Optical sensor device and image processing unit for measuring chemical concentrations, chemical saturations and biophysical parameters

• US 8,335,550 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2006
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cnoga Holdings Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cnoga Holdings Ltd.
• Inventors: Segman, Yosef
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US11/909,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20090299154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,459 Days
• Field of Search: 600/301, 600/322, 600/324, 600/407, 600/473, 600/476, 356/300, 702/23
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02141 Details of apparatus construction, e.g. pump units or housings therefor, cuff pressurising systems, arrangements of fluid conduits or circuits A61B5/02233, A61B5/0235 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4244 liver
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/444 Evaluating skin marks, e.g. mole, nevi, tumour, scar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/146 Imager structures

Abstract

Optical sensor devices, image processing devices, methods and computer readable code computer-readable storage media for detecting biophysical parameters, chemical concentrations, chemical saturations, vital signs and physiological information such as a malignant condition are provided. The optical sensor includes an array of photodetectors, where each photodetector is configured to detect a spectrum of light. Exemplary physiological parameters include but are not limited to a pulse rate, a biophysical or physiological property of skin, a cardiovascular property, a property related to an organ such as the liver or the kidneys, and a temperature fluctuation. Alternatively one or more parameters are detected from a food item such as food tissue, a consumable beverage such as an alcoholic beverage, a dairy product, wine, a baked good, a fruit and a vegetable.

Claims

1. An optical sensor device for measuring a concentration of at least one substance in or on a mammalian subject, the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to sense over time a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the array configured to obtain thereby spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a first tissue of the mammalian subject and for producing electric signals over time derived from a sequence of spatial temporal per pixel information for the color spaces of the first, second and third visible colors, the first, second and third visible colors having overlapping wavelengths, the array of photodetectors configured to sense the spectrum of light and produce the electric signals whether incident light incident on the first tissue from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signals derived from the sequence of spatial temporal per pixel information for the color spaces of the first, second and third visible colors to generate output, the output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and temporal and spatial variations, and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to spatial temporal per pixel information for at least another of the visible colors, the output indicative of at least one of a concentration and a concentration profile of at least one substance within or on the mammalian subject or a region thereof, by matching a level of the at least one of the concentration and concentration profile with the output by using a known correlation between known data points of per pixel information and at least one of the concentration and concentration profile of the at least one substance, the optical sensor device adapted to measure the concentration of the at least one substance in or on the mammalian subject whether the incident light incident on the first tissue from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source as a result of the processing unit recognizing signals derived from light from both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said concentration profile is selected from the group consisting of a spatial concentration profile and a temporal concentration profile.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said spatial concentration profile is a pigmentation concentration profile.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said processing unit is further operative to generate a medical diagnosis from said pigmentation concentration profile.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the concentration of a substance is a chemical concentration and said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of said chemical concentration.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said concentration of said substance is a concentration beneath a surface of said first tissue.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said concentration of said substance is a concentration in a localized region of said first tissue.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said concentration of said substance is a concentration in a layer of said first tissue.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said concentration of said substance is a concentration in a sub-tissue of said first tissue.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein a tissue surface smoothness is indicative of the concentration of the at least one substance and wherein the concentration is an undersurface concentration of the at least one substance.

11. The device of any of claims 6-10 wherein said electronic processing includes computing a smoothness function.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein:

a. said array of photodetectors is adapted to receive light including light reflected from said first tissue and to produce said electric signal in accordance with said received reflected light;

b. said processing unit is adapted to generate said indicative output in accordance with said electric signal derived from said reflected light.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein:

a. said array of photodetectors is adapted to receive light including light traversing said first tissue and to produce said electric signal in accordance with said received traversing light; and

b. said processing unit is adapted to generate said indicative output in accordance with said electric signal derived from said traversing light.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing includes generating an electronic image.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein said chemical concentration is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of a molecule and a chemical saturation.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein said chemical concentration is a local concentration.

18. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said tissue includes at least one of a matrix and a mass of solid tissue.

19. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said tissue includes tissue elements suspended in a fluid.

20. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said tissue includes tissue elements suspended in a bodily fluid.

21. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said tissue includes blood tissue.

22. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said local concentration of said substance within a second tissue of the mammalian subject.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein said second tissue is selected from the group consisting of soft tissue, hard tissue, skin, surface tissue, outer tissue, internal tissue, a membrane, fetal tissue and endothelial tissue.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein said first tissue is selected from the group consisting of soft tissue, hard tissue, skin tissue, surface tissue, outer tissue, internal tissue, a membrane, fetal tissue, liquid tissue, and endothelial tissue.

25. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is configured to generate output indicative a parameter selected from the group consisting of a glucose level, a pH level, a CO2 level, an oxygen level, an oxygen saturation level, red cells concentration, a CO2 saturation level, a bilirubin level, a skin saturation level, a concentration or saturation of salt, a concentration of an oily substance, and a urea nitrogen level.

26. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a said concentration within bodily fluid of the mammalian subject.

27. The optical sensor device of claim 26 wherein said bodily fluid is selected from the group consisting of blood and sweat.

28. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said concentration within a circulatory system of the mammalian subject.

29. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said concentration within a blood vessel of said mammalian subject.

30. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said local concentration within a capillary of said mammalian subject.

31. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is dissolved or partially dissolved substance within a bodily fluid within the mammalian subject.

32. The optical sensor device of claim 31, wherein said dissolved or partially dissolved substance is an ion.

33. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of pH.

34. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is a number of red cells in a cubic millimeter.

35. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is configured to provide skin risk diagnostic.

36. The optical sensor device of claim 35, wherein said skin risk diagnostic is a skin tissue biophysical diagnostic of pigments over and under the skin surface for suggesting pigment treatment.

37. The optical sensor device of claim 35, wherein said skin diagnostic is a temporarily risk factor for exposing the skin to a light and heat such as direct and/or non direct sun rays for suggesting appropriate sun protection.

38. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said concentration of said substance is a chemical concentration.

39. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is a waste product.

40. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is a polymer.

41. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is a complexed polymer.

42. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is a biopolymer.

43. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is a protein.

44. The optical sensor device of claim 43, wherein said protein is a fibrous protein.

45. The optical sensor device of claim 43, wherein said protein is a structural protein.

46. The optical sensor device of claim 43, wherein said protein is a proline-rich protein.

47. The optical sensor device of claim 43, wherein said protein has a coiled-coil region.

48. The optical sensor device of claim 43, wherein said protein is present in appreciable quantities in the skin.

49. The optical sensor device of any of claims 43-48, wherein said substance is a collagen.

50. The optical sensor device of any of claim 1, wherein said substance is a complexed protein.

51. The optical sensor device of claim 50, wherein said complexed protein is selected from the group consisting of a hemoglobin-oxygen complex and a hemoglobin-carbon dioxide complex.

52. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said substance is a saccharide.

53. The optical sensor device of claim 52 wherein said saccharide is glucose.

54. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said local concentration of said substance is indicative of a physiological condition in the subject selected from the group consisting of a condition of the liver, a condition of the kidney cancer, a skin cancer, a blood cancer, a nutritional deficiency, a loss of blood, a malignant condition of bone marrow, dehydration, a cardiovascular condition, hepatitis, a physiological condition of a muscle, a presence of a microbe, a presence of an infectious microbe, an autoimmune condition, a presence of a fungus, and a pulmonary condition.

55. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said sensor device includes an image sensor.

56. The optical sensor device of claim 55 wherein said image sensor is selected from the group consisting of a CMOS image sensor and a CCD image sensor.

57. The optical sensor device of claim 55 wherein said image sensor is selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, an IR sensor, a visible light sensor, and a UV sensor.

58. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said array of photodetectors is configured to sense light of a wavelength between about 280 nm to about 4500 nm.

59. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said array of photodetectors is configured to sense light of a wavelength between about 280 nm to about 3800 nm.

60. The optical sensor device of claim 1 further comprising:

c) a light source for transmitting a spectrum of light to or through said first tissue of said subject.

61. The optical sensor device of claim 60 wherein said array of photodetectors is configured to detect light from a natural light (sun light) source and an artificial light source for emitting a continuous and/or discontinuous spectrum of light.

62. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said array of photodetectors is configured to detect a continuous or discontinuous spectrum of light reflected or transverse or the combination thereof from or by the object.

63. The optical sensor device of claim 1 further comprising:

c) an alarm device, for indicating when a measured value indicative of said at least one said concentration deviates from an expected value of said local concentration.

64. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

65. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

66. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

67. The device of claim 66 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

68. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of a concentration of a substance, wherein the substance has a characteristic dimension that is greater than 0.1 micron and less than 20 microns.

69. The device of claim 68 wherein said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of a concentration of a substance, wherein the substance has a characteristic dimension that is greater than 1 micron and less than 20 microns.

70. The device of claim 69 wherein said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of a concentration of a substance, wherein the substance has a characteristic dimension that is greater than 1 micron and less than 10 microns.

71. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of a concentration of at least one type of cell.

72. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of a concentration of at least one type of blood cell.

73. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of a concentration of a red blood cell.

