High Spectrum Camera Using Tunable Filter for Precise Color Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wideband color sensors lack resolution, which limits their ability to accurately determine the color response of objects, impacting applications such as medical diagnostics and chemical analysis.
Innovation Solution
A high spectrum camera system using a beam divider to separate white light into individual color components, which are then used to illuminate an object, while a high resolution black and white imager and wavelength reference receiver capture reflections, allowing for correlation of pixel information with color components, enabling precise color response analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wideband color sensors are used to capture color response, then the coverage of color spectrum is improved, but the resolution is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wideband color spectrum into multiple narrowband spectral channels using a tunable filter (such as an acousto-optic tunable filter or liquid crystal tunable filter). This segmentation allows the system to capture color response at different spectral resolutions by adjusting the filter's transmission characteristics, thereby resolving the contradiction between broad spectrum coverage and high measurement precision.
2Productivity
If multiple color components are captured simultaneously, then the information gathering speed is improved, but the spectral resolution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic scanning of the tunable filter across different spectral wavelengths to sequentially capture color components. This periodic action allows the system to achieve high spectral resolution by measuring each wavelength separately, while maintaining acceptable information gathering speed through efficient scanning sequences and rapid filter tuning capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the tunable filter's transmission wavelength and bandwidth based on the measurement requirements. By making the spectral selection dynamic rather than static, the system can adapt between capturing broad spectral information quickly or focusing on specific wavelength ranges with high resolution, thus balancing productivity and measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If high resolution black and white imager is used, then the spatial resolution is improved, but the color information capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the high resolution black and white imager serve multiple functions by combining it with a tunable spectral filter. The same imager captures both spatial information and spectral information at different wavelengths sequentially. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve both high spatial resolution and color information capability without requiring separate sensors for each function.
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
The system provides high-resolution color response data, enhancing applications like medical imaging, glucose monitoring, and geologic assays by capturing a wide range of frequencies, improving accuracy in chemical composition analysis.
Implementation Method 1
at least one beam divider to receive white light and output separate color components of the white light
Implementation Method 2
the beam divider includes a prism
Implementation Method 3
at least a first light pipe is in an optical path between the beam divider and the object to direct the color components from the beam divider to the object
Implementation Method 4
The WRR may include at least one frequency counter
Implementation Method 5
A processor correlates pixel intensities in the black and white image to the color components of the white light involved in the imaging of the object
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a prism is used to separate white light into individual color components, which are used to illuminate an object in sequence. This can be effected by rotating the prism. Reflections from the object are captured by a high resolution black and white camera. A frequency detector is used to also receive the individual colors that illuminate the object so that the high-resolution pixels from the black and white camera can be correlated, for each captured value, to the specific color reflected from the object that created the pixel. In this way, the color spectrum of the object can be measured with high precision. Other examples that use stationary prisms also are disclosed. Examples are disclosed in which the prism(s) receive white light from the object and spread it in color components onto the imager.