Method and apparatus for correcting crosstalk and spatial resolution for multichannel imaging
First Claim
1. A method for processing signals from different channels in a multi-channel digital imaging system, said signals comprising image signal data, comprising steps of:
- (a) determining spatial alignment offsets for the image signal data;
(b) aligning the image signal data by applying the spatial alignment offsets to the image signal data, to produce aligned image signal data;
(c) determining spectral crosstalk reduction coefficients; and
(d) applying the spectral crosstalk coefficients to the aligned image signal data, for spectral correction thereof
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Abstract
A multichannel imaging system generates an ensemble of images for each field of view of an object. Each image in the ensemble is intended to contain information from only one source among a plurality of sources for the object. However, due to crosstalk, at least a portion of the signal from a first source appears in a channel intended for a second source. Because the accuracy of the correction will be degraded if the images in an ensemble are spatially misaligned with respect to one another, the spatial offset between images is determined and a correction is applied to substantially eliminate the offset. Then, a correction to the signals is determined to substantially reduce the contributions to the signal in a channel from the signals in other channels. The signal processing can be employed to process the output signals for each of a plurality of different disclosed imaging systems.
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Citations
72 Claims
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1. A method for processing signals from different channels in a multi-channel digital imaging system, said signals comprising image signal data, comprising steps of:
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(a) determining spatial alignment offsets for the image signal data;
(b) aligning the image signal data by applying the spatial alignment offsets to the image signal data, to produce aligned image signal data;
(c) determining spectral crosstalk reduction coefficients; and
(d) applying the spectral crosstalk coefficients to the aligned image signal data, for spectral correction thereof - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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19. A method for reducing crosstalk among a plurality of signals from a plurality of sources, each signal being assigned to a separate channel and primarily containing information corresponding to a different source among the plurality of sources, comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying spatial corrections to correct any misalignment of the signals between channels, such that corresponding signals from different sources in the plurality of channels are aligned; and
(b) for each channel, substantially reducing erroneous contributions to the signal assigned to the channel from others of the plurality of signals.
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21. A method for correcting errors in a multichannel signal, the multichannel signal comprising an ensemble of related signals used to produce images for different channels, wherein each signal is associated with a different channel and is intended to provide information from only one source, comprising the steps of:
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(a) aligning the signals in the ensemble relative to each other, such that when images produced from the signals are displayed, each image produced from a signal in the ensemble is substantially aligned with images produced from other signals in the ensemble;
(b) determining spectral crosstalk corrections suitable for correcting channel-to-channel crosstalk between signals of the ensemble; and
(c) applying the spectral crosstalk corrections to the signals associated with the different channels, to correct for the channel-to-channel crosstalk between the signals. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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47. A method for correcting errors in a multichannel imaging system, wherein each channel has signal information relating to an image of an object, comprising the steps of:
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(a) focusing light from the object along a collection path;
(b) dispersing the light that is traveling along the collection path into a plurality of light beams, such that each light beam corresponds to a different source on the object;
(c) focusing each of the light beams to produce respective images for the light beams;
(d) providing at least one detector disposed to receive the respective images and in response, generating an output signal corresponding to each image;
(e) correcting misalignment of the images on said at least one detector to within sub-pixel resolution, so that all of the output signals are substantially aligned in time; and
(f) substantially reducing crosstalk contributions to each output signal from other output signals.
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48. A method for correcting errors in a multichannel imaging system, wherein each channel is intended to contain signal information relating to an image of an object, comprising the steps of:
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(a) focusing light from the object along a collection path;
(b) dispersing the light that is traveling along the collection path into a plurality of light beams, such that each light beam corresponds to a different source;
(c) focusing each of the light beams to produce respective images for the light beams;
(d) providing at least one detector disposed to receive the respective images and in response, generating an output signal corresponding to each image;
(e) correcting misalignment of the images on said at least one detector, so that all of the output signals are substantially aligned in time; and
(f) substantially reducing crosstalk contributions to each output signal from other output signals.
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54. A multichannel imaging system for generating an ensemble of images from an object for each field of view of the object, wherein each image in the ensemble contains information from substantially only one source, comprising:
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(a) a collection lens disposed so that light traveling from the object passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path;
(b) a dispersing component disposed in the collection path so as to receive the light that has passed through the collection lens, dispersing the light into a plurality of light beams, each light beam being directed away from the dispersing component in a different predetermined direction;
(c) an imaging lens disposed to receive the light beams from the dispersing component, thereby producing said ensemble of images, each image being produced from a different one of the light beams and being projected by the imaging lens toward a different predetermined location;
(d) a multichannel detector disposed to receive the plurality of images produced by the imaging lens, the multichannel detector producing a plurality of output signals, such that a separate output signal is produced for each of said light beams; and
(e) means for processing the output signals to;
(i) correct the output signals for any misalignment between the images in the ensemble on the multichannel detector to within;
sub-pixel resolution; and
(ii) reduce contributions from the output signals of other channels, to the output signal in each channel.