74. An image processing device for obtaining a chemical concentration in or on a mammalian subject said image processing device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a video electronic color image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject, the image receiving unit configured to sense over time a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from a continuous spectrum of light reflected from and/or traversing the first tissue, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said electronic color image and generating output comprising ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the mammalian subject, by matching a level of the concentration with the output by using a known correlation between known data points of per pixel information and the concentration of the substance, the first tissue comprising at least one of skin tissue, liquid tissue, blood vessel tissue, hard tissue, and muscle tissue,

the optical sensor device adapted to detect the concentration in or on the mammalian subject whether the light incident on the first tissue from the light source is incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source as a result of the image processing unit recognizing images derived from light from both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

75. The device of claim 74 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

76. The device of claim 74 wherein said concentration of a substance is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of a molecule and a chemical saturation.

77. The device of claim 74 wherein said concentration of a substance is a local concentration.

78. The image processing device of claim 74 wherein said image receiving unit includes a non-volatile memory device.

79. The image processing device of claim 74 wherein said image receiving unit is configured to receive said electronic image from a non-volatile memory device.

80. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said local concentration of said substance within a second tissue of the mammalian subject.

81. The device of claim 74 wherein said tissue selected from the group consisting of a first tissue and a second tissue is selected from the group consisting of soft tissue, hard tissue, skin, surface tissue, outer tissue, internal tissue, a membrane, fetal tissue and endothelial tissue.

82. The image processing device of claim 74 wherein said processing unit is configured to generate output indicative a parameter selected from the group consisting of a glucose level, a pH level, a CO2 level, an oxygen level, an oxygen saturation level, red cells concentration, a CO2 saturation level, a bilirubin level, a skin saturation level, a concentration or saturation of salt, a concentration of an oily substance, and a urea nitrogen level.

83. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said concentration within bodily fluid of the mammalian subject.

84. The image processing device of claim 74 wherein said bodily fluid is selected from the group consisting of blood and sweat.

85. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said concentration within a circulatory system of the mammalian subject.

86. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said concentration within a blood vessel of said mammalian subject.

87. The image processing device of claim 74 wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said local concentration within a capillary of said mammalian subject.

88. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said substance is dissolved or partially dissolved substance within a bodily fluid within the mammalian subject.

89. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said dissolved or partially dissolved substance is an ion.

90. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of pH.

91. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said substance is a pigment.

92. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said substance is a waste product.

93. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said substance is a polymer.

94. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said substance is a complexed polymer.

95. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said substance is a biopolymer.

96. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said substance is a protein.

97. The image processing device of claim 74, wherein said substance is a complexed protein.

98. The image processing device of claim 97, wherein said complexed protein is selected from the group consisting of a hemoglobin-oxygen complex and a hemoglobin-carbon dioxide complex.

99. The image processing device of claim 74 wherein said substance is a saccharide.

100. The image processing device of claim 99 wherein said saccharide is glucose.

101. The image processing device of claim 74 wherein said local concentration of said substance is indicative of a physiological condition in the subject selected from the group consisting of a condition of the liver, a condition of the kidney cancer, a skin cancer, a blood cancer, a nutritional deficiency, a loss of blood, a malignant condition of bone marrow, dehydration, a cardiovascular condition, a physiological condition of a muscle, a presence of a microbe, a presence of an infectious microbe, an autoimmune condition, a presence of a fungus, and a pulmonary condition.

102. The device of claim 74 wherein said electronic image is selected from the group consisting of a thermal image, an IR image, a visible light image, and a UV image.

103. The device of claim 74 further comprising:

e) an alarm device, for indicating when a measured value indicative of said at least one said concentration deviates from an expected value of said local concentration.

104. The image processing device of claim 74 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

105. The image processing device of claim 74 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

106. The image processing device of claim 74 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

107. The image processing device of claim 106 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

108. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining a chemical concentration in or on a mammalian subject the instruction data comprising the instructions of:

a. processing a video electronic color image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject by sensing a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the still or video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the first tissue, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. generating from said processed electronic color image output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to spatial temporal per pixel information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of concentration of a substance within or on the mammalian subject by matching a level of the concentration with the output by using a known correlation between known data points of per pixel information and the concentration of the substance,

the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining the chemical concentration in or on the mammalian subject whether the light is incident on the first tissue is from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source as a result of recognizing both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

109. The medium of claim 108 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

110. The medium of claim 108 wherein said chemical concentration is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of a molecule and a chemical saturation.

111. The medium of claim 108 wherein said chemical concentration is a local concentration.

112. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 108 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

113. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 108 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

114. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 108 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

115. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 114 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

116. A method of measuring a chemical concentration in or on a mammalian subject the method comprising:

a. providing a video electronic color image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject by sensing a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the first tissue, the light incident on the first tissue from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. electronically processing said electronic color image to generate output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to spatial temporal per pixel information for at least another of the visible colors indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the mammalian subject by matching a level of the concentration with the output by using a known correlation between known data points of per pixel information and the concentration, the method adapted to measure the chemical concentration in or on the mammalian subject whether the light incident on the first tissue is from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source as a result of recognizing both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

117. The method of claim 116 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

118. The method of claim 116 wherein said chemical concentration is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of a molecule and a chemical saturation.

