Optical Subsampling for Extended OCT Depth Range
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Fourier-Domain OCT systems face challenges in efficiently acquiring and processing large depth range imaging data, leading to high data volume requirements for analog-to-digital converters, cameras, and data transfer/storage, which is inefficient and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of optical subsampling in FD-OCT systems to reduce data acquisition volume by characterizing scatter locations within a large delay window using a wavelength-stepped source and interferometric arrangements, allowing for reduced ADC rates, lower pixel count cameras, and lower bandwidth data buses, while maintaining high resolution in depth profiling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If high resolution sampling in wavenumber-space is used to detect reflections over large time delay windows, then depth range imaging capability is improved, but data volume and resource requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large depth range into multiple smaller depth windows, each processed separately with appropriate sampling. By segmenting the overall imaging range, the system can use lower sampling rates for each segment while maintaining adequate resolution, thereby reducing total data volume compared to uniformly high-resolution sampling across the entire range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension by processing different depth windows at different time points. Instead of capturing all depth information simultaneously at high resolution, the system sequentially processes depth segments, effectively trading temporal resolution for reduced spatial sampling requirements in each frame, thus reducing overall data volume.
2Measurement precision
If high pixel count cameras or fast ADCs are used to sample interference signal at high resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different sampling resolutions to different depth regions. By recognizing that not all depth ranges require the same level of detail, the system uses higher sampling resolution only where necessary (e.g., regions with expected scatterers) and lower resolution in other regions, thereby maintaining measurement precision where needed while reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts sampling parameters (such as ADC rate or camera pixel utilization) based on the imaging requirements of different depth windows. By changing sampling parameters adaptively rather than using fixed high-resolution sampling throughout, the system maintains adequate measurement precision while significantly reducing the required ADC rate and device complexity.
3Productivity
If large bandwidth data transfer buses and storage units are used to handle increased data volume, then productivity is improved, but loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the essential information from the interference signal by focusing on specific depth windows and scattering events. By filtering out redundant data and processing only relevant portions of the signal, the system reduces the bandwidth required for data transfer and storage, thereby improving productivity without requiring excessively large data buses while simultaneously reducing energy consumption.
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 efficient data acquisition and processing, allowing for imaging over a large depth range with significantly reduced data volume, thereby improving imaging efficiency and reducing resource requirements without compromising resolution or information content.
Implementation Method 1
The sample beam can be directed at a sample to be imaged, and the reflected light from the sample is recombined with light from the reference beam (i.e., returning from the reference arm), resulting in an interference signal
Implementation Method 2
the interference signal as a function of wavelength can be obtained by using a broadband light source and a spectrally dispersing unit or a spectrometer that spatially separates the recombined sample and reference light according to wavelength
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods can be provided which can generate data associated with at least one sample. For example, using at least one first arrangement, it is possible to forward at least one first radiation to the sample(s) so as to cause at least one second radiation to be provided from the sample(s) that can be based on the first radiation(s). In addition, using at least one second arrangement, it is possible to receive the second radiation from the sample(s), generate a plurality of distinct measurements regarding at least one portion of the sample(s) based the second radiation(s), and characterize the portion(s) over a plurality of continuous resolvable depth points thereof which are associated with the distinct measurements. Further, the characterization of the at least one portion can be resolved and distinctly characterized at a number of the depth points which is greater than a number of the distinct measurements.