Imaging System Ambient Light Correction via Shielding Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging systems using transmission light sources face challenges in suppressing ambient light without reducing the imaging region, as they often require using pixels for correction, thereby limiting the imaging area.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an imaging system that uses a light shielding plate to acquire reference data for ambient light correction, allowing for the calculation of correction data to eliminate ambient light influence without reducing the imaging area, and includes a signal processing unit to perform corrections based on this data, enabling effective ambient light suppression without using pixels for correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If correction pixels are used to eliminate ambient light influence, then measurement precision is improved, but imaging area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating correction data for ambient light elimination before actual imaging. The signal processing unit calculates correction data based on reference data obtained with and without a light shielding plate, then stores this correction data for subsequent use. This allows ambient light correction to be performed on the entire imaging area without dedicating specific pixels for correction, thereby maintaining full imaging area while achieving measurement precision.
2Productivity
If the imaging region is maintained at full area, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to ambient light influence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using a light shielding plate to obtain reference data that characterizes ambient light distribution. This reference data serves as an intermediary to calculate correction data, which then acts as a mediator to eliminate ambient light influence from measurement data. This intermediary mechanism enables full-area imaging with maintained measurement precision, as the correction data derived from the shielding plate measurements is applied across the entire imaging region.
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 effectively suppresses ambient light in imaging systems, preventing errors in optical density estimation and maintaining the full imaging area by performing corrections using pre-calculated data, thus ensuring accurate measurements without the need for dedicated correction pixels.
Implementation Method 1
a light shielding plate having an opening placed between the light source unit and the sensor unit
Implementation Method 2
a sensor unit configured to detect light emitted from the light source unit
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system using a transmission light source unit includes a sensor unit (imaging unit) that detects light emitted from a light source unit, a storage unit that stores correction data for eliminating the influence of ambient light, and a signal processing unit that performs correction for eliminating the influence of ambient light on measurement data, which is obtained by measurement using a subject, based on the correction data. The correction data is calculated based on a difference between first reference data obtained by imaging in a state where a light shielding plate having an opening is disposed between the light source unit and the sensor unit and second reference data obtained by imaging in a state where no light shielding plate is disposed.