Gamma Camera Auxiliary Camera Optical Axis Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gamma imaging devices require parallax correction and offline image processing, making it difficult to simultaneously capture and align gamma and visible light images, which limits precise localization of irradiating sources.
Innovation Solution
A gamma imaging device with a pinhole-type collimator and an auxiliary camera positioned upstream, allowing simultaneous capture of visible light and gamma radiation images with coincident optical axes, enabling real-time processing and superposition of images to produce a final image with irradiating sources represented as colored spots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an auxiliary camera is positioned with an offset optical axis from the gamma camera, then simultaneous acquisition of visible light and gamma images is enabled, but parallax correction is required which increases device complexity and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical axis of the auxiliary camera with the sighting axis of the gamma camera, positioning both sensors to observe along the same line of sight. This alignment eliminates the need for separate sighting systems and parallax correction mechanisms, directly resolving the contradiction by combining the observational paths of both cameras.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copied visual field for the auxiliary camera that matches the gamma camera's field of view. By using optical elements to relay and replicate the gamma camera's sighting direction to the auxiliary camera, the system achieves coincident optical axes without requiring a complex independent sighting system.
2Device complexity
If a shutter is used to switch between gamma and visible light acquisition, then a single acquisition channel can be used, but simultaneous image capture is prevented requiring offline processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical paths of the gamma camera and auxiliary camera so they share the same sighting axis and field of view. This spatial merging enables both cameras to capture images simultaneously of the same scene without requiring shutter switching, thereby eliminating offline processing delays while maintaining a relatively simple acquisition channel configuration.
3Measurement precision
If parallax correction is performed on the visible light image, then alignment with the gamma image is achieved, but the processing complexity and time are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary alignment by positioning the auxiliary camera's optical axis to coincide with the gamma camera's sighting axis before image capture. This pre-alignment action eliminates the need for complex post-capture parallax correction, thereby achieving precise image alignment while maintaining real-time processing capability.
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 real-time, precise localization of irradiating sources by merging visible light and gamma images captured with the same direction of sight, reducing the need for parallax correction and offline processing, and maintaining a compact device design.
Implementation Method 1
The scintillator 3 transforms the gamma radiation Rγ received into light signals applied to the set of photonic components 4
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 2C~2D
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a gamma-ray imaging device comprising a gamma-camera (10) intended for capturing a gamma-ray image, called a gamma-image, of an observed scene (17), said gamma-camera being provided with a front face (11) and possessing a line of sight (x1'), together with an auxiliary camera (15) intended to capture a visible-light image of the observed scene (17). The auxiliary camera (15) is placed ahead of the front face (11) of the gamma-camera (10) and has an optical axis (x2') which is substantially coincident with the line of sight (x1') of the gamma-camera (10) so that the visible-light image and the gamma-image are captured almost simultaneously with the same line of sight.