Micro-scanning system using flat optics for resolution improvement of infrared images

There are some problems in the traditional micro-scanning approach which is based on flat optical component (FOC). For example, the scanning germanium glass of Archimedes spiral is hard to be manufactured and there is image distortion (we called it as image-rotating) which makes the infrared images blurry. These problems limit the ability of ascending the spatial resolution of infrared images. In this paper, we brought forward a new micro-scanning approach based on FOC. We improved the shape of scanning germanium glass from Archimedes spiral to arc and adopted quasi-discrete scanning motion (acceleration motion–deceleration motion–uniform motion) to the micro-scanner. Both the subjective images and the objective data indicate that the new micro-scanning approach based on FOC raised in this paper improve the spatial resolution of infrared images more effectively than traditional micro-scanning approach.