Spatially-variant Wavelength-selective Optical Filter for Multispectral Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical filters lack the ability to efficiently analyze and filter light across varying wavelengths and angles, limiting their effectiveness in applications such as multispectral detection and biometric analysis.
Innovation Solution
The optical device incorporates a wavelength-selective optical filter with spatially-variant written regions and an angle-selective filter, allowing for precise control of light transmission across different areas, enabling enhanced spectral analysis and detection capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional optical filter is used, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to analyze and filter light across varying wavelengths and angles is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The optical filter is divided into multiple spatially-variant written regions, where each region has different optical properties (transmission spectra) tailored to specific wavelength ranges. This allows different parts of the filter to perform different spectral analysis functions simultaneously, enabling multi-wavelength detection without requiring multiple separate filters.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical filter is segmented into multiple discrete written regions with distinct transmission characteristics. Each written region can be independently optimized for specific wavelength bands, allowing the system to analyze multiple spectral regions through a single filter component rather than using a complex assembly of multiple filters.
2Measurement precision
If spatially-variant written regions are added to the optical filter, then spectral analysis capability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple spectral filtering functions are merged into a single optical filter by creating spatially-variant written regions within one filter substrate. This integration allows the system to achieve high spectral resolution through multiple transmission spectra in one component, avoiding the complexity of assembling and aligning multiple separate filters.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the written regions are made larger than the pixels, then the light gathering capability is improved, but the spatial resolution may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The filter design transitions from a point-to-point spatial mapping to an area-to-pixel mapping by creating written regions larger than individual pixels. This dimensional change allows each pixel to receive integrated light from a broader area, improving light gathering capability while the spectral information is preserved through the wavelength-selective properties of the written regions.
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 configuration improves the device's ability to gather and analyze optical data, particularly in multispectral applications, by allowing for varied transmission spectra and angle-dependent light filtering, enhancing detection power and spectral resolution.
Implementation Method 1
Optical filters may reflect or absorb certain portions of incident light and transmit other portions of incident light
Implementation Method 2
Layers within an optical filter may also differ in wavelength selectivity, optical transmittance, optical clarity, optical haze and index of refraction
Implementation Method 3
an angle-selective filter can be in optical communication with the optical sensor and optical filter
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device is disclosed and includes an optical sensor, a plurality of photosensitive pixels disposed on the optical sensor, a wavelength-selective optical filter in optical communication with the photosensitive pixels, and a plurality of spatially-variant written regions disposed in the optical filter, the written regions having a transmission spectrum and each of the written regions being larger than each of the pixels.