Particulate Matter Imaging Using Multi-Focal Image Blending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging methods for particulate matter are limited in generating consistently sharp and detailed images, leading to incomplete focus and insufficient detail in capturing the characteristics of particulate matter, which hinders accurate identification and analysis.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system that captures images at multiple focal lengths and lighting configurations, using a controller to generate sharpness maps and blend images based on these maps to create a composite image with enhanced clarity and detail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If current imaging methods are used for particulate matter, then the imaging process is simple, but the image sharpness and detail are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging process is segmented into multiple discrete focal length captures (e.g., near-focus, mid-focus, far-focus images). Each focal length image captures particulate matter at different depth planes, which are then computationally combined to produce a final composite image with extended depth of field and enhanced sharpness across the entire sample.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-plane 2D imaging to multi-plane 3D depth-layered imaging by capturing images at multiple focal lengths. This adds a depth dimension to the imaging process, allowing particulate matter at different heights above the substrate to be captured in sharp focus and integrated into a single composite image.
2Reliability
If single focal length imaging is used, then the imaging process is fast, but the focus coverage is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary capture of multiple focal length images before final composite image generation. By pre-capturing near-focus, mid-focus, and far-focus images separately, the system ensures all depth planes are recorded with adequate exposure and focus, allowing reliable composite image construction without requiring repeated imaging passes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple focal length images (near-focus, mid-focus, far-focus) into a single composite image through computational blending. This combining process integrates the sharp features from each focal length image, producing a final image where particulate matter across the entire depth range appears in focus, thereby achieving complete focus coverage.
3Measurement precision
If multiple lighting configurations are used, then the particulate detail is enhanced, but the imaging complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different lighting configurations (e.g., top-down, side-illumination, oblique lighting) are applied to illuminate specific regions and aspects of particulate matter. Each lighting angle highlights different surface features, textures, and three-dimensional characteristics of particles, allowing comprehensive characterization through localized quality enhancement of different particle facets.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is designed with multi-functionality, where a single lighting assembly can generate multiple lighting configurations (different angles, intensities, and patterns) through adjustable components. This universal lighting device serves multiple imaging functions without requiring separate dedicated lighting systems for each illumination type, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining enhanced particulate characterization capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Imaging systems and methods for capturing an image of a subject. The imaging system includes an imaging device that captures images of the subject, a focus mechanism for changing a focal length of the imaging device, and a controller that processes images captured by the imaging device. The imaging device captures a plurality of images of the subject at each of a plurality of focal lengths. The controller generates a sharpness map for each of the plurality of images of the subject at each of the plurality of focal lengths and a composite image of the subject by blending together the plurality of images at each of the plurality of focal lengths into a single image based on the sharpness maps.