119. The method of claim 116 wherein said chemical concentration is a local concentration.

120. The method of claim 116 wherein said processing includes processing said electronic image in a way that is insensitive to the race of the mammalian subject.

121. The method of claim 116 wherein said step of providing includes receiving said image from a non-volatile memory device.

122. The method of claim 116 wherein said step of providing includes obtaining said electronic image from a physical print image.

123. The method of claim 116 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

124. The method of claim 116 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

125. The method of claim 116 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

126. The method of claim 125 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

127. An optical sensor device for detecting a topological structure and chemical concentration in or on a food and environmental item the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to detect a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the array configured to obtain thereby spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a environmental substance and food item selected from the group consisting of environmental substance and chemical markers, topological structure, food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage and for producing an electric signal over time derived from a sequence of spatial temporal per pixel information for the color spaces of the first, second and third visible colors, the first, second and third visible colors having overlapping wavelengths, the array of photodetectors configured to detect the spectrum of light and produce the electric signals whether the incident light incident on the environmental substance and food item from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signals to generate output, the output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram temporal and spatial variations, and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to spatial temporal per pixel information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of at least one of a concentration and a concentration profile of a substance within or on the environmental substance and chemical markers and food item, by matching a level of the at least one of a concentration and concentration profile with the output by using a known correlation between known data points of per pixel information and the at least one of a concentration and concentration profile, the optical sensor device adapted to detect the topological structure and chemical concentration whether the light incident on the environmental substance and food item is from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source as a result of recognizing both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

128. The device of claim 127 wherein said chemical concentration is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of a molecule and a chemical saturation.

129. The device of claim 127 wherein said chemical concentration is a local concentration.

130. The device of claim 127 wherein said liquid and gas is all forms of water, alcohol, gasoline, diesel and oil, wherein gas is all forms of gas and air, wherein beverage is a beverage including fruit juice.

131. The device of claim 127 wherein said dairy product is selected from the group consisting of a cheese, milk and a yoghurt.

132. The device of claim 127 wherein said environmental is including food tissue is selected from the group consisting of a fruit, an edible plant, a vegetable, a leafy vegetable, a plant root, a soy product, dead animal tissue, meat, fish and eggs.

133. The device of claim 127 wherein said consumable alcoholic beverage is selected from the group consisting of wine, beer, hard liquor, whiskey, rum, a beverage derived from hops, a malt beverage, and a fermented beverage.

134. The device of claim 127 wherein said concentration is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of anthocyanins, a concentration of an antioxidant, a concentration of a plant pigment, an animal pigment, a concentration of an anti-inflammatory agent, and a concentration of a flavonoid, a concentration of myoglobin, a concentration of metmyoglobin, and a concentration of a protein.

135. The device of claim 127 wherein said food tissue is a perishable item.

136. The device of claim 127 wherein said concentration is indicative of a process selected from the group consisting of a cooking and a spoilage.

137. The device of claim 127 wherein said concentration is indicative of a process selected from the group consisting of a spoilage of meat or fish or eggs, a spoilage of a dairy product, and a cooking of meat or fish or eggs.

138. The device of claim 127 wherein said concentration is indicative of a grape ripeness.

139. The device of claim 127 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

140. The device of claim 127 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

141. The device of claim 127 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

142. The device of claim 141 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

143. An optical sensor device for detecting a chemical concentration in or on a liquid the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to sense a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the array configured to obtain thereby spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a liquid and for producing an electric signals over time derived from a sequence of spatial temporal per pixel information for the color spaces of the first, second and third visible colors, the first, second and third visible colors having overlapping wavelengths, the array of photodetectors configured to sense the spectrum of light and produce the electric signals whether the incident light incident on the liquid from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signals derived from the sequence of spatial temporal per pixel information to generate output, the output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram temporal and spatial variations, and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to spatial temporal per pixel information for at least another of the visible colors indicative of at least one of a concentration and concentration profile of a substance within or on the liquid by matching a level of the at least one of a concentration and concentration profile with the output by using a known correlation between known data points of per pixel information and the at least one of a concentration and concentration profile,

the optical sensor device adapted to detect the chemical concentration in or on the liquid whether the incident light incident on the liquid from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source as a result of the processing unit recognizing signals derived from light from both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

144. The optical sensor device of claim 143 wherein said liquid is an organic liquid.

145. The optical sensor device of claim 143 wherein said liquid is an aqueous solution.

146. The optical sensor device of claim 143 wherein said substance is selected from the group consisting of an organic substance, and a biological substance.

