Multi-Wavelength Imaging via Wavelength-Selective Optical Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging methods face challenges in accurately registering images of multiple specific wavelength ranges, leading to reduced comparison accuracy and increased CPU calculation load, especially when using spectroscopic techniques that require complex encoding and re-formation processes.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus and method that utilizes an optical member, such as a prism or plane-parallel glass, to refract light of different wavelengths, allowing images to be acquired with the same optical axis and shifted by pixel pitch on a directional sensor with alternately arranged pixels, eliminating the need for image registration and reducing calculation load by ensuring light from the same subject position is received by different pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If images of multiple specific wavelength ranges are acquired through one imaging operation with multiple cameras, then images of different wavelength ranges can be acquired simultaneously, but accurate registration between the acquired images becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple wavelength-specific imaging functions into a single camera system by integrating a wavelength-selective optical member (prism or diffraction grating) and a multi-region sensor. This merging approach allows simultaneous acquisition of multiple wavelength images through one imaging operation while maintaining accurate spatial correspondence, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and registration accuracy maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sensor into multiple regions, with each region receiving light of a specific wavelength range through the wavelength-selective optical member. This segmentation allows each sensor region to capture images at different wavelengths simultaneously, enabling both high productivity (single operation) and accurate registration (spatial correspondence maintained through optical path design).
2Productivity
If compression sensing technique is used to re-form spectroscopically separated images, then images of multiple wavelength ranges can be acquired with one camera, but calculation processing becomes a heavy load for CPU and takes time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wavelength separation function from the image processing stage and implements it optically before detection. By using a wavelength-selective optical member to spatially separate different wavelength components before they reach the sensor, the system eliminates the need for complex computational reformation, thereby reducing CPU load and processing time while maintaining multi-wavelength imaging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the computational reformation process (software/mathematical processing) with an optical separation mechanism (prism or diffraction grating). This substitution moves the wavelength separation function from the digital processing domain to the optical domain, eliminating heavy CPU calculation loads and enabling real-time multi-wavelength imaging.
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 enables accurate comparison of images from different wavelength ranges without registration, reduces CPU processing load, and allows for real-time observation by ensuring that light from the same subject position is captured by separate pixels, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of image comparison.
Implementation Method 1
an optical member, such as a prism or plane-parallel glass, to refract light of different wavelengths, allowing images to be acquired with the same optical axis and shifted by pixel pitch
Data Source
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AI summary
According to the present invention, it is an object to provide an imaging apparatus and an imaging method in which there is no need for registration between images corresponding to a plurality of specific wavelengths, which is capable of acquiring images corresponding to a plurality of specific wavelengths based on light information at the same position of a subject so as to reduce the calculation load for acquiring the images corresponding to the plurality of specific wavelengths. The imaging apparatus (10) includes: an optical member (101) that refracts first light and second light having mutually different wavelengths of light with refractive indexes corresponding to the respective wavelengths so as to shift a position of a first image of the first light and a position of a second image of the second light; a light transmissive filter (103); and a directional sensor (17). The optical member shifts the position of the first image and the position of the second image on the directional sensor by one pitch of the pixels on the basis of a difference in refractive index due to a difference between the wavelength of the first light and the wavelength of the second light.