Monochromatic Sensor with Rotating Filter Wheel for Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital imaging devices face issues with spatial resolution loss and reduced light sensitivity due to color filter arrays, requiring multiple cameras for different spectral ranges, and suffer from bulkiness and contamination with external filters, leading to increased costs and operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A digital imaging device with a monochromatic sensor and internally positioned filters that can be moved into layers, allowing for better spatial and tonal resolution, versatile spectral selectivity, and reduced need for multiple camera bodies and filters, while maintaining image quality at the expense of capture speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a color filter array is used to capture color signals, then color information can be obtained, but spatial resolution is lost due to demosaicing interpolation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic filter wheel that can rotate to position different filters (including clear/transparent filters) in front of the sensor. This allows the system to switch between capturing full-color images with temporal resolution and capturing monochromatic images with spatial resolution, making the imaging system adaptable to different measurement needs without permanent loss of information
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic filtering by rotating the filter wheel through different filter positions at controlled intervals. This periodic action allows the sensor to capture sequential monochromatic images at different wavelengths, which are then processed to reconstruct full-color information while preserving spatial resolution, as each pixel captures complete spatial data for its wavelength band
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cameras are used to capture different spectral ranges, then spectral versatility is improved, but device complexity and bulkiness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal imaging platform where a single monochromatic sensor can perform multiple spectral capture functions by rotating different filters into position. The filter wheel includes filters for various wavelength ranges (UV, visible, IR), allowing one camera to replace multiple specialized cameras, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining spectral versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The filter wheel mechanism nests multiple filters in a compact circular arrangement, with each filter positioned at a different angular location. This nested configuration allows multiple spectral filters to be housed within a single compact unit that attaches to one camera body, eliminating the need for multiple separate camera systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If external filters are used, then spectral selectivity is achieved, but contamination and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the filters from the external environment and integrates them into an internal filter wheel assembly that rotates into position directly over the sensor. This extraction protects the filters from external contamination sources (dust, moisture, handling) while maintaining their spectral selectivity functions, as the filters operate in a controlled internal environment
Solution Approach 2:
The filter wheel mechanism serves as an intermediary structure that houses and positions the filters in a protected environment. This intermediary assembly allows the filters to maintain optimal optical performance without direct exposure to contaminating elements, while still enabling spectral selection through rotational positioning
4Measurement precision
If a monochromatic sensor with movable filters is used, then spatial and tonal resolution are improved, but capture speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing sequential monochromatic images at different wavelength bands in rapid succession using the rotating filter wheel. This preliminary capture of spectral data at full spatial resolution allows subsequent processing to reconstruct full-color images with superior spatial and tonal resolution, trading some capture time for improved measurement precision
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 solution provides improved spatial and tonal resolution, increased light sensitivity, and versatility in capturing IR, full-spectrum, and monochromatic images, reducing the need for multiple cameras and filters, and minimizing contamination and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a monochromatic sensor including a plurality of photosensitive elements distributed in an array, the plurality of photosensitive elements configured to convert light falling on the monochromatic sensor into electronic signals
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of filters, each filter configured to be moved into a position in front of the monochromatic sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A digital imaging device includes: a monochromatic sensor including a plurality of photosensitive elements distributed in an array, the plurality of photosensitive elements configured to convert light falling on the monochromatic sensor into electronic signals; and a plurality of filters, each filter configured to be moved into a position in front of the monochromatic sensor, wherein each filter, when moved into the position in front of the monochromatic sensor, covers substantial portion of the monochromatic sensor. Key words include imaging sensor and layered filter.