Sectional Multispectral Sensor with Optical Blur for White Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image-sensing devices struggle to maintain color constancy under varying ambient illuminations, particularly when there are sudden, sharp changes in lighting conditions, leading to inaccuracies in white balancing and color representation.
Innovation Solution
A multi-spectral optical sensor with a monolithic semiconductor chip divided into subarrays and equipped with optical filters and lens elements that intentionally blur the image, allowing for smooth signal detection and effective white balancing by segmenting the field of view into multiple color channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a multi-spectral ALS measures spectral information from all directions across the entire FOV, then it can capture ambient illumination data, but it cannot distinguish between light from different directions leading to inaccurate white balancing under dynamic lighting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical path into multiple segments by introducing a beam splitter and multiple optical detectors positioned at different locations. Each detector captures light from a specific direction or region, enabling the system to measure spectral information from different directions simultaneously and perform directional light discrimination for accurate white balancing.
2Manufacturing precision
If the optical detector directly captures the image, then it provides sharp image detail, but sudden changes in lighting conditions create sharp edges and discontinuities that complicate signal processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a diffuser element before the optical detector that intentionally blurs the image in advance. This pre-blurring smooths out sharp edges and discontinuities caused by sudden lighting changes, cushioning the signal variations before they reach the detector and simplifying subsequent signal processing while maintaining spectral measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If the multi-spectral ALS has a narrow FOV to improve measurement precision, then spectral accuracy improves, but it cannot capture ambient illumination from the entire scene
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional optical system where a single sensor assembly performs multiple functions: it captures spectral information from different directions simultaneously, measures ambient illumination across the entire FOV, and provides directional light discrimination. The beam splitter configuration enables each detector to serve multiple purposes in characterizing the lighting environment.
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 robust and accurate automatic white balancing, independent of dynamic lighting conditions, with improved color stability and reduced sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
each optical filter is configured to only transmit a corresponding different range of wavelengths onto a corresponding one of the optical detector regions
Implementation Method 2
each lens element has a corresponding focal plane, wherein the focal plane of each lens element is arranged at a predetermined distance from the plane of the optical detector regions so that blur circle of each lens element
Implementation Method 3
use of the diffuser 30 provides the multi-spectral ALS arrangement 3 with a field of view (FOV) 42 which defines a large solid angle around the optical axis 40
Data Source
AI summary
In a first aspect of the disclosure there is provided a multi-spectral optical sensor comprising: a monolithic semiconductor chip defining a plurality of subarrays of optical detector regions, each array comprising the same number and relative spatial arrangement of optical detector regions; a plurality of optical filters; and a plurality of lens elements, wherein each optical filter is positioned between a corresponding lens element and a corresponding subarray of optical detector regions such that light from a scene incident on any one of the lens elements along a direction of incidence propagates through the corresponding optical filter towards a corresponding one of the optical detector regions of the corresponding subarray of optical detector regions, which corresponding one of the optical detector regions depending on the direction of incidence, and wherein the incident light forms an out-of-focus image of the scene at a plane of the optical detector regions.