High-resolution light field imaging based on liquid crytal microlens arrays with ZnO microstructure orientation. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: He, Yancheng; Li, Hui; Qian, Wentong; Wu, Yuntao
• Is Part Of: Optics and lasers in engineering. Volume 162(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: ZnO microstructure -- Light field imaging -- High-resolution; Lasers in engineering -- Periodicals; Optical measurements -- Periodicals; Optics -- Periodicals; Lasers en ingénierie -- Périodiques; Mesures optiques -- Périodiques; Optique -- Périodiques; 621.36605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlaseng.2022.107424
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-8166

Abstract

Highlights: The core component of this system is a ZnO-LCMLA, which induces horizontal orientation of LC molecules via a ZnO microstructure to effectively overcome physical defects caused by orientation, such as mechanical friction. High-resolution imaging can be achieved by combining the redundant characteristics of light field images with the proposed joint optimization algorithm based on convex optimization theory. A series of experiments have shown that the ZnO microstructure can improve the orientation of LC molecules and the robustness of the light field imaging system via the fabricated ZnO-LCMLA. The imaging system developed is adaptable, simple, and suitable for high-resolution reconstruction. Abstract: We proposed a liquid crystal (LC) microlens array (MLA) based on zinc oxide (ZnO) microstructure orientation and used it in a light field imaging system. The system uses convex optimization theory to jointly optimize the multi-voltage light field information and obtain a high-resolution imaging method. The core element in this system is an LCMLA, which induces the horizontal orientation of LC molecules by ZnO microstructure to effectively overcome the physical defects caused by orientation, such as mechanical friction. Combined with the proposed joint optimization high-resolution algorithm based on convex optimization theory, high-resolution imaging can be achieved using the redundant characteristics of light field images. The experiments show that the proposed method's PSNR of the reconstructed image is about 32 dB compared with the conventional method. The designed imaging system is flexible, simple, and suitable for high-resolution reconstruction. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract This study demonstrated the use of a liquid crystal (LC) microlens array (MLA) based on zinc oxide (ZnO) microstructure orientation in a light field imaging system. The system uses convex optimization theory to jointly optimize the multi-voltage light field information and obtain a high-resolution imaging method.