Subpixel edge localization with reduced uncertainty by violating the Nyquist criterion

Philipp Heidingsfelder; Jun Gao; Kun Wang; Peter Ott

doi:10.1117/1.OE.53.12.122410

27 June 2014 Subpixel edge localization with reduced uncertainty by violating the Nyquist criterion

Philipp Heidingsfelder, Jun Gao, Kun Wang, Peter Ott

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 53, Issue 12, 122410 (June 2014). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.53.12.122410

Abstract

In this contribution, the extent to which the Nyquist criterion can be violated in optical imaging systems with a digital sensor, e.g., a digital microscope, is investigated. In detail, we analyze the subpixel uncertainty of the detected position of a step edge, the edge of a stripe with a varying width, and that of a periodic rectangular pattern for varying pixel pitches of the sensor, thus also in aliased conditions. The analysis includes the investigation of different algorithms of edge localization based on direct fitting or based on the derivative of the edge profile, such as the common centroid method. In addition to the systematic error of these algorithms, the influence of the photon noise (PN) is included in the investigation. A simplified closed form solution for the uncertainty of the edge position caused by the PN is derived. The presented results show that, in the vast majority of cases, the pixel pitch can exceed the Nyquist sampling distance by about 50% without an increase of the uncertainty of edge localization. This allows one to increase the field-of-view without increasing the resolution of the sensor and to decrease the size of the setup by reducing the magnification. Experimental results confirm the simulation results.

Citation Download Citation

Philipp Heidingsfelder, Jun Gao, Kun Wang, and Peter Ott "Subpixel edge localization with reduced uncertainty by violating the Nyquist criterion," Optical Engineering 53(12), 122410 (27 June 2014). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.53.12.122410

Published: 27 June 2014

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

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available