Aperture-Multiplexed Filter Module Spatial Partitioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging systems face challenges in capturing multiple images of the same object simultaneously, particularly in multispectral and polarization imaging, due to complexity, cost, and difficulty in designing filter arrays that can efficiently handle multiple spectral filters without significant crosstalk.
Innovation Solution
An aperture-multiplexed imaging system is designed with a filter module positioned at a conjugate plane to the sensor, allowing for simultaneous capture of multiplexed images using a spatial partition of filter cells, which are optimized to reduce crosstalk through simulation and performance metric calculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple cameras or imaging systems are used in parallel to capture filtered images simultaneously, then the capability to capture multiple spectral images simultaneously is improved, but the overall cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple spectral filtering functions into a single imaging system by positioning a filter module at the conjugate plane of the sensor. This allows one camera to capture multiple spectral images simultaneously through aperture coding, eliminating the need for multiple separate camera systems while maintaining the capability to capture multiple spectral bands at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter module positioned at the conjugate plane serves multiple functions: it performs aperture coding for spatial separation, enables spectral filtering for multiple wavelength bands, and allows simultaneous capture of multiple spectral images. This single component performs what previously required multiple separate imaging systems.
2Measurement precision
If a filter wheel is used to switch between wavelength filters, then spectral information can be captured, but the system becomes large and complicated and images are captured sequentially rather than simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The filter module is segmented into multiple filter cells, each corresponding to a specific wavelength band. These filter cells are arranged at the conjugate plane and spatially separated, allowing each spectral band to be captured simultaneously by different regions of the sensor array without requiring mechanical filtering components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical filter wheel system with a static filter module positioned at the conjugate plane. Instead of mechanically rotating filters in front of a single sensor, the system uses the optical properties of the conjugate plane to spatially separate different wavelength components, eliminating moving parts and mechanical complexity.
3Measurement precision
If dispersive elements such as prisms or gratings are used to spatially separate wavelengths, then spectral separation is achieved, but it becomes difficult to capture the second spatial dimension of the object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the conjugate plane dimension to solve the spectral separation problem. By positioning filters at the conjugate plane of the sensor, the system creates a third dimension (spatial position at conjugate plane) that corresponds to wavelength, allowing full 2D spatial information to be captured on the sensor while spectral information is encoded in the conjugate plane position.
4Measurement precision
If micro-filters are attached to each sensor element in a one-to-one correspondence, then spectral filtering can be performed, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase due to alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the filtering function from the sensor plane and relocates it to the conjugate plane. Instead of attaching filters directly to each sensor element, the filter module is positioned separately at the conjugate plane where the optical paths of different wavelengths naturally separate, eliminating the need for precise one-to-one alignment between filters and sensors.
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 efficient and flexible multi-imaging systems that can capture multiple spectral or polarization images simultaneously with reduced crosstalk, improving system performance and ease of manufacturing while maintaining mechanical tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
The filter module is positioned approximately in a conjugate plane to the sensor to provide aperture coding of the multiplexed images
Data Source
AI summary
A method for designing the spatial partition of a filter module used in an aperture-multiplexed imaging system. The filter module is spatially partitioned into filter cells, and the spatial partition is designed by considering data captured at the sensor in light of an application-specific performance metric.