Methods and systems for distinguishing point sources
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical system to sense incident light, the optical system comprising:
- an optic exhibiting a point-spread function, the optic to produce a point-spread response responsive to the incident light;
rows of pixels, each pixel to sample a respective region of the point-spread response, each of the rows of pixels producing a row of sample values, the rows of sample values providing an image frame; and
at least one processor to;
read the rows of sample values within the image frame; and
use a difference in relative intensity between the successively read rows of sample values within the image frame to identify modulation information.
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Abstract
An optical smart sensor combines a phase grating with a rolling shutting to distinguish between modulated point sources. Employing a phase grating in lieu of a lens dramatically reduces size and cost, while using timing information inherent to imaging techniques that used a rolling shutter allows the smart sensor to distinguish point sources quickly and easily using a single frame of image data.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An optical system to sense incident light, the optical system comprising:
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an optic exhibiting a point-spread function, the optic to produce a point-spread response responsive to the incident light; rows of pixels, each pixel to sample a respective region of the point-spread response, each of the rows of pixels producing a row of sample values, the rows of sample values providing an image frame; and at least one processor to; read the rows of sample values within the image frame; and use a difference in relative intensity between the successively read rows of sample values within the image frame to identify modulation information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for identifying a modulated point source, the method comprising:
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exposing rows of pixels to a pattern from the modulated point source; sampling the pattern using the rows of pixels; locating a point-spread response in the sampled pattern, the sampled pattern having a row of sample values for each of the rows of pixels; accumulating an intensity value for each of the rows of sample values; and demodulating the accumulated intensity values. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An optical system to sense incident light, the optical system comprising:
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an optical grating exhibiting a point-spread function, the optical grating to produce a diffractive response to the incident light; rows of pixels, each pixel to sample a respective region of the diffractive response, each of the rows of pixels producing a row of sample values; and means for a processor to use a difference in relative intensity between successively read rows of sample values within a frame to identify modulation information.
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Specification