Multispectral Polarimetric Light-Field Imaging System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging technologies are limited in their ability to perform concurrent multiview, multispectral, polarimetric, light-field, and high dynamic range imaging, especially beyond the visible EM spectrum, and often suffer from radiometric inaccuracies, optical aberrations, and inefficiencies due to the need for sequential imaging and complex optical systems.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for concurrent multiview, spectral-polarimetric, light-field, high dynamic range imaging (CMSLHI) using a single detector or multiple detectors within the same enclosure, employing on-axis and off-axis mirrors or lenses to guide light through spectral bandpass, polarization, and neutral density filters, enabling simultaneous capture of multiple spectral bands, polarizations, and exposures, allowing for three-dimensional imaging and topographical reconstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sequential imaging methods are used with spectral bandpass filters or light sources, then measurement precision of spectral characteristics is improved, but productivity is worsened due to time-consuming sequential acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system divides the spectral imaging task into multiple parallel channels, each dedicated to a specific spectral band. Multiple cameras are assigned to different spectral ranges (visible, NIR, SWIR) to simultaneously capture images without sequential filtering, thus maintaining both spectral precision and high imaging speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple camera systems with different spectral sensitivities into a single integrated imaging platform. By combining cameras that cover visible, NIR, and SWIR ranges with a unified optical path and control system, the device achieves concurrent multispectral imaging across broad spectral ranges.
2Productivity
If multiple cameras are used for simultaneous spectral imaging, then productivity is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system uses a universal optical path design where a single objective lens serves multiple camera systems. The beam splitting mechanism and filter wheel are shared resources that control light distribution to different cameras, reducing redundant components and simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
A beam splitting mechanism acts as an intermediary between the single optical path and multiple cameras. This mediator efficiently directs light from the objective lens to different camera systems based on spectral requirements, eliminating the need for separate optical paths for each camera and reducing system complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If polychromatic detectors with Bayer filters are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement precision is worsened due to interpolation errors
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on interpolation algorithms to estimate spectral information, the system creates direct copies of spectral data by using multiple cameras with different spectral sensitivities. Each camera captures authentic spectral information in its sensitive range, providing true spectral measurements without interpolation errors.
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 simultaneous imaging of multiple spectral bands, polarizations, and exposures, overcoming previous limitations by providing accurate radiometric representation and high-quality, three-dimensional imaging without the need for sequential acquisition or complex optics, thus enhancing imaging capabilities beyond the visible spectrum.
Implementation Method 1
employing on-axis and off-axis mirrors or lenses to guide light through spectral bandpass, polarization, and neutral density filters
Implementation Method 2
spectral bandpass filters (corresponding to different spectral wavelengths)
Implementation Method 3
polarization filters (corresponding to different linear and circular polarizations)
Implementation Method 4
neutral density filters (corresponding to different throughput efficiencies)
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a novel system and method for multiview, multispectral, polarimetric, light-field, and high dynamic range imaging in a concurrent manner specifically capturing information at different spectral bands and light polarizations simultaneously. The present system and method is capable of (1) concurrent imaging of multiple spectral bands (including spectral bands beyond the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum), proportional or greater than the number of filters used in the device, (2) concurrent imaging of multiple light polarizations (Stokes vectors), (3) acquiring images at different point-of-view of the same scene and/or object that allow for topographical reconstruction, (4) concurrent imaging of the multiple depth of fields that allow for light-field imaging, and (5) concurrent imaging of multiple simulated exposures of the detector that allow for high dynamic range imaging, all at the same time using a single sensor in the same imaging system enclosure.