Compact and robust linear Stokes polarization camera

We present a linear Stokes polarization camera working at visible wavelength. The camera is both compact and robust for use in field experiments and outdoor conditions. It is based on fast polarization modulator. Four polarization states images are acquired successively. Processing software allows live calculation, visualization and measurement of polarization images deduced from the acquired images. The architecture of the hardware, calibration results and sensitivity measurements is presented. Polarization image processing including polarization parameters computed are proposed. These parameters include linear Stokes parameters (S0, S1 and S2), usual polarization parameters (intensity, degree of linear polarization, and angle of polarization) and other polarization based parameters (polarized image, depolarized image, virtual polarizer, polarization difference). Color data fusion and vector overlay algorithms are presented. Finally experimental results and observations as well as possible applications are discussed.