ABSTRACT
Modern optical systems include a combination of optics, electronics, software, and/or firmware. Because each of these portions of the system is interrelated with the other, understanding the capabilities of all three is crucial for an optimal design. The advantage of using digital electronics and software is the ability to upgrade and optimize without the need for major hardware changes. This is why it is ever more important to have a good understanding of the capabilities of all three: optics, electronics, and software/firmware/processing. One of the key aspects of analyzing optical systems is to separate the optical effects from other effects, such as effects due to electronics or software. In many of the modern optical systems, the effectiveness and correct operation depends on optics, electronics, and software and algorithm of the system. Therefore, understanding each of the sections of the system is crucial for designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting.
