Light Measurement Device Using Temporal Luminance Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light measurement techniques fail to distinguish between cells emitting light with fixed and temporally altering luminance values, and cannot differentiate between various types of cell images with different temporal emission characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A light measurement device and method that acquires moving image data of a cell sample, extracts luminance value data, calculates peak and bottom values, and uses these values to evaluate and extract target pixels based on amplitude and change ratio, allowing for the identification of cells with temporally altering luminance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional image processing technique extracting pixels above threshold value is used, then simple cell image extraction is achieved, but inability to distinguish cells with fixed versus temporally altering luminance values occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of image processingVSAvoidability to distinguish cell types by luminance characteristics

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from static threshold-based pixel extraction to dynamic temporal analysis of luminance values. By analyzing luminance changes over time across multiple frames, the system distinguishes between cells with fixed luminance and those with temporally altering luminance, resolving the contradiction between processing simplicity and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces temporal parameter analysis by examining luminance values across multiple time points. Instead of relying solely on spatial threshold values, the system evaluates temporal characteristics (changes in luminance over time) to differentiate cell types, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining computational feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If conventional image processing technique is used, then processing speed is maintained, but inability to differentiate multiple types of cell images with different temporal emission characteristics occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage processing speedVSAvoiddifferentiation capability of cell types

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the analysis process into distinct stages: initial threshold-based pixel extraction for speed, followed by temporal luminance analysis for precision. This segmentation allows the system to quickly identify candidate pixels and then selectively apply computationally intensive temporal analysis only where needed, maintaining productivity while improving differentiation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies temporal analysis selectively rather than uniformly across all pixels. By performing detailed temporal luminance analysis only on pixels that meet initial threshold criteria, the system avoids excessive computation on all image data, thereby maintaining processing speed while achieving accurate cell type differentiation where required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If temporal luminance analysis is performed on all pixels, then accurate cell type differentiation is achieved, but processing complexity and computation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of cell identificationVSAvoidcomplexity of analysis processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary threshold-based pixel extraction before conducting temporal luminance analysis. This preliminary action filters out pixels that clearly do not represent cell signals, reducing the number of pixels requiring complex temporal analysis and thereby lowering overall processing complexity while maintaining accurate cell identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 accurate differentiation and identification of cells emitting light with temporally altering luminance values, improving measurement sensitivity and distinguishing between different cell types.

Implementation Method 1

a moving-image acquisition means for acquiring moving image data of a two-dimensional light image by detecting a two-dimensional light image of a sample case including light emitted from a sample

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10197782B2Light measurement device, light measurement method, and light measurement program

Publication Date: 2019.02.05 HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS KK

AI summary

The light measurement device is provided with a moving-image acquisition part and an analysis processing part. The analysis processing part includes: a luminance-value-data acquisition part for acquiring the luminance value data; a luminance-value extraction part for extracting a peak value and a bottom value of the luminance value, from the luminance value data; a pixel extraction part for extracting a target pixel configuring an image of a predetermined cell from a plurality of pixels, on the basis of the evaluation value. The pixel extraction part extracts, as the evaluation value, the target pixel on the basis of at least one of an amplitude of the luminance value obtained from a difference between the peak value and the bottom value and a change ratio of the luminance value obtained from a ratio of the peak value relative to the bottom value.