Near-infrared time-of-flight cameras and imaging

• US 10,677,774 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2019
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omni Medsci, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omni Medsci, Inc.
• Inventors: Islam, Mohammed N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rahman, Md M
• Application Number:
  US16/540,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20190368925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 300 Days
• Field of Search: 356300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/146 for optical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/02 specially adapted for a particular organ or body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/104 Monochromatic plural sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/2826 Multispectral imaging, e.g. filter imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/108 for measurement in the infrared range
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/14 using refracting elements, e.g. prisms G01J3/18, G01J3/26 take precedence prisms per se G02B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/1838 Holographic gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 : Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/42 : Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry beam switching arrangements G01J3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/453 : by correlation of the amplitudes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/38 : by using light G01M3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3513 : Open path with an instrumental source
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/399 : Diode laser
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 : for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 : for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 : using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/39 : using tunable lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/88 : Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/061 : Sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 : LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/08 : Optical fibres; light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/12 : Circuits of general importance; Signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/02 : Food
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/15 : Medicinal preparations ; Physical properties thereof, e.g. dissolubility
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/442 : Resins; Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/49 : Blood chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/302 : in an optical fibre

Abstract

A smart phone or tablet includes laser diodes configured to be pulsed and generate near-infrared light between 700-2500 nanometers. Lenses direct the light to a sample. A detection system includes a photodiode array with pixels coupled to CMOS transistors, and is configured to receive light reflected from the sample, to be synchronized to the light from the laser diodes, and to perform a time-of-flight measurement of a time difference between light from the laser diodes and light reflected from the sample. The detection system is configured to convert light received while the laser diodes are off into a first signal, and light received while at least one laser diodes is on, which includes light reflected from the sample, into a second signal. The smart phone or tablet is configured to difference the first signal and the second signal and to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image using the time-of-flight measurement.

Claims

1. A remote sensing system, comprising:

an array of laser diodes configured to generate light having an initial light intensity and one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers, and wherein at least a portion of the array of laser diodes comprises one or more Bragg reflectors;

one or more scanners comprising a moving mirror configured to receive a portion of the light from the array of laser diodes and to direct the portion of the light from the array of laser diodes to an object, wherein the moving mirror is configured to scan the received portion of the light across at least a part of the object;

a detection system comprising a photodiode array with a plurality of pixels coupled to CMOS transistors, wherein at least a portion of the photodiode array comprises an indium gallium arsenide semiconductor;

wherein the detection system is configured to receive at least a portion of light reflected from the object, wherein the detection system is configured to be synchronized to the at least a portion of the array of laser diodes comprising Bragg reflectors;

wherein the detection system is further configured to perform a time-of-flight measurement, and wherein the detection system further comprises one or more spectral filters;

wherein the remote sensing system is configured to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping using at least a portion of the time-of-flight measurement;

wherein the remote sensing system is configured to improve signal-to-noise ratio of at least a portion of the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping by increasing light intensity of the array of laser diodes relative to the initial light intensity;

wherein the at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths falls within an eye safe window corresponding to an optical wavelength longer than 1400 nanometers; and

wherein the remote sensing system is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein the at least a portion of the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping is combined with global positioning system information, and wherein the remote sensing system is configured to communicate with a cloud.

2. The remote sensing system of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the array of laser diodes is configured to be pulsed, and wherein the time-of-flight measurement comprises measuring a time difference between the generated light from the at least a portion of the array of laser diodes and the at least a portion of light reflected from the object.

3. The remote sensing system of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the array of laser diodes is configured to modulate a continuous wave or a pulse, wherein the modulated continuous wave has a phase, and wherein the detection system is configured to lock onto the phase.

4. The remote sensing system of claim 1, wherein the remote sensing system is configured to use artificial intelligence in making decisions.

5. The remote sensing system of claim 4, wherein the remote sensing system is configured to perform pattern identification or classification, and wherein the remote sensing system is configured to apply a threshold function to a comparison with a stored data set.

6. The remote sensing system of claim 5, wherein the remote sensing system is at least in part configured for selection or identification of the object, and wherein the remote sensing system is configured to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the selection or identification by applying regression signal processing methodologies or multivariate techniques.

