Designing lensless imaging systems to maximize information capture

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Kabuli, Leyla A., Pinkard, Henry, Markley, Eric, Hung, Clara S., Waller, Laura
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Kabuli, Leyla A.
Pinkard, Henry
Markley, Eric
Hung, Clara S.
Waller, Laura
author_facet Kabuli, Leyla A.
Pinkard, Henry
Markley, Eric
Hung, Clara S.
Waller, Laura
contents Mask-based lensless imaging uses an optical encoder (e.g. a phase or amplitude mask) to capture measurements, then a computational decoding algorithm to reconstruct images. In this work, we evaluate and design lensless encoders based on the information content of their measurements using mutual information estimation. Our approach formalizes the object-dependent nature of lensless imaging and quantifies the interdependence between object sparsity, encoder multiplexing, and noise. Our analysis reveals that optimal encoder designs should tailor encoder multiplexing to object sparsity for maximum information capture, and that all optimally-encoded measurements share the same level of sparsity. Using mutual information-based optimization, we design information-optimal encoders for compressive imaging of fixed object distributions. Our designs demonstrate improved downstream reconstruction performance for objects in the distribution, without requiring joint optimization with a specific reconstruction algorithm. We validate our approach experimentally by evaluating lensless imaging systems directly from captured measurements, without the need for image formation models, reconstruction algorithms, or ground truth data. Our comprehensive analysis establishes design and engineering principles for lensless imaging systems, and offers a model for the study of general multiplexing systems, especially those with object-dependent performance.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_08513
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Designing lensless imaging systems to maximize information capture
Kabuli, Leyla A.
Pinkard, Henry
Markley, Eric
Hung, Clara S.
Waller, Laura
Optics
Image and Video Processing
Mask-based lensless imaging uses an optical encoder (e.g. a phase or amplitude mask) to capture measurements, then a computational decoding algorithm to reconstruct images. In this work, we evaluate and design lensless encoders based on the information content of their measurements using mutual information estimation. Our approach formalizes the object-dependent nature of lensless imaging and quantifies the interdependence between object sparsity, encoder multiplexing, and noise. Our analysis reveals that optimal encoder designs should tailor encoder multiplexing to object sparsity for maximum information capture, and that all optimally-encoded measurements share the same level of sparsity. Using mutual information-based optimization, we design information-optimal encoders for compressive imaging of fixed object distributions. Our designs demonstrate improved downstream reconstruction performance for objects in the distribution, without requiring joint optimization with a specific reconstruction algorithm. We validate our approach experimentally by evaluating lensless imaging systems directly from captured measurements, without the need for image formation models, reconstruction algorithms, or ground truth data. Our comprehensive analysis establishes design and engineering principles for lensless imaging systems, and offers a model for the study of general multiplexing systems, especially those with object-dependent performance.
title Designing lensless imaging systems to maximize information capture
topic Optics
Image and Video Processing
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.08513