Optical encryption is an actively developing field of science. The majority of encryption techniques use coherent illumination and suffer from speckle noise, which severely limits their applicability. The spatially incoherent encryption technique does not have this drawback, but its effectiveness is dependent on the Fourier spectrum properties of the image to be encrypted. The application of a quick response (QR) code in the capacity of a data container solves this problem, and the embedded error correction code also enables errorless decryption. The optical encryption of digital information in the form of QR codes using spatially incoherent illumination was implemented experimentally. The encryption is based on the optical convolution of the image to be encrypted with the kinoform point spread function, which serves as an encryption key. Two liquid crystal spatial light modulators were used in the experimental setup for the QR code and the kinoform imaging, respectively. The quality of the encryption and decryption was analyzed in relation to the QR code size. Decryption was conducted digitally. The successful decryption of encrypted QR codes of up to 129 × 129 pixels was demonstrated. A comparison with the coherent QR code encryption technique showed that the proposed technique has a signal-to-noise ratio that is at least two times higher.

The method of measurement of imaging sensors noise by automatic segmentation of nonuniform targets is analyzed. Modifications to this method, which allows one to obtain unbiased estimation of temporal noise, calculation speed boost and separate measurement of dark and light temporal noises, are proposed. Merely two frames can be used for noise measurement with the modified method. Temporal noise measurement error of the modified method was analytically derived and experimentally verified. Light and dark temporal noises of consumer, video-surveillance, and industrial and scientific cameras were measured using the modified method.

High-speed optical reconstruction of 3D-scenes can be achieved using digital holography with binary digital micromirror devices (DMD) or a ferroelectric spatial light modulator (fSLM). There are many algorithms for binarizing digital holograms. The most common are methods based on global and local thresholding and error diffusion techniques. In addition, hologram binarization is used in optical encryption, data compression, beam shaping, 3D-displays, nanofabrication, materials characterization, etc. This paper proposes an adaptive binarization method based on a combination of local threshold processing, hologram division into blocks, and error diffusion procedure (the LDE method). The method is applied for binarization of optically recorded and computer-generated digital holograms of flat objects and three-dimensional scenes. The quality of reconstructed images was compared with different methods of error diffusion and thresholding. Image reconstruction quality was up to 22% higher by various metrics than that one for standard binarization methods. The optical hologram reconstruction using DMD confirms the results of the numerical simulations.

Method of optical image coding by time integration is proposed. Coding in proposed method is accomplished by shifting object image over photosensor area of digital camera during registration. It results in optically calculated convolution of original image with shifts trajectory. As opposed to optical coding methods based on the use of diffractive optical elements the described coding method is feasible for implementation in totally incoherent light. The method was preliminary tested by using LC monitor for image displaying and shifting. Shifting of object image is realized by displaying video consisting of frames with image to be encoded at different locations on screen of LC monitor while registering it by camera. Optical encoding and numerical decoding of test images were performed successfully. Also more practical experimental implementation of the method with use of LCOS SLM Holoeye PLUTO VIS was realized. Objects images to be encoded were formed in monochromatic spatially incoherent light. Shifting of object image over camera photosensor area was accomplished by displaying video consisting of frames with blazed gratings on LCOS SLM. Each blazed grating deflects reflecting from SLM light at different angle. Results of image optical coding and encoded images numerical restoration are presented. Obtained experimental results are compared with results of numerical modeling. Optical image coding with time integration could be used for accessible quality estimation of optical image coding using diffractive optical elements or as independent optical coding method which can be implemented in incoherent light.

Phase liquid crystal spatial light modulators (LC SLM) are widely used in optical applications such as real-time imaging of holograms and diffractive optical elements, which require high stability and linearity of phase modulation. However state of the art LC SLM with high resolution use digital voltage addressing scheme which, unfortunately, leads to phase fluctuations in time period of one frame. Fluctuations characteristics depend on SLM voltage addressing sequence used. We report results of measurement of phase characteristics of LC SLM “HoloEye PLUTO VIS”. This SLM is supplied with three different addressing sequences: “18-6”, “5-5” and “0-6”. Dynamics of phase fluctuations were measured for all signal values (0-255) with temporal resolution of 0.5 ms in time period of one frame for available addressing sequences. Default sequence “18-6” provided phase deviation 0.24 pi. Lowest deviation 0.07 pi was achieved with sequence “0-6”. Due to high periodicity of fluctuations it is possible to implement synchronization of SLM and registering camera or light source to reduce fluctuation effects. This was experimentally implemented using DVI video signal for synchronization of SLM and camera. With its application minimum phase deviation 0.013 pi was achieved with sequence “18-6” which is 5 times lower than achievable without synchronization.