Smartphone UV Reflectance Imaging via Intermediary Filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UV photography systems struggle to effectively capture and display ultraviolet light reflectance in real time, particularly due to limitations in lens materials and camera sensor sensitivity, which hinder accurate representation of UV radiation exposure on skin.
Innovation Solution
A smartphone-based ultraviolet light reflectance imaging system that utilizes a UV-pass filter and a digital sensor capable of sensing UV radiation, processing the data to display UV reflectance in real time using a predetermined color palette or gray scale, allowing users to monitor proper sunscreen application by distinguishing UV reflection and absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a smartphone camera is used for UV imaging, then real-time monitoring capability is achieved, but lens materials and camera sensors cannot effectively capture UV light
Solution Approach 1:
A UV-pass filter is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the camera sensor. This filter selectively transmits UV wavelengths while blocking visible light, enabling the smartphone camera to capture UV reflectance patterns that would otherwise be invisible to the standard camera sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the spectral parameters of the light being captured by using a UV-pass filter to modify the wavelength transmission characteristics. This allows the camera sensor to detect UV radiation by transforming the optical parameter spectrum to include UV wavelengths while excluding visible light.
2Device complexity
If standard camera sensors are used, then device complexity is minimized, but UV radiation detection capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The UV-pass filter serves as a simple intermediary addition to the existing smartphone camera system. It enables UV detection capability without requiring replacement of the entire sensor system, thus maintaining device simplicity while adding specialized functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The smartphone camera system is made multi-functional by adding the UV-pass filter, allowing the same device to perform both standard visible light photography and UV reflectance imaging. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate specialized UV imaging devices.
3Measurement precision
If UV-pass filter is added to smartphone camera, then UV light transmission is enabled, but visible light interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV-pass filter acts as a selective intermediary that mediates between UV light transmission and visible light blocking. It is positioned in the optical path to preferentially transmit UV wavelengths while absorbing or reflecting visible light, thus enabling UV imaging while minimizing visible light interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter applies different transmission properties to different wavelength regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. It exhibits high transmission quality for UV wavelengths while showing blocking properties for visible light, creating localized spectral selectivity that enables precise UV imaging conditions.
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 monitoring of UV radiation exposure on the skin, differentiating adequately covered and uncovered areas, thereby ensuring effective protection against UVA and UVB radiation.
Implementation Method 1
A smartphone-based ultraviolet light reflectance imaging system that utilizes a UV-pass filter and a digital sensor capable of sensing UV radiation
Implementation Method 2
a digital sensor capable of sensing UV radiation, processing the data to display UV reflectance in real time
Implementation Method 3
differentiating adequately covered and uncovered areas, thereby ensuring effective protection against UVA and UVB radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A method of monitoring ultraviolet radiation reflectance is provided for activating an ultraviolet radiation reflectance digital sensor and display monitor; capturing ultraviolet radiation reflectance passing through a lens onto the digital senor; analyzing ultraviolet radiation reflectance against a preloaded and predetermined color palate; generating a video image; and outputting the video image to the display monitor. A device is also provided for an ultraviolet radiation reflectance monitoring application which receives data from an ultraviolet radiation sensitive digital imaging plate installed on the device; wherein the application processes data received from the digital imaging plate and generates an output image of ultraviolet radiation reflectance to a video monitor communicatively connected to the device.