Floating Point Images

 

 

Extended Intensity Range Imaging began as part of an exploration of luminance adaptation in the human visual system. However, the deeper utility of floating point numerical representation of pixel values has manifested itself as images, particularly medical images, have become more like data objects and less as simply patterns to be viewed. An analogous transformation took place when cameras were introduced to astronomical observation. The changeover to a digital representation also resulted in better analysis (and no more spending freezing nights up on the mountain).

 

Much of the initial data was captured with a SONY XC-77RR, a small, monochrome workhorse that yielded excellent image quality. But one of the best side benefits of this project was getting to use the SONY XC-007 3CCD camera. In addition to possessing large photosites and good S/N, it was the only 3CCD camera I know of that ever specified congruence parameters. It promised corresponding photosite overlap right up into the sensor’s diagonal corners.  With a high quality achromatic machine vision lens, the resulting images were exceptional. Unfortunately, mostly because market requirements to reduce cost and fit more pixels on a sensor and more sensors on a die, mention of the XC-007 has virtually disappeared from the Web. Nonetheless, it must be said that it truly was a classic imaging device, the ’64 Mustang of digital cameras.