147. The optical sensor device of claim 143 wherein an item selected from the group consisting of the liquid and the substance is derived from a petrochemical.

148. The optical sensor device of claim 143 wherein an item selected from the group consisting of the liquid and the substance is toxic.

149. The device of claim 143 wherein said processing includes generating an electronic image.

150. The device of claim 143 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

151. The device of claim 143 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

152. The device of claim 143 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

153. The device of claim 152 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

154. An image processing device for obtaining a chemical concentration in or on a food item said image processing device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a video electronic color image of a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue and configured to sense a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, and a consumable alcoholic beverage, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the food item, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said image and generating output, the output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram temporal and spatial variations, and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to spatial temporal per pixel information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the food item by matching a level of the at least one of a concentration and concentration profile with the output by using a known correlation between known data points of per pixel information and the at least one of a concentration and concentration profile, the image processing device adapted to detect the chemical concentration of the substance whether the incident light incident on the food item from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source as a result of the processing unit recognizing images derived from light from both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

155. The image processing device of claim 154 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

156. The image processing device of claim 154 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

157. The image processing device of claim 154 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

158. The image processing device of claim 157 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

159. An image processing device for obtaining a chemical concentration in or on a liquid said image processing device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a video electronic color image of a liquid and configured to sense a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the liquid, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said image and generating output, the output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram temporal and spatial variations, and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to spatial temporal per pixel information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the liquid by matching a level of the concentration with the output by using a known correlation between known data points of per pixel information and the concentration to identifying at least one of a correlation and a look-up table between the output and a level of the concentration, the image processing device adapted to obtain the chemical concentration whether the incident light incident on the liquid from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source as a result of the image processing unit recognizing images derived from light from both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

160. The image processing device of claim 159 wherein said liquid is an organic liquid.

161. The image processing device of claim 159 wherein said liquid is an aqueous solution.

162. The image processing device of claim 159 wherein said substance is selected from the group consisting of an organic substance, and a biological substance.

163. The image processing device of claim 159 wherein an item selected from the group consisting of the liquid and the substance is derived from a petrochemical.

164. The image processing device of claim 159 wherein an item selected from the group consisting of the liquid and the substance is toxic.

165. The image processing device of claim 159 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

166. The image processing device of claim 159 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

167. The image processing device of claim 159 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

168. The image processing device of claim 167 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

169. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining a chemical concentration in or on a food item the instruction data comprising the instructions of:

a. processing a video electronic color image of a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue by sensing a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, and a consumable alcoholic beverage, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the electronic color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the food item, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. generating from said processed image output, the output comprising at least one (i) histogram temporal and spatial variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors indicative of concentration of a substance within or on the food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage by matching a level of the concentration with the output by using a known correlation between known data points of per pixel information and the concentration to, the computer readable storage medium adapted to obtain the chemical concentration whether the incident light incident on the food item from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source as a result of recognizing both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

170. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 169 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

171. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 169 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

172. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 169 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

173. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 172 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

174. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining a chemical concentration in or on a liquid the instruction data comprising the instructions of

a. processing a video electronic color image of a liquid by sensing a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the electronic color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the liquid, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR;

and

b. generating from said processed image output, the output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram temporal and spatial variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors indicative of concentration of a substance within or on the liquid by matching a level of the concentration with the output by using a known correlation between known data points of per pixel information and the concentration, the computer readable storage medium adapted to obtain the chemical concentration whether the incident light incident on the liquid from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source as a result of recognizing both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

175. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 174 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

176. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 174 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

177. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 174 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

178. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 177 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

179. A method of measuring a chemical concentration in or on a food item the method comprising:

a. providing a video electronic color image of a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue by sensing a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the food item, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output, the output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram temporal and spatial variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the food item by matching a level of the concentration with the output by using a known correlation between known data points of per pixel information and the concentration, the electronic processing adapted to generate the output indicative of the concentration whether the incident light incident on the food item from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source as a result of recognizing both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

180. The method of claim 179 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

181. The method of claim 179 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

182. The method of claim 179 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

183. The method of claim 182 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

184. A method of measuring a chemical concentration in or on a liquid the method comprising:

a. providing a video electronic color image of a liquid by sensing a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the liquid, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output, the output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram temporal and spatial variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the liquid by matching a level of the concentration with the output by using a known correlation between known data points of per pixel information and the concentration, the electronic processing adapted to generate the output indicative of the concentration whether the incident light incident on the liquid from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source as a result of recognizing both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

