Abstract

An image-detector model of the visual system is described. Analysis of detection-probability data combined with signal-to-noise analysis of contrast-sensitivity data yield the fundamental visual-system parameters required to predict image-detection performance. The results for background luminances ranging from 10⁻³ to 10² millilamberts include the values of the threshold detection criterion or signal-to-noise ratio, the response time, the effective responsive quantum efficiency, the effective angular width of the point spread function, and the effective angular width of the maximum photoreceptor field belonging to the minimum-bandwidth spatial filter. Excellent agreement between theoretical curves and experimental data is shown.

© 1973 Optical Society of America

Theory of spatial-frequency filtering by the human visual system. I. Performance limited by quantum noise*

Alvin D. Schnitzler
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 66(6) 608-617 (1976)

Theory of spatial-frequency filtering by the human visual system. II. Performance limited by video noise*

Alvin D. Schnitzler
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 66(6) 617-625 (1976)

Interaction of vision with optical aids*

Ian Overington
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 63(9) 1043-1049 (1973)

A visual system model and a new distortion measure in the context of image processing*

William A. Pearlman
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 68(3) 374-386 (1978)

Invariance of visual receptive-field size and visual acuity with viewing distance

C. R. Cavonius and R. Hilz
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 63(8) 929-933 (1973)