Abstract: An optical system measures scene inhomogeneity. The system includes a mirror for receiving radiance of a field-of-view (FOV) of a scene, and reflecting a portion of the radiance to an optical detector. A controller is coupled to the mirror for changing the FOV. The optical detector provides a signal of the reflected portion of radiance of the scene. A processor determines scene inhomogeneity, based on amplitude of the signal provided from the optical detector. The controller is configured to modulate the FOV at a periodic interval, using a sinusoidal waveform, a pulse code modulated waveform, or a pseudo-random waveform.

Abstract: A device for calibrating a sensor using solar radiation includes a sensor configured to measure electromagnetic radiation received through a field of view (FOV) having a normal line of sight and at least two baffles removably insertable across the FOV of the sensor and inclined to the line of sight. Each baffle has first and second opposing surfaces, with the first surface disposed to face the solar radiation and the second surface disposed to face the sensor. One of the first or second surface is configured as a diffused surface, and the other of the first or second surface is configured as a specular surface.

Abstract: A method for measuring scene inhomogeneity includes the steps of directing radiance of a scene into a dispersive spectrometer, and changing the field-of-view (FOV) of the spectrometer, while directing the radiance of the scene into the spectrometer. The method then processes the radiance of the scene to obtain a signal. The method also includes measuring an amplitude of the signal and determining scene inhomogeneity based on the measured amplitude of the signal. The method may include uniformly oscillating the FOV of the spectrometer and, next, obtaining a sinusoidal signal, based on uniformly oscillating the FOV of the spectrometer.

Abstract: In an optical system having a detector means and processor means in which imaging data is obtained comprising noisy blurred scene data containing an object to be reconstructed, and noisy blurred background data of the same scene, a method for increasing the spatial resolution of the imaging data produced by the optical system, comprising the steps of converting the imaging data into a first matrix, regularizing the first matrix by performing nth order Tikhonov regularization to the first matrix to provide a regularized pseudo-inverse (RPI) matrix and applying the RPI matrix to the first matrix to provide a reconstructed image of the object.

Abstract: In an optical system having a detector means and processor means in which imaging data is obtained comprising noisy blurred scene data containing an object to be reconstructed, and noisy blurred background data of the same scene, a method for increasing the spatial resolution of the imaging data produced by the optical system, comprising the steps of converting the imaging data into a first matrix, regularizing the first matrix by performing nth order Tikhonov regularization to the first matrix to provide a regularized pseudo-inverse (RPI) matrix and applying the RPI matrix to the first matrix to provide a reconstructed image of the object.

Abstract: There is disclosed in an optical system having a predetermined Numerical aperture which provides a corresponding level of spatial resolution and having detector means and processor means in which image data is obtained comprising noisy blurred scene data containing an object to be reconstructed, and noisy blurred background data of the same scene, an improved method for increasing the spatial resolution of the imaging data produced by the diffraction limited optical system.

Abstract: A method of estimating expected errors of environmental data parameters based on radiance measurements obtained from visible infra red radiometric satellite sensors (VIIRS) orbiting the earth, comprising the steps of: obtaining N radiance measurements of a surface body I.sub.I, . . . ,I.sub.N defining matrix I depending on p unknown surface and atmospheric parameters T.sub.i, . . . T.sub.p, defining a matrix T; generating a forward model I=f(T) for obtaining the I radiance measurements from the p parameters; choosing an initial set of values for the p parameters and linearizing f(T) about the initial values to obtain a linearized forward I=s+H.theta. as f.sub.i (T.sub.01, T.sub.02, . . . T.sub.0p)+.SIGMA.H.sub.ij .theta..sub.j where I=1,2, . . . N and .theta..sub.j =T.sub.oj and H.sub.ij =.delta.f.sub.i /.delta.T.sub.j and where .theta. is a column matrix .theta..sub.l, . . . .theta..sub.p and H is a matrix of H.sub.