Image capture with spatial light modulator and single-cell photosensor
First Claim
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1. An optics unit for capturing an image, comprising:
- a means for directing image-reflected light to a spatial light modulator;
a spatial light modulator (SLM) comprised of an array of reflective pixel elements, which are individually addressable and switchable, such that a series of pixel-reflected light beams are reflected from said SLM as different pixels are switched;
a control circuit for addressing and switching said SLM;
a means for focussing said pixel-reflected light to a photosensor; and
a photosensor for detecting a single pixel-reflected light beam and for generating an electrical signal proportional to the intensity of said pixel-reflected light.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for capturing an image, using a spatial light modulator (SLM) 11 and a single-element sensor 15. The SLM 11 is an array of individually switchable pixel elements, which reflect light toward the sensor if switched to an "on" position. As each pixel element is switched on, light from that pixel element is directed to the sensor 15. For each pixel element, the sensor 15 generates a signal proportional to the light associated with that pixel element, the result being a series of signals representing at least one image frame. The process may be repeated for a number of image frames for generating moving pictures.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An optics unit for capturing an image, comprising:
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a means for directing image-reflected light to a spatial light modulator; a spatial light modulator (SLM) comprised of an array of reflective pixel elements, which are individually addressable and switchable, such that a series of pixel-reflected light beams are reflected from said SLM as different pixels are switched; a control circuit for addressing and switching said SLM; a means for focussing said pixel-reflected light to a photosensor; and a photosensor for detecting a single pixel-reflected light beam and for generating an electrical signal proportional to the intensity of said pixel-reflected light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of using a spatial light modulator and at least one single-cell sensor to capture an image in the form of an electrical signal, comprising the steps of:
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directing image-reflected light from an image to a spatial light modulator (SLM); switching a pixel element of said SLM to an on position, such that said image-reflected light is reflected by said pixel element as a pixel-reflected beam; focussing said pixel-reflected beam onto a single-cell photosensor; detecting said pixel-reflected beam with said single-cell photosensor; generating an electrical signal proportional to said pixel-reflected light, using the output of said sensor; and repeating said switching and detecting steps for a series of said pixel elements until a number of said pixel elements, representing an image frame containing said image, have been switched. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An image capturing system, comprising:
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an optics unit for capturing an image having a means for directing image-reflected light to a spatial light modulator (SLM), a SLM comprised of an array of reflective pixel elements, which are individually addressable and switchable, such that a series of pixel-reflected light beams are reflected from said SLM as different pixels are switched, a means for focussing said pixel-reflected light to a photosensor, and a photosensor for detecting a single pixel-reflected light beam and for generating an electrical signal proportional to the intensity of said pixel-reflected light; an analog to digital converter for converting said electrical signal to a digital signal; and a processor for performing image processing operations on said digital signal. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification