predict TTD type and shape. The individual TTDs for every time step produced by this model can be superimposed, summed and normalized to create a classification tool for catchments that is based on its general response behavior to precipitation events: the master transit time distribution. With this model in hand the hydrologic response for three consecutive monsoon seasons in ten nested subcatchments was examined. It was found that the major response controls were changing between the years in accordance with three hydrologic response modes. The mTT correlated most strongly with soil depth in the first year, with hydraulic conductivity in the second year and with curvature in the third year. These variations were produced by differences in precipitation patterns that led to differences in soil saturation and consequently to different dominant flow processes: in the first year most of the water left the catchment via fast flow paths (macropore flow, overland flow), in the second year shallow subsurface flow in the soil matrix was more dominant and in the third year most outflowing water derived from slow base flow. To better predict hydrologic catchment response we propose to apply a dimensionless number to determine the catchment response mode for every time step before selecting the appropriate response control.