2577results about "Color measuring using electric radiation detectors" patented technology

The present invention provides a luminaire system capable of generating light of a desired chromaticity and luminous flux output during continuous operation with varying ambient operating temperature. The luminaire system can be further capable of maintaining a desired correlated colour temperature during dimming of the luminaire. The luminaire system comprises one or more arrays of light-emitting elements for generating light with a current driver system coupled thereto for selectively supplying electrical drive current to each of the arrays, wherein the current driver system is responsive to drive signals received from a controller. The luminaire system further comprises an optical sensor system for generating optical signals representative of chromaticity and luminous flux output of the light. A heat sensing system is operatively coupled to the one or more arrays for generating signals representative of the junction temperatures of arrays of light-emitting elements during operation. The luminaire system further comprises a controller that is operatively connected to the current driver system, the optical sensor system and the heat sensing system for receiving the signals generated by each of these systems and is configured to generate one or more drive signals for transmission to the current driver system in response to the optical signals and thermal signals received from the optical system and the heat sensing system, respectively, thereby enabling a desired level of control of the output light.

Apparatus and methods for attenuating environmental interference are described. A wearable monitoring apparatus includes a housing configured to be attached to the body of a subject and a sensor module that includes an energy emitter that directs energy at a target region of the subject, a detector that detects an energy response signal—or physiological condition—from the subject, a filter that removes time-varying environmental interference from the energy response signal, and at least one processor that controls operations of the energy emitter, detector, and filter.

Color calibration of color image rendering devices, such as large color displays, which operate by either projection or emission of images, utilize internal color measurement instrument or external color measurement modules locatable on a wall or speaker. A dual use camera is provided for a portable or laptop computer, or a cellular phone, handset, personal digital assistant or other handheld device with a digital camera, in which one of the camera or a display is movable with respect to the other to enable the camera in a first mode to capture images of the display for enabling calibration of the display, and in a second mode for capturing image other than of the display. The displays may represent rendering devices for enabling virtual proofing in a network, or may be part of stand-alone systems and apparatuses for color calibration. Improved calibration is also provided for sensing and correcting for non-uniformities of rendering devices, such as color displays, printer, presses, or other color image rendering device.

A method for providing data useful in procedures associated with the oral cavity, in which at least one numerical entity representative of the three-dimensional surface geometry and color of at least part of the intra-oral cavity is provided and then manipulated to provide desired data therefrom.

The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for (i) skin assessment based on the utilization of bioimpedance and fractional calculus and implementation of methods for skin hydration assessment based on the utilization of bioimpedance and fractional calculus and systems thereof, (ii) an Opto-Magnetic method based on RGB and gray images data as “cone-rods” principles with enhanced qualitative and quantitative parameters for analyzing water based on Opto-Magnetic properties of light-matter interaction and systems thereof, and (iii) imaging and analyzing skin based on the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation and implementation of an Opto-Magnetic method with enhanced qualitative and quantitative parameters for imaging and analyzing skin based on Opto-Magnetic properties of light-matter interaction and systems thereof.

A color measuring sensor assembly includes an optical filter such as a linear variable filter, and an optical detector array positioned directly opposite from the optical filter a predetermined distance. A plurality of lenses, such as gradient index rods or microlens arrays, are disposed between the optical filter and the detector array such that light beams propagating through the lenses from the optical filter to the detector array project an upright, noninverted image of the optical filter onto a photosensitive surface of the detector array. The color measuring sensor assembly can be incorporated with other standard components into a spectrometer device such as a portable calorimeter having a compact and rugged construction suitable for use in the field.

The present invention provides a luminaire system capable of generating light of a desired chromaticity and luminous flux output during continuous operation with varying ambient operating temperature. The luminaire system can be further capable of maintaining a desired correlated colour temperature during dimming of the luminaire. The luminaire system comprises one or more arrays of light-emitting elements for generating light with a current driver system coupled thereto for selectively supplying electrical drive current to each of the arrays, wherein the current driver system is responsive to drive signals received from a controller. The luminaire system further comprises an optical sensor system for generating optical signals representative of chromaticity and luminous flux output of the light. A heat sensing system is operatively coupled to the one or more arrays for generating signals representative of the junction temperatures of arrays of light-emitting elements during operation. The luminaire system further comprises a controller that is operatively connected to the current driver system, the optical sensor system and the heat sensing system for receiving the signals generated by each of these systems and is configured to generate one or more drive signals for transmission to the current driver system in response to the optical signals and thermal signals received from the optical system and the heat sensing system, respectively, thereby enabling a desired level of control of the output light.

