CCD Camera Illumination Synchronization for Tomographic Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tomographic imaging systems, particularly those using CCD cameras for in vivo imaging of small animals, face challenges in rapidly acquiring artifact-free images due to long image acquisition times, which lead to severe artifacts and hinder high dynamic range (HDR) imaging by introducing blooming artifacts.
Innovation Solution
The system synchronizes illumination with the CCD camera's image acquisition sequence by using a galvanometer mirror to selectively illuminate objects during specific phases of the exposure, allowing for rapid image acquisition with reduced artifact introduction and enabling HDR imaging by acquiring short and long exposure images to avoid pixel saturation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If long image acquisition time is used to capture sufficient light signal, then image quality improves, but motion artifacts and blooming artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by synchronizing the illumination source with the CCD camera's exposure phases. The illumination is turned on during the first exposure phase to capture the first image, turned off during the readout phase, and turned on again during the second exposure phase to capture the second image. This periodic illumination pattern allows rapid sequential image acquisition without motion artifacts while maintaining sufficient signal quality.
2Measurement precision
If long exposure time is used for HDR imaging, then dynamic range improves, but pixel saturation and blooming artifacts occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the HDR imaging process into multiple separate exposure phases. Instead of using a single long exposure that would cause pixel saturation, the system captures multiple images during different exposure phases with the illumination synchronized to each phase. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high dynamic range without any individual pixel becoming saturated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic action by implementing multiple exposure phases with synchronized illumination. The illumination source is periodically activated during specific exposure phases to capture images at different intensity levels. This periodic illumination pattern enables the system to build up a high dynamic range image through multiple exposures without causing blooming artifacts in any single exposure.
3Productivity
If rapid image acquisition is implemented, then productivity improves, but image quality deteriorates due to insufficient light collection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing periodic illumination synchronized with multiple exposure phases. The illumination source is turned on during each exposure phase to ensure sufficient light collection, and turned off during readout phases to enable rapid sequential imaging. This synchronized periodic action allows the system to acquire images rapidly while maintaining high image quality through adequate light collection during each exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by ensuring that the illumination source is active during every exposure phase throughout the imaging sequence. Rather than having gaps in illumination, the system maintains continuous useful action by synchronizing the illumination on/off cycles with the exposure/readout cycles of the CCD camera, ensuring that light is always available when the sensor is collecting data.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables rapid, artifact-free image acquisition and enhances dynamic range in tomographic imaging, facilitating earlier disease detection and treatment assessment by reducing image acquisition time and eliminating blooming artifacts.
Implementation Method 1
directing a beam of illumination light emitted from an output of an illumination source to a source galvanometer mirror
Implementation Method 2
the CCD camera is aligned and operable to (i) detect light (e.g., fluorescent light and/or bioluminescent light) emitted from the one or more object(s)
Data Source
AI summary
Presented herein are systems and methods that provide for fast image acquisition with a CCD camera for tomographic imaging by synchronizing illumination with the image acquisition sequence of the CCD camera. The systems and methods described herein allow images to be acquired with a CCD camera using short image acquisition times that would otherwise result in the introduction of severe artifacts into the acquired images. This unique capability is achieved by selectively illuminating the one or more object(s) to be imaged during specific phases of the CCD camera that are used to acquire an image. Reducing the time required to acquire artifact-free images in this manner allows for rapid imaging with a CCD camera. This capability is of particular relevance to tomographic imaging approaches, in which multiple images of one or more objects are acquired and used to produce a single tomographic image.