Skin Fluorescence Imaging Without Optical Filters

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing skin fluorescence measurement methods face challenges in accurately measuring fluorescence due to the reduction of fluorescence over time and require expensive UV light sources and optical filters, leading to inefficiency and high manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device and method that utilize a visible light source and a UV light source to capture images before and after UV exposure, applying compensation constants to remove skin visible reflection components from UV images, thereby measuring fluorescence without the need for expensive filters and repeated UV exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If UV light source and optical filter are used to measure skin fluorescence, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin fluorescence measurement accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual reference image by copying and processing a visible light image, applying it to the UV image to remove reflection components. This replaces the need for expensive optical filters while achieving accurate fluorescence measurement through computational processing of captured images

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical filter system with a computational image processing system. Instead of using physical filters to separate fluorescence from reflection, the system uses algorithms to subtract reflected light components from UV images, achieving the same measurement goal without expensive optical components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If UV light is emitted repeatedly to measure fluorescence decrement over time, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluorescence decrement measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary processing by capturing a visible light image before UV exposure and using it to create a reference for reflection removal. This preliminary action enables accurate fluorescence measurement from a single UV image without requiring repeated measurements over time, thus reducing measurement time while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If optical filter is used to detect skin fluorescence, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluorescence detection accuracyVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the reflection component from the UV image by using the visible light image as a reference. This extraction approach removes the need for optical filters and simplifies the device structure, achieving accurate fluorescence detection through software-based component separation rather than hardware filtering

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 allows for rapid and accurate measurement of skin fluorescence by eliminating the need for expensive filters and reducing measurement time, while maintaining precision by compensating for visible light reflections.

Implementation Method 1

a first brightness corresponding to a first image captured by the camera while light of the first light source is emitted to a skin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a second brightness corresponding to a second image captured by the camera while light of the second light source is emitted to the skin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

measure fluorescence by removing the obtained skin visible reflection component from a fourth image captured by the camera while light of the second light source is emitted to the skin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentUS12564353B2Electronic apparatus and method for measuring skin fluorescence using electronic apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.03.03 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic device includes a first light source, a second light source, a camera, a memory for storing one or more instructions, and a processor configured to execute the one or more instructions to obtain a compensation constant based on a difference between a first brightness corresponding to a first image captured while light of the first light source is emitted to a skin and a second brightness corresponding to a second image captured while light of the second light source is emitted to the skin, obtain a skin visible reflection component caused by the second light source by applying the compensation constant to a third image captured in while light of the first light source is emitted to the skin, and measure fluorescence by removing the obtained skin visible reflection component from a fourth image captured while light of the second light source is emitted to the skin.