A spectral bio-imaging method for enhancing pathologic, physiologic, metabolic and health related spectral signatures of an eye tissue, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing an optical device for eye inspection being optically connected to a spectral imager; (b) illuminating the eye tissue with light via the iris, viewing the eye tissue through the optical device and spectral imager and obtaining a spectrum of light for each pixel of the eye tissue; and (c) attributing each of the pixels a color or intensity according to its spectral signature, thereby providing an image enhancing the spectral signatures of the eye tissue.

An image input apparatus which reconfigures a single reconfigured image from a plurality of low-resolution, object reduced images formed in a specified region on the light detecting element by the micro-lens array, wherein a high-resolution, single reconfigured image can be obtained even if the distance between the subject and the micro-lens array is long (infinitely long, for example), and further a reconfigured image can be realized in colors. The image input apparatus is characterized in that the relative distance between a micro-lens (1a) and light detecting cells (3a) in a specified region, where object reduced images corresponding to the micro-lens (1a) are formed, is different in each micro-lenses (1a). In addition, the light detecting cells (3a) are divided into a plurality of regions, and color filters (primary color filter, or complementary color filter, for example) are disposed in each of the divided regions.

A new processing capability for dust enhancement over land or water using image data from the Sea-viewing Wide Field of View Sensor (SeaWiFS) has been developed for Naval meteorology / oceanography (MetOc) operations support. The data are captured via direct broadcast high-resolution picture transmission (HRPT) at Navy Regional Centers in Rota, Bahrain, and Yokosuka, and processed at the Naval Research Laboratory in Monterey. The raw data are calibrated, corrected for missing lines and clutter, corrected for molecular scatter contamination, and enhanced through multispectral combination to yield value added products. The processing has been automated completely such that products, generated upon receipt of data, are hosted upon a password protected website typically 60 to 90 minutes from time of initial capture. This invention summarizes the SeaWiFS instrument capabilities, the protocol followed for automated near real-time processing, a physical basis for the NRL enhancements, and specific examples of the products with extension to over-land dust enhancement as enabled by MODIS. It closes with a glimpse of the potential utility of these products from the perspective of the warfighter.

A device for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure, such as a teeth segment, includes a scanner for providing depth data for points along a two-dimensional array substantially orthogonal to the depth direction, and an image acquisition means for providing color data for each of the points of the array, while the spatial disposition of the device with respect to the structure is maintained substantially unchanged. A processor combines the color data and depth data for each point in the array, thereby providing a three-dimensional color virtual model of the surface of the structure. A corresponding method for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure is also provided.

Structures and methods for three-dimensional image sensing using high frequency modulation includes CMOS-implementable sensor structures using differential charge transfer, including such sensors enabling rapid horizontal and slower vertical dimension local charge collection. Wavelength response of such sensors can be altered dynamically by varying gate potentials. Methods for producing such sensor structures on conventional CMOS fabrication facilities include use of “rich” instructions to command the fabrication process to optimize image sensor rather than digital or analog ICs. One detector structure has closely spaced-apart, elongated finger-like structures that rapidly collect charge in the spaced-apart direction and then move collected charge less rapidly in the elongated direction. Detector response is substantially independent of the collection rate in the elongated direction.

An illumination system comprises at least two light sources (101,102,103) having different emission spectra to one another; a detection circuit (131,132,133) for sensing a light intensity using at least one of the light sources as a photosensor; and driving means (161,162,163) for driving the light source in dependence on the sensed spectral distribution of light. The emission spectrum of a light source with the smallest bandgap overlaps the emission spectrum of a light source with the second-smallest bandgap. The illumination system is possible to measure the intensity of light emitted by the light source with the smallest bandgap by putting the light source with the second-smallest bandgap in detection mode. The illumination system may also sense the spectral distribution of ambient light, to allow the output from the illumination system to be adjusted in dependence on the ambient light.

A vehicle headlamp control method and apparatus includes providing an imaging sensor that senses light in spatially separated regions of a field of view forward of the vehicle. Light levels sensed in individual regions of the field of view are evaluated in order to identify light sources of interest, such as oncoming headlights and leading taillights. The vehicle's headlights are controlled in response to identifying such particular light sources or absence of such light sources. Spectral signatures of light sources may be examined in order to determine if the spectral signature matches that of particular light sources such as the spectral signatures of headlights or taillights. Sensed light levels may also be evaluated for their spatial distribution in order to identify light sources of interest.

In optical filter systems and optical transmission systems, an optical filter compresses data into and / or derives data from a light signal. The filter way weight an incident light signal by wavelength over a predetermined wavelength range according to a predetermined function so that the filter performs the dot product of the light signal and the function.

