First Demonstration of the Active-Mode CAOS Camera

TL;DR

This paper presents the first active-mode CAOS camera demonstration, combining optical and time-frequency modulation techniques to achieve high dynamic range imaging suitable for applications like food inspection.

Contribution

It introduces the first active-mode CAOS camera using a hybrid optical and time-frequency modulation approach, enabling high dynamic range imaging.

Findings

Achieved 58 x 70 pixel imaging with near 60 dB linear dynamic range.

Utilized a 39.6 Klux FM LED source with 32 KHz modulation and a 4096-bit Walsh code.

Demonstrated potential applications in indoor full spectrum food inspection.

Abstract

For the first time, demonstrated is the active-mode CAOS (i.e., Coded Access Optical Sensor) camera. The design demonstrated uses a hybrid approach to both optical device engagement and time-frequency CAOS mode operations. Specifically, time-frequency modulation of both the target illumination light source and the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) combine to deliver the Frequency Modulation (FM)-Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mode of the CAOS camera. Using a 39.6 Klux white light 32 KHz FM LED source combined with a 1 KHz bit rate 4096 bits Walsh sequence CDMA code via the DMD, achieved is 58 x 70 CAOS pixels near 60 dB linear Dynamic Range (DR) imaging of a 36 patch calibrated high DR white light target. Applications for the active-mode CAOS camera are numerous and includes indoor full spectrum food inspection where a linear DR camera can play an important role for accurate measurements.