Real-Time Image Shift Detection with Cross Correlation Coefficient Algorithm for Correlating Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensors Based on FPGA and DSP

Abstract

Working on low-contrast, extended, time-varying objects such as the solar granulation, solar adaptive optics (AO) system uses correlation algorithms to detect image shift of the Shack-Hartmann (SH) wavefront sensor (WFS) instead of centroid algorithm in night-time adaptive optics system. An real-time image shift detection processor, which consists of a Xilinx FPGA and a TI DSP, has been developed for a low-order solar AO system based on cross correlation coefficient algorithm. Image shift of integer pixels can be calculated in the FPGA and DSP is responsible for parabolic interpolation to obtain subpixel accuracy. The experimental results show that the processor can obtain correct image shift and satisfy the time latency requirement of the AO system.