WAVELENGTH DISCRIMINATING IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20140375776A1
• Filed: 03/19/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of North Carolina At Charlotte (University of North Carolina System)
• Original Assignee: University of North Carolina At Charlotte (University of North Carolina System)
• Inventors: ABOLBASHARI, Mehrdad, FARAHI, Faramarz
• Granted Patent: US 10,007,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/49
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/004 fixed arrays, e.g. switchable aperture arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0064 multi-spectral or wavelength-selective arrangements, e.g. wavelength fan-out, chromatic profiling G02B21/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/005 for correction of secondary colour or higher-order chromatic aberrations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0075 with means for altering, e.g. increasing, the depth of field or depth of focus
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4211 correcting chromatic aberrations G02B27/0056, G02B27/4222, G02B27/4227 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/25 using two or more image sensors with different characteristics other than in their location or field of view, e.g. having different resolutions or colour pickup characteristics; using image signals from one sensor to control the characteristics of another sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2209/048 having several pick-up sensors

Abstract

The present disclosure provides wavelength discriminating imaging systems and methods that spatially separate (over different depths) the wavelength constituents of an image using a dispersive lens system or element, such that this spectral information may be exploited and used. The wavelength constituents of an image are deconstructed and identified over different depths using a dispersive lens system or element.

Claims

1. A spectral imaging system, comprising:

a dispersive element operable for separating wavelengths associated with an image by distance;

an algorithm operable for identifying the wavelengths associated with the image using the distance; and

one or more sensors operable for determining intensity at different wavelengths.

2. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, wherein the dispersive element comprises one or more lenses and a dispersive medium.

3. The spectral imaging system of claim 2, wherein the dispersive medium comprises one or more dispersive lenses.

4. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, wherein the dispersive element comprises one or more lenses with dispersion.

5. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a light field camera.

6. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a microlens array.

7. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising an array of dispersive lenses.

8. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a translation mechanism operable for moving the one or more sensors and one or more lenses.

9. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a lens array having varying focal lengths.

10. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a lens array having varying displacements with respect to a lens array plane.

11. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of lens arrays having varying focal lengths and varying displacements with respect to a lens array plane.

12. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a lens system and one or more beamsplitters/image splitters operable for dividing a beam/image into a plurality of beams/images.

13. The spectral imaging system of claim 12, further comprising one or more filters operable for separating wavelengths.

14. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a profilometry algorithm operable for acquiring both depth and spectral information.

15. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising one of a 2D or 3D grayscale imaging system or a 2D or 3D color imaging system.

16. A spectral imaging system, comprising one or more of a faceplate and a flexible fiber bundle operable for converting a 3D scene or object into a 2D scene or object.

17. The spectral imaging system of claim 16, further comprising a beamsplitter/image splitter.

18. The spectral imaging system of claim 16, further comprising one or more of a faceplate and a flexible fiber bundle including an integrated beamsplitter/image splitter.

19. The spectral imaging system of claim 16, further comprising a beamsplitter/image splitter, wherein one or more outputs of the beamsplitter/image splitter are used in combination with one of a 2D or 3D grayscale imaging system or a 2D or 3D color imaging system.

20. The spectral imaging system of claim 16, further comprising a beamsplitter/image splitter, wherein one or more outputs of the beamsplitter/image splitter are used in combination with a spectral imaging system to improve spatial and wavelength resolution, reduce or eliminate unwanted aberration, increase confidence levels, and reduce error rates.

21. The spectral imaging system of claim 16, further comprising one more filters operable for separating wavelengths.

22. The spectral imaging system of claim 16, further comprising two or more spectral imaging systems each operable over a specific wavelength range.

23. A spectral imaging method, comprising:

providing a dispersive element operable for separating wavelengths associated with an image by distance;

providing an algorithm operable for identifying the wavelengths associated with the image using the distance; and

providing one or more sensors operable for determining intensity at different wavelengths.

24. The spectral imaging method of claim 23, wherein the dispersive element comprises one or more lenses and a dispersive medium.

25. The spectral imaging method of claim 24, wherein the dispersive medium comprises one or more dispersive lenses.

26. The spectral imaging method of claim 23, wherein the dispersive element comprises one or more lenses with dispersion.

27. The spectral imaging method of claim 23, further comprising providing a light field camera.

28. The spectral imaging method of claim 23, further comprising providing a microlens array.

29. The spectral imaging method of claim 23, further comprising providing an array of dispersive lenses.

30. The spectral imaging method of claim 23, further comprising providing a translation mechanism operable for moving the one or more sensors and one or more lenses.

31. The spectral imaging method of claim 23, further comprising providing a lens array having varying focal lengths.

32. The spectral imaging method of claim 23, further comprising providing a lens array having varying displacements with respect to a lens array plane.

33. The spectral imaging method of claim 23, further comprising providing a plurality of lens arrays having varying focal lengths and varying displacements with respect to a lens array plane.

34. The spectral imaging method of claim 23, further comprising providing a lens system and one or more beamsplitters/image splitters operable for dividing a beam/image into a plurality of beams/images.

35. The spectral imaging method of claim 34, further comprising providing one or more filters operable for separating wavelengths.

36. The spectral imaging method of claim 23, further comprising providing a profilometry algorithm operable for acquiring both depth and spectral information.

37. The spectral imaging method of claim 23, further comprising providing one of a 2D or 3D grayscale imaging system or a 2D or 3D color imaging system.

38. A spectral imaging method, comprising providing a spectral imaging system and one or more of a faceplate and a flexible fiber bundle.

39. The spectral imaging method of claim 38, further comprising providing a beamsplitter/image splitter.

40. The spectral imaging method of claim 38, further comprising providing one or more of a faceplate and a flexible fiber bundle including an integrated beamsplitter/image splitter.

41. The spectral imaging method of claim 38, further comprising providing a beamsplitter/image splitter, wherein one or more outputs of the beamsplitter/image splitter are used in combination with one of a 2D or 3D grayscale imaging system or a 2D or 3D color imaging system.

42. The spectral imaging method of claim 38, further comprising providing a beamsplitter/image splitter, wherein one or more outputs of the beamsplitter/image splitter are used in combination with a spectral imaging system to improve spatial and wavelength resolution, reduce or eliminate unwanted aberration, increase confidence levels, and reduce error rates.

43. The spectral imaging method of claim 38, further comprising providing one more filters operable for separating wavelengths.

44. The spectral imaging method of claim 38, further comprising providing two or more spectral imaging systems each operable over a specific wavelength range.

45. A confocal imaging system, comprising:

a light source providing two or more wavelengths; and

a dispersive lens system reducing or eliminating vertical scanning.

46. The confocal imaging system of claim 45, wherein the light source comprises a white light source.

47. The confocal imaging system of claim 45, wherein the light source comprises a broadband light source.

48. The confocal imaging system of claim 45, wherein the light source comprises a tunable laser providing the two or more wavelengths.

49. The confocal imaging system of claim 45, wherein the light source comprises two or more diode lasers providing the two or more wavelengths, respectively.

50. The confocal imaging system of claim 45, wherein the polarity of the light source is controllable.

51. The confocal imaging system of claim 45, comprising three red, green, and blue lasers and an RGB color camera to capture three wavelengths simultaneously.