Multilayer lensless camera for improving the condition number

Abstract

Computational lensless imaging technology implements the thinning of the optical system by replacing optical imaging with image reconstruction processing. The conventional optical design uses a single coded mask and an image sensor; however, researchers have recently proposed optical designs incorporating multiple stacked coded apertures for multidimensional and wide-field imaging. Here, we investigate the effects of multilayering the coded aperture on the performance of two-dimensional spatial imaging. Through simulations and optical experiments, we demonstrate that multilayering the coded aperture enhances the condition number of the optical system’s transmission matrix and consequently improves the accuracy of image reconstruction in lensless imaging.