Polarization and infrared imaging technology have unique advantages for various applications ranging from biology to ocean remote sensing. However, conventional combined polarization camera and infrared camera have limitations because they are constrained to single-band imaging systems with rotating polarizers and cascaded optics. Therefore, we propose a common-aperture mode based on multi-band infrared guided polarization imaging system (IGPIS) in this paper, which consists of infrared wide-area sensing and polarization features acquisition for accurate detection of ship targets. The IGPIS can provide images in visible polarization (0.45–0.76 μm), near-infrared polarization (0.76–0.9 μm), and long-wave infrared (8–12 μm) bands. Satellite attitude parameters and camera optical parameters are accurately calculated by establishing a dynamic imaging model for guidance imaging. We illustrate the imaging principle, sensors specifications and imaging performance analysis and the experimental results show that the MTF is 0.24 for visible and near-infrared, and 0.13 for long-wave infrared. The obtained multi-band images have an average gradient of 12.77 after accurate fusion. These results provide theoretical guidance for the design of common-aperture cameras in remote sensing imaging field.

Infrared imaging spectrometry is utilized to detect and identify targets by collecting spectral images. In some cases, the infrared spectral images of dynamic targets need to be detected accurately, such as during remote sensing target tracking and engine tail flame detection applications. However, it is difficult to obtain reliable measurement results when using a traditional infrared imaging spectrometer with a scanning structure because of motion artifacts. This work proposes a snapshot infrared imaging Fourier transform spectrometer (SIIFTS) based on stepped micromirrors and a lens array. Two micromirrors sample the spectral information, and the lens array can realize multi-aperture snapshot imaging. The spectrometer is capable of collecting three-dimensional (3D) datasets during a single measurement period, and its absence of motion artifacts and its ability to work without moving parts is very important for dynamic target detection. The achromatic optical design of the SIIFTS is completed, and two front imaging systems for remote sensing and tail flame detection applications are designed for selection. A SIIFTS prototype was built, and flame detection tests were conducted in a laboratory environment. The experimental results show that the SIIFTS developed here can accurately and stably obtain real-time image and spectral information from dynamic targets.

This paper presents an optimal design method to solve the initial optical parameters, which is used for the common-aperture design including transmission and reflection system. On the basis of the particle swarm optimization algorithm, the self-adaptive weight and multi-level screening principle are introduced, which effectively improves the local and global searching ability in the non-linear space. Utilizing the third-order aberration and achromatic theories, the optimal initial structural parameters satisfying the objective function can be quickly calculated. We propose a common-aperture architecture and an illustrative optical design to demonstrate the concept. The system has the ability of field of view segmentation and optical path segmentation, and realizes the three-dimensional compact optical system layout. Simulations of ray tracing acquisition and imaging performances demonstrate the potential of adaptive particle swarm optimization algorithms for flexibility and simplicity in common-aperture imaging design.

The modulation transfer function (MTF) is commonly used as an imaging quality criterion reflecting the spatial resolution capability of imaging systems. The modified edge methods based on ISO Standard 12233 are widely used in MTF measurement for various imaging fields with high confidence. However, there are two problems in the existing edge methods which limit the application in remote sensing (RS) field with complicated image quality and usually uncontrollable edge angle: a near-horizontal or near-vertical “small tilt angle straight (STAS)” edge is required, and the MTF measurement results show low robustness and non-uniqueness. In this study, the influence of edge angle, oversampling rate (OSR), region of interest (ROI), edge contrast, and random noise on the edge method accuracy is quantitatively analyzed, and a practical multidirectional MTF measurement edge method is proposed based on the above analysis results. The modified edge method adaptively determines the optimal OSR according to edge angle and combines multiple measurement states, such as multi-ROI extraction and multi-phase binning, to improve the robustness, accuracy, and practicality of the edge method.