185. The method of claim 184 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

186. The method of claim 184 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

187. The method of claim 184 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

188. The method of claim 187 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

189. An optical sensor device for detecting biophysical information about a mammalian subject the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to sense a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the array configured to obtain spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a first tissue of the mammalian subject and for producing electric signals over time derived from the spatial temporal per pixel information for the color spaces of the first, second and third visible colors, the first, second and third visible colors having overlapping wavelengths, the array of photodetectors configured to sense the spectrum of light and produce the electric signals whether the incident light incident on the first tissue from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signals derived from the sequence of spatial temporal per pixel information for the color spaces of the first, second and third visible colors to generate output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and temporal and spatial variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors indicative of a level of a biophysical parameter of the mammalian subject by using a process to recognize a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the biophysical parameter from the output and the sequence,

the optical sensor device adapted to detect the biophysical information whether the incident light incident on the first tissue from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source as a result of recognizing both filtered and unfiltered, continuous and discontinuous, and natural light sources and artificial light sources.

190. The device of claim 189 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

191. The device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temporal parameter.

192. The device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of a heartbeat, a pulse transition time (PTT), stroke volume (SV), vessel deformation and a blood pressure.

193. The device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is a stroke volume parameter.

194. The device of claim 192 wherein said stroke volume parameter is a selected from the group consisting of an average stroke volume for a plurality of strokes, a stroke volume deviation, and a higher order moment of volumes of strokes.

195. The device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temperature at a location within the subject.

196. The sensor device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temperature fluctuation at a location within the subject.

197. The sensor device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temperature fluctuation on or in the skin of the subject.

198. The sensor device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of a systolic pressure and a diastolic pressure.

199. The sensor device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is related to a heartbeat of the mammalian subject.

200. The optical sensor device of claim 189 wherein said processing unit is configured to generate output indicative a parameter selected from the group consisting of a glucose level, a pH level, a CO2 level, an oxygen level, an oxygen saturation level, red cells concentration, a CO2 saturation level, a bilirubin level, a skin saturation level, a concentration or saturation of salt, a concentration of an oily substance, and a urea nitrogen level.

201. The device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of physiological condition selected from the group consisting a physiological condition of the skin, a cardiovascular condition, a pulmonary condition, a physiological condition of an internal organ, a physiological condition of an organ associated with the digestive system, a physiological condition of the kidneys, a physiological condition of the liver, and a physiological condition of the blood.

202. The device of claim 201 wherein said bodily fluid is selected from the group consisting of blood and sweat.

203. The device of claim 189, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a biophysical parameter of a bodily fluid of the mammalian subject.

204. The device of claim 189, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a biophysical parameter of a circulatory system of the mammalian subject.

205. The device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of a physiological condition in the subject selected from the group consisting of a condition of the liver, a physiological condition of the skin, a physiological condition of an internal organ, a physiological condition of an organ associated with the digestive system, a condition of the kidney, a physiological condition of the blood, a condition of the liver, a cancer, a skin cancer, a blood cancer, a nutritional deficiency, a loss of blood, a malignant condition of bone marrow, dehydration, a cardiovascular condition, a physiological condition of a muscle, a presence of a microbe, a presence of an infectious microbe, an autoimmune condition, a presence of a fungus, and a pulmonary condition.

206. The device of claim 189 wherein said electronic image is selected from the group consisting of a thermal image, an IR image, a visible light image, and a UV image.

207. The device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of oil moisture content of skin, skin dryness, skin absorption potential, skin pigmentation, red cells concentration, blood pressure, skin pH, skin saltiness level, a condition related to skin saturation, a condition related to skin vitality, a condition related to sweat, a condition related to skin deformation, a condition related to local skin deformation, and a condition related to skin wrinkles.

208. The device of claim 189 wherein said “

skin absorption potential”

are local levels over different skin areas where the potential to absorb certain substance such as water or moisture is relatively high or low in different skin areas.

209. The device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of an O2 blood saturation level, a blood glucose level, a blood pH level, Red Cells Concentration, a blood CO2 level, and a blood urea nitrogen level.

210. The device of claim 189 further comprising:

c) an alarm device, for indicating when a measured value indicative of said a biophysical parameter deviates from an expected value of a said biophysical parameter.

211. The optical sensor device of claim 189 wherein said sensor device includes an image sensor.

212. The optical sensor device of claim 211 wherein said image sensor is selected from the group consisting of a CMOS image sensor and a CCD image sensor.

213. The optical sensor device of claim 211 wherein said image sensor is selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, an IR sensor, a visible light sensor, and a UV sensor.

214. The optical sensor device of claim 189 wherein said array of photodetectors is configured to sense light of a wavelength between about 280 nm to about 4500 nm.

