Coherence Theory Solution To The Pinhole Camera

George O. Reynolds; John H. Ward

doi:10.1117/12.7971365

1 November 1966 Coherence Theory Solution To The Pinhole Camera

George O. Reynolds, John H. Ward

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 5, Issue 1, 050103 (November 1966). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.7971365

Abstract

The problem of a pinhole camera is discussed using the theory of partial coherence. In particular the incoherent limit shows that the minimum object or image distances should be greater than one far field distance of the pinhole. The theoretical resolution limit is inversely proportional to the product of the pinhole size and the number of pinhole far field distances to the object plane. However, consideration of the three dimensional intensity distribution of the camera impulse response shows that the maximum resolution is achieved at one third of a far field distance. The optimum pinhole size is also discussed. In the coherent limit it is shown that the imaging system is inherently non-linear, and that the speckling deteriorates the image. Experimental results demonstrating these conclusions are shown.

Citation Download Citation

George O. Reynolds and John H. Ward "Coherence Theory Solution To The Pinhole Camera," Optical Engineering 5(1), 050103 (1 November 1966). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.7971365

Published: 1 November 1966

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

;

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE