Dual-Sensor Endoscope Imaging for Low-Light Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image-recording devices, particularly in medical applications, face limitations due to low light intensity, leading to insufficient image resolution and high self-heating issues, especially in applications like fluorescent light imaging.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a single photon sensitive detector (SPSD) alongside a conventional image sensor to detect light from a common object area, allowing for high-resolution, high-contrast imaging by synthesizing image data from both sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If very bright light sources are used to compensate for low light quantity, then image brightness is improved, but self-heating of the endoscope increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a conventional image sensor (capturing visible light) with a single-photon-sensitive detector (capturing infrared light) to simultaneously detect multiple spectral ranges. This merging of detection capabilities allows the system to capture images in low-light conditions without requiring intense illumination, thereby avoiding self-heating while maintaining image brightness through computational fusion of sensor data.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging system is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect both visible light (for color imaging) and infrared light (for thermal/low-light imaging) using the same optical path and processing pipeline. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different lighting conditions without requiring separate systems, enabling low-light imaging without additional bright light sources that would cause heating.
2Illumination intensity
If electronic gain is increased to compensate for low light, then image brightness is improved, but signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By merging data from two independent sensors (conventional image sensor and single-photon detector), the system achieves signal enhancement through data fusion rather than electronic gain amplification. The single-photon detector's high sensitivity to low-light conditions provides clean signal data that, when combined with the conventional sensor's color and spatial information, produces bright images with preserved signal-to-noise ratio.
3Measurement precision
If previously known image-recording devices are used to detect very small amounts of light, then light sensitivity is improved, but image resolution is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the strengths of two different sensor types: the conventional image sensor provides high spatial resolution and color information, while the single-photon detector provides exceptional light sensitivity. By computationally fusing these complementary data streams, the system achieves both high resolution and high light sensitivity simultaneously, overcoming the limitations of either sensor type alone.
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
Enables high-resolution, high-contrast imaging even in low light conditions, improving signal-to-noise ratio and image quality, particularly in applications like fluorescent light imaging and 3D imaging.
Implementation Method 1
the image-recording device has a single photon sensitive detector (SPSD) and that the image sensor and the SPSD are (each) equipped to detect light from a common object area
Implementation Method 2
at least one image sensor whose pixels are based on photodiodes
Data Source
AI summary
In order to improve imaging, in particular for low light intensities, an image recording device, in particular formed as an endoscope, is proposed, which comprises a single photon sensitive detector (SPSD) in addition to an image sensor, which uses photodiodes as light-sensitive cells, in order to respectively detect light from a common object area. With the help of the SPSD, additional image information can be obtained from the object area, to improve the image data recorded with the image sensor or to enhance it with additional image information, in particular with regard to a further spectral range, which is captured with the SPSD.