A SINGLE HEISENBERG-GABOR BASED FIGURE-OF-MERIT BASED ON THE MODULATION TRANSFER FUNCTION OF DIGITAL IMAGING SYSTEMS

摘要

We propose a single figure-of-merit measure of resolution of a digital imaging system based on the work of Gabor in communication theory. Gabor's work was largely inspired by Heisenberg's developments in quantum theory, most notably his uncertainty theorem of quantum mechanics. Gabor's results look simultaneously at the frequency and spatial domain of a signal, making it ideal for the measure of the modulation transfer function and point-spread function of an imaging system. As opposed to the crude "megapixel" measure which is bantered about in the marketplace, we suggest a figure-of-merit which more accurately represents the resolution of the system. Given that the resolution measure we propose is condensed into a single number rather than a function such as the modulation transfer function or the point spread function, it is our intent to propose this scientific evaluation as a means for typical consumers to fairly judge the resolution of a camera. Finally, we use this measure to compare common digital SLR cameras with varying lenses.