A device for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure, such as a teeth segment, includes a scanner for providing depth data for points along a two-dimensional array substantially orthogonal to the depth direction, and an image acquisition means for providing color data for each of the points of the array, while the spatial disposition of the device with respect to the structure is maintained substantially unchanged. A processor combines the color data and depth data for each point in the array, thereby providing a three-dimensional color virtual model of the surface of the structure. A corresponding method for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure is also provided.

An imaging system illuminates body tissue with infrared light to enhance visibility of subcutaneous blood vessels, and generates a video image of the body tissue and the subcutaneous blood vessels based on reflected infrared light. The system includes an infrared light source for generating the infrared light and a structure for diffusing the infrared light. The diffusing structure includes one or more layers of diffusing material for diffusing the light. The system further includes a video imaging device for receiving the infrared light reflected from the body tissue and for generating a video image of the body tissue based on the reflected infrared light.

An integrated optical system and method employs an optical concentrator, a spectral splitting assembly for splitting incident light into multiple beams of light, each with a different nominal spectral bandwidth; and an array of optical detector sites wherein each of the detector sites has a nominal spectral response and wherein the detector sites are spatially arranged to provide an arrangement of said detector sites which are spatially variant relative to said nominal spectral responses. Such a system can be used for purposes such as optical detection and solar collection to provide improved efficiency. Improved efficiency of collection and manufacture are obtainable with using such devices.

In the color imaging system, multiple rendering devices are provided at different nodes along a network. Each rendering device has a color measurement instrument for calibrating the color presented by the rendering device. A rendering device may represent a color display in which a member surrounds the outer periphery of the screen of the display and a color measuring instrument is coupled to the first member. The color measuring instrument includes a sensor spaced from the screen at an angle with respect to the screen for receiving light from an area of the screen. A rendering device may be a printer in which the measuring of color samples on a sheet rendered by the printer is provided by a sensor coupled to a transport mechanism which moves the sensor and sheet relative to each other, where the sensor provides light from the sample to a spectrograph. The color measuring instruments provide for non-contact measurements of color samples either displayed on a color display, or printed on a sheet, and are self-calibrating by the use of calibration references in the instrument.

The image processing system is applied to dentistry, for example, and performs photography of the teeth of a patient while causing a plurality of illumination light LEDs of different wavelengths to emit light by means of a photography device when producing a crown repair or denture of the patient, whereby image data are acquired. The image data are transmitted to a dental filing system constituting a processing device where color reproduction data are determined through computation. In addition, color reproduction data are transmitted to the dental technician's office via a public switched network. Therefore, a repair material compound ratio calculation database is searched and the compound data for a material that matches the hue of the patient's teeth are found, whereby a crown repair or denture or the like that very closely matches the color of the patient's teeth is produced.

Nitrogen vacancies in bulk diamonds and nanodiamonds can be used to sense temperature, pressure, electromagnetic fields, and pH. Unfortunately, conventional sensing techniques use gated detection and confocal imaging, limiting the measurement sensitivity and precluding wide-field imaging. Conversely, the present sensing techniques do not require gated detection or confocal imaging and can therefore be used to image temperature, pressure, electromagnetic fields, and pH over wide fields of view. In some cases, wide-field imaging supports spatial localization of the NVs to precisions at or below the diffraction limit. Moreover, the measurement range can extend over extremely wide dynamic range at very high sensitivity.

The invention relates to a device and a method for optical 3D measurement, wherein said device can be switched between a first mode for optical 3D measurement using a chromatic confocal measurement method or the triangulation measurement method and a second mode for colorimetric measurement. In the first mode, a broad-band illuminating beam is focused onto a first plane and in the second mode the broad-band illuminating beam is focused onto a second plane other than the first plane at a distance d from the surface of the object to be measured.

An image sensor pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion unit supported by a substrate and an insulator adjacent to the substrate. The pixel includes a cascaded light guide that is located within an opening of the insulator and extends above the insulator such that a portion of the cascaded light guide has an air interface. The air interface improves the internal reflection of the cascaded light guide. The cascaded light guide may include a self-aligned color filter having air-gaps between adjacent color filters. Air-gaps may be sealed from above by a transparent sealing film. The transparent sealing film may have a concave surface over the air-gap to diverge light that cross the concave surface into the air-gap away from the air-gap into adjacent color filters. These characteristics of the light guide eliminate the need for a microlens. Additionally, a portion of a support wall between a pair of color filters may have a larger width above than below to form a necking to hold down the color filters for better retention.