7. A remote sensing system, comprising:

one or more laser diodes configured to generate light having an initial light intensity and one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;

one or more scanners configured to receive a portion of the light from the one or more laser diodes and to direct the portion of the light from the one or more laser diodes to an object, wherein the one or more scanners are configured to scan the received portion of the light across at least a part of the object;

a detection system comprising a photodiode array comprising semiconductor material;

wherein the detection system is configured to receive at least a portion of light reflected from the object, wherein the detection system is configured to be synchronized to at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes;

wherein the detection system is further configured to perform a time-of-flight measurement, and wherein the detection system further comprises one or more spectral filters;

wherein the remote sensing system is configured to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping using at least a portion of the time-of-flight measurement;

wherein the remote sensing system is configured to improve signal-to-noise ratio of at least a portion of the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping by increasing light intensity of the one or more laser diodes relative to the initial light intensity; and

wherein the remote sensing system is configured to use artificial intelligence in making decisions; and

wherein the remote sensing system is at least in part configured for selection or identification of the object, wherein the remote sensing system is configured to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the selection or identification by applying regression signal processing methodologies or multivariate techniques.

8. The remote sensing system of claim 7, wherein the at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes is configured to be pulsed, and wherein the time-of-flight measurement comprises measuring a time difference between the generated light from the at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes and the at least a portion of light reflected from the object.

9. The remote sensing system of claim 7, wherein the at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes is configured to modulate a continuous wave, wherein the modulated continuous wave has a phase, and wherein the detection system is configured to lock onto the phase.

10. The remote sensing system of claim 7, wherein the remote sensing system is at least in part configured to perform pattern identification or classification, wherein the remote sensing system is configured to apply a threshold function to a comparison with a stored data set;

and

wherein the remote sensing system is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, and wherein the at least a portion of the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping is combined with global positioning system information, and wherein the remote sensing system is configured to communicate with a cloud.

11. The remote sensing system of claim 7, wherein at least some of the one or more laser diodes comprises one or more Bragg reflectors.

12. The remote sensing system of claim 11, wherein the at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths falls within an eye safe window corresponding to an optical wavelength longer than 1400 nanometers, and wherein the at least a portion of the photodiode array comprises indium gallium arsenide.

13. The remote sensing system of claim 7, wherein the detection system is further configured to:

generate a first signal responsive to light received while the one or more laser diodes is off; and

generate a second signal responsive to light received while at least part of the one or more laser diodes is on, the light received while at least part of the one or more laser diodes is on including at least some light reflected from the object; and

wherein the remote sensing system is configured to compare the first signal and the second signal and to generate the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping at least in part based on the comparison.

14. A remote sensing system, comprising:

one or more laser diodes configured to generate light having an initial light intensity and one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;

one or more scanners configured to receive a portion of the light from the one or more laser diodes and to direct the portion of the light from the one or more laser diodes to an object, wherein the one or more scanners are configured to scan the received portion of the light across at least a part of the object;

a detection system comprising a photodiode array comprising semiconductor material, wherein at least a portion of the photodiode array is coupled to an amplifier having a gain configured to improve detection sensitivity;

wherein the detection system is configured to receive at least a portion of light reflected from the object, wherein the detection system is configured to be synchronized to at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes;

wherein the detection system is further configured to perform a time-of-flight measurement, and wherein the detection system further comprises one or more spectral filters;

wherein the remote sensing system is configured to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping using at least a portion of the time-of-flight measurement;

wherein the remote sensing system is configured to improve signal-to-noise ratio of at least a portion of the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping by increasing light intensity of the one or more laser diodes relative to the initial light intensity;

wherein the remote sensing system is configured to use artificial intelligence in making decisions; and

wherein the remote sensing system is configured to perform pattern identification or classification, and wherein the remote sensing system is configured to apply a threshold function to a comparison with a stored data set.

15. The remote sensing system of claim 14, wherein the at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes is configured to be pulsed, and wherein the time-of-flight measurement comprises measuring a time difference between the generated light from the at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes and the at least a portion of light reflected from the object.

16. The remote sensing system of claim 14, wherein the at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes is configured to modulate a continuous wave, wherein the modulated continuous wave has a phase, and wherein the detection system is configured to lock onto the phase.

17. The remote sensing system of claim 14, wherein at least some of the one or more laser diodes comprises one or more Bragg reflectors.

18. The remote sensing system of claim 14, wherein the at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths falls within an eye safe window corresponding to an optical wavelength longer than 1400 nanometers, and wherein at least a portion of the photodiode array comprises indium gallium arsenide.

19. The remote sensing system of claim 14, wherein the remote sensing system is at least in part configured for selection or identification of the object, wherein the remote sensing system is configured to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the selection or identification by applying regression signal processing methodologies or multivariate techniques, and wherein the remote sensing system is configured to communicate with a cloud.

20. The remote sensing system of claim 14, wherein the detection system is further configured to:

generate a first signal responsive to light received while the one or more laser diodes is off; and

generate a second signal responsive to light received while at least part of the one or more laser diodes is on, the light received while at least part of the one or more laser diodes is on including at least some light reflected from the object; and

wherein the remote sensing system is configured to compare the first signal and the second signal and to generate the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping at least in part based on the comparison.