Optical Phased Array Imaging for Real-Time Panoramic Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging technologies using opto-mechanical systems are limited in capabilities, such as real-time color filtering and intensity manipulation, image stabilization, capturing panoramic images without physical movement, and real-time focal plane adjustment.
Innovation Solution
The use of optical phased arrays (OPAs) integrated with processors in imaging devices to generate control wavelengths based on user inputs, drive phase and amplitude modulators to process received light, and capture images based on the processed light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If opto-mechanical systems are used for image capture, then physical movement and post-processing stitching are required for panoramic images, but real-time panoramic capture without movement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces opto-mechanical systems with an optical phased array that uses electronic phase control to steer light beams. Instead of physically moving the imaging device to capture panoramic images, the system electronically adjusts the phase of light across multiple elements of the OPA to synthesize wide-field-of-view imaging, enabling real-time panoramic capture without mechanical movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point mechanical imaging approach to a distributed array approach by utilizing multiple emitting and receiving elements arranged in a two-dimensional array. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous capture of multiple spatial directions, enabling panoramic imaging without physical movement of the entire device.
2Reliability
If opto-mechanical systems are used, then image stabilization bandwidth is limited, but real-time compensation for vibrations is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical stabilization systems with an optical-phase-based stabilization mechanism. By measuring phase differences in light received by multiple elements of the OPA and electronically adjusting phase compensation in real-time, the system achieves high-bandwidth vibration compensation without mechanical moving parts, significantly increasing the stabilization bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the phase of light received by the OPA elements is continuously measured and used to drive phase modulators that compensate for vibrations. This closed-loop feedback system enables real-time detection and correction of image destabilizing factors, improving stabilization reliability and bandwidth.
3Reliability
If opto-mechanical systems are used, then focal plane adjustment is limited, but real-time focal plane correction is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical focal plane adjustment mechanisms with optical phase control. By adjusting the phase of light at different spatial locations across the OPA array, the system can electronically focus light at different depths and planes without moving mechanical components, enabling real-time focal plane correction with reduced complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms static mechanical focal plane adjustment into a dynamic, electronically controllable system. The phase modulators can rapidly change the focal plane position in real-time based on input signals, allowing flexible and adaptive focal plane correction without the inertia and bandwidth limitations of mechanical systems.
4Productivity
If opto-mechanical systems are used, then color filtering and intensity manipulation are limited, but real-time processing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical color filtering and intensity modulation systems with optical phase control and interference-based processing. By manipulating the phase of light across the OPA array, the system can selectively enhance or suppress specific wavelengths and intensities through constructive and destructive interference, enabling real-time color filtering and intensity manipulation without mechanical filters or modulators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in optical phase as the primary control parameter to achieve color filtering and intensity manipulation. By dynamically adjusting the phase difference between light paths in the interferometric OPA system, the device can selectively transmit or block specific wavelengths (color filtering) and control the intensity of transmitted light, all in real-time through electronic phase modulation.
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 real-time color filtering and intensity manipulation, improved image stabilization, the ability to capture panoramic images without moving the device, and real-time focal plane adjustment, enhancing overall image capture capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
driving a plurality of phase and amplitude modulators of the OPA to apply the one or more control wavelengths to process the received light
Implementation Method 2
driving a plurality of phase and amplitude modulators of the OPA to apply the one or more control wavelengths to process the received light
Implementation Method 3
Two-dimensional photonic integrated circuit optical phased array for imaging systems
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure provide a device and method for capturing one or more images using a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) optical phased array (OPA) based imaging system. The method may include processing the environmentally or artificially-lit received image using one or more injected control wavelengths or wavefronts to enable electronic control of functionality such as real time color filtering, glint removal or other intensity image manipulation, image stabilization, collection of multiple images for panoramic composites, focal plane adjustment and/or other image optimization manipulations based on user inputs. These system level functionalities may be accomplished with a device utilizing a plurality of optical nano-antenna elements, plurality of phase and amplitude modulators, plurality of measurement photodiodes and plurality of other associated photonic constructs along with one or more CMOS processors to process the received image.