215. The optical sensor device of claim 189 wherein said array of photodetectors is configured to sense light of a wavelength between about 280 nm to about 3800 nm.

216. The optical sensor device of claim 189 further comprising:

c) a light source for transmitting a spectrum of light to said skin of said subject.

217. The optical sensor device of claim 189 wherein said light source is selected from the group consisting of a natural light source (sun light) or artificial light source for emitting a continuous or discontinuous spectrum of light.

218. The device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is a malignant physiological condition.

219. The device of claim 189 wherein said biophysical parameter is a biomarker.

220. The optical sensor device of claim 189 wherein said malignant condition is selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disorder, psoriasis, an allergic condition, an inflammatory condition, a proliferative disorder, a cancer, a melanoma, a presence of an infectious microbe a fungal infection, a cardiovascular condition, a malady of an internal organ.

221. The optical sensor device of claim 189 wherein said malignant condition is selected from the group consisting a condition of an internal organ (for example, kidney, liver, and/or heart, etc) condition of the liver, a condition of the kidney (for example, kidney failure, or a condition that is a precursor to kidney failure), a condition of the heart (for example, heart failure or a condition that is a precursor to heart failure), a pulmonary condition (for example, a breathing condition), cancer, a skin cancer, a blood cancer, a nutritional deficiency, a loss of blood, a malignant condition of bone marrow, dehydration, a cardiovascular condition, a physiological condition of a muscle, a presence of a microbe, and a presence of an infectious microbe.

222. The device of claim 189 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

223. The device of claim 189 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

224. The device of claim 189 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

225. The device of claim 224 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

226. An image processing device for obtaining biophysical information about a mammalian subject said image processing device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a video electronic color image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject and configured to sense a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the electronic color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the first tissue, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said image and generating output, the output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors indicative of a biophysical parameter of the mammalian subject by using a process to recognize a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the biophysical parameter from the image and the output,

the image processing device adapted to obtain the biophysical information whether the incident light incident on the first tissue from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

227. The device of claim 226 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

228. The device of claim 226 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temporal parameter.

229. The device of claim 226 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of a heartbeat, a pulse transition time (PTT), stroke volume, vessel deformation and a blood pressure.

230. The device of claim 226 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temperature at a location within the subject.

231. The sensor device of claim 226 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temperature fluctuation at a location within the subject.

232. The sensor device of claim 226 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temperature fluctuation on or in the skin of the subject.

233. The image processing device of claim 226 wherein said image receiving unit includes a non-volatile memory device.

234. The image processing device of claim 226 wherein said image receiving unit is configured to receive said electronic image from a non-volatile memory device.

235. The image processing device of claim 226 wherein said processing unit is configured to generate output indicative a parameter selected from the group consisting of a glucose level, a pH level, a CO2 level, an oxygen level, an oxygen saturation level, red cells concentration, a CO2 saturation level, a bilirubin level, a skin saturation level, a concentration or saturation of salt, a concentration of an oily substance, and a urea nitrogen level.

236. The device of claim 226 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of physiological condition selected from the group consisting a physiological condition of the skin, a cardiovascular condition, a pulmonary condition, a physiological condition of an internal organ, a physiological condition of an organ associated with the digestive system, a physiological condition of the kidneys, a physiological condition of the liver, and a physiological condition of the blood.

237. The image processing device of claim 236 wherein said bodily fluid is selected from the group consisting of blood and sweat.

238. The image processing device of claim 226, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a biophysical parameter of a bodily fluid of the mammalian subject.

239. The image processing device of claim 226, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a biophysical parameter of a circulatory system of the mammalian subject.

240. The image processing device of claim 226 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of a physiological condition in the subject selected from the group consisting of a condition of the liver, a physiological condition of the skin, a physiological condition of an internal organ, a physiological condition of an organ associated with the digestive system, a condition of the kidney, a physiological condition of the blood, a condition of the liver, a cancer, a skin cancer, a blood cancer, a nutritional deficiency, a loss of blood, a malignant condition of bone marrow, dehydration, a cardiovascular condition, a physiological condition of a muscle, a presence of a microbe, a presence of an infectious microbe, an autoimmune condition, a presence of a fungus, and a pulmonary condition.

241. The device of claim 226 wherein said electronic image is selected from the group consisting of a thermal image, an IR image, a visible light image, and a UV image.

242. The device of claim 226 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of oil moisture content of skin, skin dryness, skin absorption potential, skin pigmentation, red cells concentration, blood pressure, skin pH, skin saltiness level, a condition related to skin saturation, a condition related to skin vitality, a condition related to sweat, and a condition related to skin wrinkles.

243. The sensor device of claim 242 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of a systolic pressure and a diastolic pressure.

