SELECTIVE WAVELENGTH IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20160003675A1
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• 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 9,945,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1213 Filters in general, e.g. dichroic, band
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/2826 Multispectral imaging, e.g. filter imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0208 using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/021 using plane or convex mirrors, parallel phase plates, or particular reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0229 using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators or spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0278 Control or determination of height or angle information for sensors or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/12 Generating the spectrum; Monochromators
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/18 using diffraction elements, e.g. grating gratings per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/32 Investigating bands of a spectrum in sequence by a single detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/957 Light-field or plenoptic cameras or camera modules

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 element or lens, such that this spectral information may be exploited and used. The wavelength constituents of an image are deconstructed and identified over different depths using the dispersive element or lens.

Claims

1. A spectral imaging system, comprising:

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

a sensor operable for determining a given wavelength from the separated wavelengths using the distance.

2. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, wherein the dispersive element comprises a lens and a dispersive medium.

3. The spectral imaging system of claim 2, wherein the dispersive medium comprises a dispersive lens.

4. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, wherein the dispersive element comprises a plurality of lenses separated by a dispersive medium.

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

6. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising an imaging system.

7. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a confocal system.

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

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 lens and one or more beamsplitters operable for dividing a beam from the lens into a plurality of beams.

12. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising one or more filters operable for separating wavelengths.

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

14. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising one or more of a faceplate and a flexible fiber bundle operable for converting a three-dimensional image into a two-dimensional image.

15. The spectral imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a spatial mask having a variable thickness.

16. The spectral imaging system of claim 15, wherein each pixel or group of pixels of the spatial mask has a predetermined thickness such that the optical distance of each pixel or group of pixels from the dispersive element is determined, in part, by the predetermined thickness of each pixel or group of pixels.

17. The spectral image system of claim 15, wherein the spatial mask comprises a plurality of substantially planar surfaces.

18. The spectral image system of claim 15, wherein the spatial mask comprises a substantially curved surface.