Imaging System Performance Analysis Using Modulation Transfer Function

Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) is a useful tool for imaging system performance analysis. It can be used as engineering approach for verification of main system parameters, or for optimization task of the system under test. This methodology is based on linear systems theory and allows performance analysis to be divided into subsystems. In this paper, MTF methodology will be presented and explained, as an analytical model and as a testing tool which is implemented in electro-optical laboratory. According to MTF model, calculations are done to provide theoretical limit for the imaging systems. After tests in electro-optical laboratory have been done, we compared model expectations with measurements results and discussed achieved relations. The measurement has shown that the calculated cutoff frequencies correspond to the measured ones, in majority of cases. The calculated MTF curve has proven to be limit for the real measured system performance. Therefore, this study has shown that MTF can be convenient for finding system limitations, bottlenecks and increasing the overall performance of the system. Guidelines for further optimization of the imaging systems are derived.