Monochromatic Sensor Color Imaging via Spectral Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital imaging technologies face challenges in constructing high-sensitivity and high-resolution color composite images using monochromatic image sensors, which are typically better suited for monochrome imaging.
Innovation Solution
A method involving illumination with different spectral bands, capturing monochrome images using a monochromatic image sensor, and processing these images to generate image data for output channels, allowing the creation of color composite images that combine multiple spectral bands into visible RGB channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a color-filtered image sensor is used to capture color images, then color imaging capability is achieved, but sensitivity and resolution performance deteriorate compared to monochromatic sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the color imaging process into multiple sequential monochromatic capture steps, each using a specific illumination wavelength. The monochromatic sensor captures images under different spectral illuminations (e.g., red, green, blue LED lights), and these segmented captures are later synthesized computationally to form a complete color image. This segmentation allows the sensor to maintain its superior monochromatic performance while achieving color imaging capability through multi-step acquisition and digital reconstruction.
2Measurement precision
If a monochromatic image sensor is used to capture monochrome images, then sensitivity and resolution are improved, but color imaging capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the monochromatic image sensor universal by enabling it to perform both its native monochromatic imaging function and color imaging function. Through the multi-illumination approach where the same sensor captures images under different spectral illuminations, the sensor achieves multi-functionality - it maintains its high-performance monochromatic mode while also acquiring color information that is synthesized into color images, thus serving dual purposes with a single device.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the illumination parameter (spectral wavelength) rather than changing the sensor itself. By varying the spectral characteristics of the illumination source across multiple capture steps, the system extracts different spectral information components that are later combined to form color images. This parameter change approach allows the fixed monochromatic sensor to access multiple spectral bands and reconstruct color information without compromising its inherent sensitivity and resolution advantages.
3Measurement precision
If multiple monochrome images under different spectral bands are captured and processed, then color composite images with high sensitivity and resolution are constructed, but imaging time and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs periodic action by using sequential illumination with different spectral bands (e.g., red LED, green LED, blue LED) in alternating cycles. Each spectral illumination phase captures a monochromatic image, and these periodic captures are synchronized with the illumination cycles. This periodic multi-spectral acquisition strategy, combined with efficient computational synthesis, achieves high-quality color images while managing the time penalty through structured, repeatable measurement cycles.
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 enables the construction of high-sensitivity and high-resolution color composite images, effectively leveraging the strengths of monochromatic image sensors while replicating color imaging capabilities, enhancing image quality and feature detection.
Implementation Method 1
capturing a plurality of digital monochrome images with a monochromatic image sensor, each digital monochrome image in the plurality of digital monochrome images illuminated with a different spectral band
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for constructing a composite image. The method comprises illuminating an object with light of a particular spectral band, capturing a digital image of the illuminated object using a monochromatic image sensor of an imaging device to obtain a monochrome image, repeating the steps of illuminating and capturing to obtain a plurality of monochrome images of the object illuminated by light of a plurality of different spectral bands, processing the plurality of monochrome images to generate image data for one or more output channels, and generating a color composite image from the image data. The color composite image comprises the one or more output channels.