GENERATION OF IMAGE DATA WITH CORRECTION FOR OPTICAL MISFOCUS UTILIZING FRACTIONAL POWERS OF THE FOURIER TRANSFORM OPERATOR

Fractional Fourier transform properties inherent in lens systems and other light and particle-beam environments may be exploited to correct optical system misfocus utilizing fractional Fourier transform approximations rendered by numerical methods. The corrective fractional Fourier transform power value may be determined automatically or by human operator. This power value is used to calculate a Fractional Fourier transform correction operation and, if useful, to back-calculate corresponding phase restoration information. The fractional Fourier transform correction operation is applied to image data. In an embodiment, phase restoration information is also applied to image data. The image correction can be applied to imaging systems obeying fractional Fourier optics including integrated optics, optical computing, particle beam systems, and can be incorporated into film processing machines, photo editing software, VCRs, camcorders, as well as video editing, video surveillance, video conferencing systems and other types of products and service facilities in computers, machines, and over the Internet.