Photon counting imaging system
First Claim
1. An imaging device comprising:
- a first aperture associated with a first image plane;
a second aperture associated with a second image plane;
at least one first photon sensor configured to capture arrival of individual photons on the first image plane;
a plurality of second photon sensors configured to capture arrival of individual photons on the second image plane;
the first photon sensor configured to capture arrival locations and arrival times of the individual photons on the first image plane;
the second photon sensors configured to capture arrival locations and arrival times of the individual photons on the second image plane;
the second photon sensors configured to capture colors of the photons on the second image plane;
a stereoptic distance finder configured to identify source distance of image elements common to the first and second image planes;
a processor configured to correlate the identified source distances to photons within the image elements;
a memory configured to store the arrival times and arrival locations on each image plane of each captured photon;
the memory device configured to store the color of each photon on the second image plane;
the memory configured to store the identified source distances of the photons within the image elements;
at least one orientation sensor coupled to at least one of the first and second photon sensors, the orientation sensor configured to capture the orientation of the photon sensor in six degrees of freedom;
an image processor configured to select a time span, identify photons captured within the time span, define an image field, divide the image field into virtual pixels, and aggregate the colors of photons arriving within each virtual pixel within the time frame, to determine a color and intensity of the virtual pixel; and
the image processor configured to aggregate the virtual pixels disposed within the image field, to generate an image file of the virtual pixels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging device includes first and second photon sensors respectively capture arrival times and locations of individual photons on first and second image planes, while optionally capturing photon colors. A stereoptic distance finder identifies source distance of image elements common to both image planes, while a processor correlates the identified source distances to photons within the image elements. A memory stores the arrival times and locations, the color, and the identified source distances. An orientation sensor captures photon sensor orientation in six degrees of freedom. An image processor selects a time span, identifies photons captured within the time span, defines an image field, divides the image field into virtual pixels, and aggregates the colors of photons arriving within each virtual pixel within the time frame, to determine a color and intensity of the virtual pixel. The image processor also aggregates the virtual pixels to generate an image file.
115 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An imaging device comprising:
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a first aperture associated with a first image plane; a second aperture associated with a second image plane; at least one first photon sensor configured to capture arrival of individual photons on the first image plane; a plurality of second photon sensors configured to capture arrival of individual photons on the second image plane; the first photon sensor configured to capture arrival locations and arrival times of the individual photons on the first image plane; the second photon sensors configured to capture arrival locations and arrival times of the individual photons on the second image plane; the second photon sensors configured to capture colors of the photons on the second image plane; a stereoptic distance finder configured to identify source distance of image elements common to the first and second image planes; a processor configured to correlate the identified source distances to photons within the image elements; a memory configured to store the arrival times and arrival locations on each image plane of each captured photon; the memory device configured to store the color of each photon on the second image plane; the memory configured to store the identified source distances of the photons within the image elements; at least one orientation sensor coupled to at least one of the first and second photon sensors, the orientation sensor configured to capture the orientation of the photon sensor in six degrees of freedom; an image processor configured to select a time span, identify photons captured within the time span, define an image field, divide the image field into virtual pixels, and aggregate the colors of photons arriving within each virtual pixel within the time frame, to determine a color and intensity of the virtual pixel; and the image processor configured to aggregate the virtual pixels disposed within the image field, to generate an image file of the virtual pixels. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An imaging device comprising:
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an aperture defining an image plane; at least one photon sensor configured to detect arrival of individual photons on the image plane; the photon sensor configured to detect arrival locations and arrival times of the individual photons on the image plane; at least one orientation sensor configured to detect the orientation of the photon sensor; a processor configured to capture the orientation detected by the orientation sensor, and the arrival locations and arrival times of the photons detected by the photon sensor; a memory device configured to store the orientation, arrival locations and arrival times; the processor configured to select a time span, identify photons captured within the time span, define an image field corresponding to the image plane, divide the image field into virtual pixels, and aggregate the photons arriving within each virtual pixel within the time frame, to determine intensity of the virtual pixel; and the processor being configured to aggregate the virtual pixels disposed within the image field, to generate an image file of the virtual pixels. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for imaging, comprising:
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(a) detecting, with a photon sensor, arrival locations and arrival times of individual photons on an image plane; (b) detecting, with at least one orientation sensor coupled to the photon sensor, the orientation of the photon sensor during said detecting (a); (c) capturing and storing, with a processor and memory, the arrival locations and arrival times of the individual photons; (d) selecting a time span; (e) identifying photons captured within the time span; (f) defining an image field; (g) dividing the image field into virtual pixels; (h) aggregating the photons arriving within each virtual pixel within the time frame, to determine intensity of the virtual pixel; and (i) aggregating the virtual pixels disposed within the image field, to generate an image file of the virtual pixels. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An imaging device comprising:
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a first aperture associated with a first image plane; a second aperture associated with a second image plane; at least one first photon sensor configured to capture arrival of individual photons on the first image plane; at least one second photon sensor configured to capture arrival of individual photons on the second image plane; the first photon sensor configured to capture arrival locations and arrival times of the individual photons on the first image plane; the second photon sensor configured to capture arrival locations and arrival times of the individual photons on the second image plane; a stereoptic distance finder configured to identify source distance of image elements common to the first and second image planes; a processor configured to correlate the identified source distances to photons within the image elements; a memory configured to store the arrival times and arrival locations on each image plane of each captured photon; the memory configured to store the identified source distances of the photons within the image elements; an image processor configured to select a time span, identify photons captured within the time span, define an image field, divide the image field into virtual pixels, and aggregate the colors of photons arriving within each virtual pixel within the time frame, to determine an intensity of the virtual pixel; and the image processor configured to aggregate the virtual pixels disposed within the image field, to generate an image file of the virtual pixels. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification