IMAGE-RESOLUTION LIMITS RESULTING FROM MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS .4. REAL-TIME NUMERICAL-CALCULATION OF OPTICAL TRANSFER-FUNCTIONS AND EXPERIMENTAL-VERIFICATION

A method of calculating numerically the optical transfer function appr opriate to any type of image motion and vibration, including random on es, has been developed. We compare the numerical calculation method to the experimental measurement; the close agreement justifies implement ation in image restoration for blurring from any type of image motion. In addition, statistics regarding the limitation of resolution as a f unction of relative exposure time for low-frequency vibrations involvi ng random blur are described. An analytical approximation to the proba bility density function for random blur has been obtained. This can be used for the determination of target acquisition probability. A compa rison of image quality is presented for three different types of motio n: linear, acceleration, and high-frequency vibration for the same blu r radius. The parameter considered is the power spectrum of the pictur e.