A light output control system for implementing a method for sensing the tri-stimulus values for controlling a light output illuminated from an LED based luminary is disclosed. The system comprises one or more filter / photo diode sensors for sensing a first set of tri-stimulus values of the light output and providing signals indicative thereof. The signals are utilized in a transformation matrix whereby a second set of tri-stimulus values is obtained. The system controls the light output as a function of the second set of tri-stimulus values.

A two-dimensional focal plane array (FPA) is divided into sub-arrays of rows and columns of pixels, each sub-array being responsive to light energy from a target object which has been separated by a spectral filter or other spectrum dividing element into a predetermined number of spectral bands. There is preferably one sub-array on the FPA for each predetermined spectral band. Each sub-array has its own read out channel to allow parallel and simultaneous readout of all sub-arrays of the array. The scene is scanned onto the array for simultaneous imaging of the terrain in many spectral bands. Time Delay and Integrate (TDI) techniques are used as a clocking mechanism within the sub-arrays to increase the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the detected image. Additionally, the TDI length (i.e., number of rows of integration during the exposure) within each sub-array is adjustable to optimize and normalize the response of the photosensitive substrate to each spectral band. The array provides for parallel and simultaneous readout of each sub-array to increase the collection rate of the spectral imagery. All of these features serve to provide a substantial improvement in the area coverage of a hyperspectral imaging system while at the same time increasing the SNR of the detected spectral image.

This disclosure is of 1) the utilization of the spectrum from 250 nm to 1150 nm for measurement of prediction of one or more parameters, e.g., brix, firmness, acidity, density, pH, color and external and internal defects and disorders including, for example, surface and subsurface braises, scarring, sun scald, punctures, in N—H, C—H and O—H samples including fruit; 2) an apparatus and method of detecting emitted light from samples exposed to the above spectrum in at least one spectrum range and, in the preferred embodiment, in at least two spectrum ranges of 250 to 499 nm and 500 nm; 3) the use of the chlorophyl band, peaking at 690 nm, in combination with the spectrum from 700 nm and above to predict one or more of the above parameters; 4) the use of the visible pigment region, including xanthophyll, from approximately 250 nm to 499 nm and anthocyanin from approximately 500 to 550 nm, in combination with the chlorophyl band and the spectrum from 700 nm and above to predict the all of the above parameters.

The present invention relates to the production of instantaneous or non-instantaneous multi-band images, to be transformed into multi- or hyperspectral images, comprising light collecting means (11), an image sensor (12) with at least one two dimensional sensor array (121), and an instantaneous colour separating means (123), positioned before the image sensor array (121) in the optical path (OP) of the arrangement (1), and first uniform spectral filters (13) in the optical path (OP), with the purpose of restricting imaging to certain parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The present invention specifically teaches that a filter unit (FU) comprising colour or spectral filter mosaics and / or uniform colour or spectral filters mounted on filter wheels (114) or displayed by transmissive displays (115), is either permanently or interchangeably positioned before the colour separating means (123) in the optical path (OP) in, or close to, converged light (B). Each colour or spectral filter mosaic consists of a multitude of homogeneous filtering regions. The transmission curves (TC) of the filtering regions of a colour or spectral filter mosaic can be partly overlapping, in addition to overlap between these transmission curves and those belonging to the filtering regions of the colour separating means (123). The transmission curves (TC) of the colour or spectral filter mosaics and the colour separating means (123) are suitably spread out in the intervals of a spectrum to be studied. The combination of the colour separating means (123) and the spectral or colour or spectral filter mosaics produces different sets of linearly independent transmission curves (TC). The multiple-filter image captured by the image sensor (12) is demosaicked by identifying and segmenting the image regions that are affected by the regions of the multiple filter mosaic, and after an optional interpolation step, a multi-band image is obtained. The resulting multi-band image is transformed into a multi- or hyperspectral image.

Color calibration of color image rendering devices, such as large color displays, which operate by either projection or emission of images, utilize internal color measurement instrument or external color measurement modules locatable on a wall or speaker. A dual use camera is provided for a portable or laptop computer, or a cellular phone, handset, personal digital assistant or other handheld device with a digital camera, in which one of the camera or a display is movable with respect to the other to enable the camera in a first mode to capture images of the display for enabling calibration of the display, and in a second mode for capturing image other than of the display. The displays may represent rendering devices for enabling virtual proofing in a network, or may be part of stand-alone systems and apparatuses for color calibration. Improved calibration is also provided for sensing and correcting for non-uniformities of rendering devices, such as color displays, printer, presses, or other color image rendering device.