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55. A multichannel imaging system for generating an ensemble of images from an object having a plurality of field of views, for each field of view of the object, wherein each image in the ensemble contains information from substantially only one source, comprising:
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(a) a collection lens disposed so that light traveling from the object passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path;
(b) a dispersing component disposed in the collection path so as to receive the light that has passed through the collection lens, dispersing the light into a plurality of light beams, each light beam being directed away from the dispersing component in a different predetermined direction;
(c) an imaging lens disposed to receive the light beams from the dispersing component, thereby producing said ensemble of images, each image being produced from a different one of the light beams and being projected by the imaging lens toward a different predetermined location;
(d) a multichannel detector disposed to receive the plurality of images produced by the imaging lens, the multichannel detector producing a plurality of output signals, such that a separate output signal is produced for each of said light beams; and
(e) means for processing the output signals to;
(i) correct the output signals for any misalignment between the images in the ensemble on the multichannel detector; and
(ii) reduce contributions from the output signals of other channels, to the output signal in each channel. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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59. A multichannel imaging system for generating an ensemble of images of an object, wherein each image in the ensemble contains information from substantially only a single source from among a plurality of sources, comprising:
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(a) a first collection lens disposed so that light from the object passes through the first collection lens and travels along a first collection path;
(b) a first light dispersing element disposed in the first collection path so as to disperse the light that has passed through the first collection lens, producing a first source from among said plurality of sources;
(c) a first imaging lens disposed to receive light from the first source, producing a first image from the first source, said first image being a first one of said ensemble of images;
(d) a first detector disposed to receive said first image produced by the first imaging lens, and in response thereto, producing a first output signal;
(e) a second collection lens disposed so that light from the object passes through the second collection lens and travels along a second collection path different than the first collection path;
(f) a second light dispersing element disposed in the second collection path so as to disperse the light that has passed through the second collection lens, producing a second source from among said plurality of sources;
(g) a second imaging lens disposed to receive light from the second source, producing a second image from the second source, said second image comprising a second one of said ensemble of images;
(h) a second detector disposed to receive said second image produced by the second imaging lens, producing a second output signal; and
(i) means coupled to each detector, for processing the first and the second output signals to perform the following functions;
(i) correcting the output signals for misalignment between the images on the first and the second detector; and
(ii) substantially reducing contributions to each of the first and the second output signals from the other of the first and the second output signals.
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65. A multichannel imaging system for generating an ensemble of images of an object, wherein each image in the ensemble contains information from substantially only a single source from among a plurality of sources, comprising:
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(a) a collection lens disposed so that light traveling from the object passes through the collection lens and is focussed along a collection path;
(b) a dispersing component that receives the light from the collection lens and disperses the light into a plurality of light beams, as a function of a plurality of different discriminable characteristics of the light, each of said plurality of light beams corresponding to a different one of said plurality of sources;
(c) at least one pixilated detector, (d) an imaging lens that focuses each of the plurality of light beams on said at least one pixilated detector, producing a respective image corresponding to a different one of the plurality of light beams, each image being one of said ensemble of images, said at least one pixilated detector providing an output signal for each respective image; and
(e) a signal processor coupled to receive the output signals from said at least one pixilated detector, said signal processor processing the output signals to;
(i) correct the output signals for any misalignment between the respective images on said at least one pixilated detector; and
(ii) substantially reducing crosstalk between the output signals. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. An article of manufacture adapted for use with a computer, comprising:
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(a) a memory medium; and
(b) a plurality of machine instructions, which are stored on the memory medium, said plurality of machine instructions when executed by a computer, causing the computer to;
(i) correct a signal misalignment between a set of related signals to within sub-pixel resolution, wherein each one of the set of related signals primarily contains information corresponding to a different specific source; and
(ii) substantially reduce crosstalk contributions to each of the signals from other of the signals in the set of related signals.
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71. An article of manufacture adapted for use with a processor, comprising:
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(a) a memory medium; and
(b) a plurality of machine instructions, which are stored on the memory medium, said plurality of machine instructions when executed by a processor, causing the processor to;
(i) correct a signal misalignment between a set of related signals, wherein each one of the set of related signals primarily contains information corresponding to a different specific source; and
(ii) substantially reduce crosstalk contributions to each of the signals from other of the signals in the set of related signals.
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72. A system for reducing crosstalk among a plurality of related signals in a set, each one of the set of related signals primarily containing information corresponding to a specific different source from among a plurality of different sources, comprising:
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(a) a memory in which a plurality of machine instructions defining the parent application are stored; and
(b) a processor that is coupled to the memory to access the machine instructions, said processor executing said machine instructions and thereby implementing a plurality of functions, including;
(i) correcting a signal misalignment between the plurality of related signals, each one of the plurality of related signals in the set is substantially aligned with other of the plurality of related signals in the set; and
(ii) for each one of the plurality of related signals in the set, reducing crosstalk contributions from other of the plurality of related signals.
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Specification