System and Method of Reducing Noise Using Phase Retrieval

Abstract

A system and method for producing an image is provided in which magnitude data related to photo data received from multiple apertures configured with photo detectors is manipulated to conform to an assumed image, phase data related to the photo data received from multiple apertures configured with photo detectors is multiplied by the manipulated magnitude resulting in an image function, imaging constraints are applied to the Fourier transform of the image function to create a desired image, and the desired image is tested to determine whether additional iterations of the method are necessary, with the desired image becoming the assumed image in subsequent iterations, until the desired image is no long substantially different from the assumed image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing an image, comprising:
 receiving photo data by a plurality of apertures disposed on a surface, said photo data including a magnitude of an optical coherence;   communicating said photo data to an image assessment module configured reduce noise within said photo data, wherein said image assessment performs a phase retrieval process, said phase retrieval process comprising the steps of:
 (a) assuming an initial image comprising initial image magnitude and initial image phase; 
 (b) manipulating said magnitude of said optical coherence to conform to said initial image magnitude resulting in an estimated magnitude; 
 (c) obtaining an image function from said estimated magnitude and said initial image phase; 
 (d) transforming said image function into an estimated image; 
 (e) applying imaging constraints to said estimated image to create an end image; 
 (f) determining an image differential between said initial image and said end image; 
 (g) evaluating whether said image differential has reached a predetermined no-change threshold; and 
 (h) reiterating steps (b)-(g) to attain the predetermined no-change threshold between said initial image and said end image, wherein said end image becomes said initial image.