Polarization Imaging with Tunable Pixel Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polarization imaging systems face challenges in achieving sufficient spatial and temporal resolution while being time-efficient, often resulting in loss of polarization information and spatial resolution.
Innovation Solution
A polarization imaging portion comprising a plurality of imaging elements, event sensors, polarization filters, and tunable polarizers, where each polarization filter is associated with a respective tunable polarizer, allowing for adjustment of polarization in response to electric signals, thereby enabling efficient polarization imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional polarization imaging systems are used, then polarization images can be acquired, but spatial and temporal resolution are insufficient and polarization information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging array is divided into multiple pixels, with each pixel containing its own tunable polarizer and event sensor. This segmentation allows each pixel to independently capture polarization information at high spatial and temporal resolution, eliminating the information loss that occurs in conventional systems where multiple images must be combined.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pixel's tunable polarizer can dynamically adjust its polarization angle in response to electric signals, enabling real-time adaptation to different polarization states. This dynamic capability allows the system to capture complete polarization information without requiring multiple static images, thereby improving both resolution and information retention.
2Productivity
If conventional polarization imaging systems are used, then polarization images can be acquired, but the system becomes time-consuming and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously captures polarization information at each pixel simultaneously across the entire image array, rather than sequentially acquiring multiple images. This continuous action enables real-time polarization imaging with high time efficiency, as all polarization states are captured in a single moment rather than requiring multiple discrete acquisition steps.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pixel is pre-configured with its own tunable polarizer and event sensor, enabling immediate capture of polarization information without requiring sequential processing. This preliminary setup at the pixel level allows the system to efficiently acquire polarization images in real-time, significantly reducing acquisition time compared to conventional methods.
3Measurement precision
If conventional polarization imaging systems are used, then polarization images can be acquired, but spatial resolution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging array is divided into multiple pixels, with each pixel containing its own tunable polarizer and event sensor. This segmentation allows each pixel to independently capture polarization information at high spatial resolution, eliminating the need for complex post-processing to reconstruct polarization images from fewer, lower-resolution images.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pixel creates an independent copy of the polarization information at its location, with its own tunable polarizer and event sensor. This replication of measurement capability at every pixel ensures high spatial resolution is maintained across the entire image, avoiding the resolution loss that occurs when conventional systems aggregate information from multiple lower-resolution images.
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 achieves a sufficient spatial and temporal resolution, allowing for efficient acquisition of polarization images without loss of information, and enables the system to operate without saturation even in scenes with high dynamic range.
Implementation Method 1
a set of tunable polarizers configured to adjust a polarization of the light in response to an electric signal
Implementation Method 2
each imaging element is configured to convert light into an electric signal
Implementation Method 3
a set of polarization filters
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally pertains to a polarization imaging portion having a plurality of imaging elements, wherein each imaging element is configured to convert light into an electric signal, the polarization imaging portion further including: a set of event sensors configured to detect an event being indicative of an intensity change of the light; a set of polarization filters; and a set of tunable polarizers configured to adjust a polarization of the light in response to an electric signal, wherein each polarization filter of the set of polarization filters is associated with a respective tunable polarizer of the set of tunable polarizers, thereby configuring a set of tunable polarization filters, such that the set of tunable polarization filters is associated with the set of event sensors.