Multi-Spectral Imaging System Using Waveguide Light Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging devices using color filters to separate wavelength bands reduce light intensity and sensitivity due to absorption or reflection, limiting the downscaling of optical components and sensitivity of imaging systems.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system with a detector array of light-sensitive elements and wavelength separating units that spatially separate incident light into multiple bands along a line, allowing each light-sensitive element to detect a unique band without color filters, and a processing unit that forms clusters for signal summation via hardware binning to enhance sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional filters are used to separate wavelength bands, then wavelength discrimination is achieved, but light intensity and sensitivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional optical filters (mechanical/physical blocking system) with a waveguide-based wavelength separating unit that uses total internal reflection and refraction principles to redirect different wavelength bands to different pixels. This substitution allows wavelength discrimination without absorbing or blocking light, thereby maintaining light intensity and sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces waveguides as intermediary components between the incident light and the detector array. These waveguides act as mediators that selectively redirect different wavelength bands to different spatial positions on the detector, enabling wavelength discrimination without direct absorption or reflection losses associated with conventional filters.
2Measurement precision
If conventional filters are used to separate wavelength bands, then spectral information is obtained, but sensitivity of the imaging device is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional filter-based system with a waveguide-based wavelength separating unit that uses optical principles (total internal reflection, refraction) to redirect wavelengths. This substitution eliminates the light absorption and reflection losses inherent in filter-based systems, thereby maintaining or improving sensitivity while preserving spectral information capability.
3Illumination intensity
If a single waveguide-based light separating unit is used, then light sensitivity is increased, but flexibility in wavelength band assignment is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wavelength separation function into multiple independent waveguide-based units, each capable of separating light into different wavelength bands. This segmentation allows flexible assignment of wavelength bands to different pixel groups, enabling adaptability in spectral imaging applications while maintaining the light sensitivity benefits of waveguide-based separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the wavelength separation capability by introducing a second dimension of control through multiple waveguide units arranged in specific patterns. This allows independent assignment of wavelength bands to different spatial regions on the detector, providing flexibility in spectral imaging configurations while preserving the high light sensitivity achieved through waveguide-based separation.
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 system increases light sensitivity and improves signal-to-noise ratio by redirecting light without significant loss, enabling high-quality multi-spectral imaging with improved color representation and reduced noise.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of wavelength separating units wherein each wavelength separating unit is configured to spatially separate incident light within a wavelength range into a number of wavelength bands distributed along a line
Implementation Method 2
Based on a waveguiding light sorting principle, rather than based on the principle of absorption or reflection, incident light is not discarded from reaching the detector to any large extent, but rather split into a number of wavelength bands
Implementation Method 3
each light sensitive element is configured to generate a signal dependent on an intensity of light incident onto the light sensitive element
Implementation Method 4
a processing unit configured to define a number of mutually unique clusters of light sensitive elements for summing signals from the light sensitive elements within the respective clusters, wherein each cluster respectively forms a continuous area of the light sensitive elements
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~2
Figure 3
AI summary
According to an aspect of the present inventive concept there is provided an imaging system comprising: a detector comprising an array of light sensitive elements configured to generate signals dependent on light intensity incident onto the respective light sensitive elements; a plurality of wavelength separating units respectively configured to spatially separate light into a number of wavelength bands distributed along a straight line, each wavelength band being associated with a mutually unique light sensitive element; wherein each row and column is respectively associated with more than one wavelength separating unit; a processing unit configured to define a number of mutually unique clusters of light sensitive elements for summing signals therefrom within the respective clusters, wherein each cluster is associated with more than one wavelength separating unit, and wherein each cluster is associated with wavelength bands such that the summed signals represent a combination of spectral information of the wavelength bands, and wherein the processing unit is configured to perform hardware binning for summing the signals.