Digital Optics Research

Traditional optical imaging systems form images by relying solely on the light shaping characteristics of bulk materials such as glasses and plastics which are precisely shaped into lenses. Whereas historically a chemical film served as the optical sensing medium, in the digital age solid-state sensors have replaced film as the method for image capture. Such digital imaging affords subsequent digital image processing. Computational imaging expands imaging architecture for a complete imaging system to include digital processing as an essential task in image formation. Breaking free of the traditional reliance on optical image formation, computational imaging has the potential to provides numerous system- level advantages such as lower cost, smaller form factors, netter image quality, and even transcendence of the limits imposed by conventional architectures.

Ricoh has a long history of designing and manufacturing high-quality imaging systems. The Digital Optics Research group explores both the theoretical and practical implications of computational imaging. We create sophisticated modeling techniques to enable computationally-efficient analysis and optimization of digital-optical imaging systems. We develop novel digital processing engines to support these new computational imaging systems. The DOR group also engages in the design and prototyping of new systems to expand Ricoh's position as a leader in digital imaging.