Dictionary Learning- and Total Variation-Based High-Light-Efficiency Snapshot Multi-Aperture Spectral Imaging

Abstract

Conventional multispectral imaging systems based on bandpass filters struggle to record multispectral videos with high spatial resolutions because of their limited light efficiencies. This paper proposes a multi-aperture multispectral imaging system based on notch filters that overcomes this limitation by allowing light from most of the spectrum to pass through. Based on this imaging principle, a prototype multi-aperture multispectral imaging system comprising notch filters was built and demonstrated. Further, a dictionary learning- and total variation-based spectral super-resolution algorithm was developed to reconstruct spectral images. The simulation results obtained using public multispectral datasets showed that, compared to the dictionary learning-based spectral super-resolution algorithm, the proposed algorithm reconstructed the spectral information with a higher accuracy and removed noise, and the verification experiments confirmed the performance efficiency of the prototype system. The experimental results showed that the proposed imaging system can capture images with high spatial and spectral resolutions under low illumination conditions. The proposed algorithm improved the spectral resolution of the acquired data from 9 to 31 bands, and the average peak signal-to-noise ratio remained above 43 dB, which is 13 dB higher than those of the state-of-the-art coded aperture snapshot spectral imaging methods. Simultaneously, the frame rate of the imaging system was up to 5000 frames/s under natural daylight.