Theoretical foundations for joint digital-optical analysis of electro-optical imaging systems

We describe the mathematical and conceptual foundations for a novel methodology for jointly optimizing the design and analysis of the optics, detector, and digital image processing for imaging systems. Our methodology is based on the end-to-end merit function of predicted average pixel sum-squared error to find the optical and image processing parameters that minimize this merit function. Our approach offers several advantages over the traditional principles of optical design, such as improved imaging performance, expanded operating capabilities, and improved as-built performance.