244. The sensor device of claim 242 wherein said biophysical parameter is related to a heartbeat of the mammalian subject.

245. The device of claim 226 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of an O2 blood saturation level, a blood glucose level, a blood pH level, Red Cells Concentration, a blood CO2 level, and a blood urea nitrogen level.

246. The device of claim 226 further comprising:

c) an alarm device, for indicating when a measured value indicative of said a biophysical parameter deviates from an expected value of a said biophysical parameter.

247. The device of claim 226 wherein said biophysical parameter is a malignant physiological condition.

248. The device of claim 226 wherein said biophysical parameter is a biomarker.

249. The optical sensor device of claim 226 wherein said malignant condition is selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disorder, psoriasis, an allergic condition, an inflammatory condition, a proliferative disorder, a cancer, a melanoma, a presence of an infectious microbe a fungal infection, a cardiovascular condition, a malady of an internal organ.

250. The image processing device of claim 226 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

251. The image processing device of claim 226 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

252. The image processing device of claim 226 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

253. The image processing device of claim 252 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

254. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining biophysical information about a mammalian subject the instruction data comprising the instructions of:

a. processing a video electronic color image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject by sensing a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the first tissue, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. generating from said processed electronic color image output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of a biophysical condition within or on the mammalian subject by using a process to identify a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the biophysical condition from the color image and the output,

the computer-readable storage medium adapted to obtain the biophysical information whether the incident light incident on the first tissue from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

255. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 254 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

256. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 254 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

257. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 254 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

258. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 257 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

259. A method of measuring biophysical information about a mammalian subject the method comprising:

a. providing a video electronic color image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject by sensing a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the electronic color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the first tissue, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of a biophysical condition of the mammalian subject by using a process to identify a cyclic pattern and compute the biophysical condition from the electronic color image and the output, the electronic processing adapted to generate the output indicative of the biophysical condition whether the incident light incident on the first tissue from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

260. The method of claim 259 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

261. The method of claim 259 wherein said processing includes processing said electronic image in a way that is insensitive to the race of the mammalian subject.

262. The method of claim 259 wherein said step of providing includes receiving said image from a non-volatile memory device.

263. The method of claim 259 wherein said step of providing includes obtaining said electronic image from a physical print image.

264. The method of claim 259 wherein said stage of providing includes receiving light within a photodetector within a housing, and said housing is a distance from said first tissue.

265. The method of claim 259 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

266. The method of claim 259 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

267. The method of claim 259 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

268. The method of claim 267 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

269. An optical sensor device for detecting biophysical information about a food item the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to detect a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the array configured to obtain spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage and for producing an electric signals over time derived from the spatial temporal per pixel information for the color spaces of the first, second and third visible colors, the first, second and third visible colors having overlapping wavelengths, the array of photodetectors configured to sense the spectrum of light and produce the electric signals whether the incident light incident on the food item from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signals derived from the sequence of spatial temporal per pixel information for the color spaces of the first, second and third visible colors to generate output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and temporal and spatial variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of a biophysical parameter of the food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage by using a process to identify a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the biophysical parameter from the output and the sequence,

the optical sensor device adapted to detect the biophysical information whether the incident light incident on the food item from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

270. The device of claim 269 wherein said beverage is a beverage including fruit juice.

271. The device of claim 269 wherein said dairy product is selected from the group consisting of a cheese, milk and a yoghurt.

272. The device of claim 269 wherein said food tissue is selected from the group consisting of a fruit, an edible plant, a vegetable, a leafy vegetable, a plant root, a soy product, dead animal tissue, meat, fish and eggs.

273. The device of claim 269 wherein said consumable alcoholic beverage is selected from the group consisting of wine, beer, hard liquor, whiskey, rum, a beverage derived from hops, a malt beverage, and a fermented beverage.

274. The device of claim 269 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of anthocyanins, a concentration of an antioxidant, a concentration of a plant pigment, an animal pigment, a concentration of an anti-inflammatory agent, and a concentration of a flavonoid, a concentration of myoglobin, a concentration of metmyoglobin, and a concentration of a protein.

275. The device of claim 269 wherein said food tissue is a perishable item.

276. The device of claim 269 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of a process selected from the group consisting of a cooking and a spoilage.

277. The device of claim 269 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of a process selected from the group consisting of a spoilage of meat or fish or eggs, a spoilage of a dairy product, and a cooking of meat or fish or eggs.

278. The device of claim 269 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of a grape ripeness.

279. The device of claim 269 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

280. The device of claim 269 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

281. The device of claim 269 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

282. The device of claim 281 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

283. An optical sensor device for detecting biophysical information about a liquid the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to detect a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the array configured to obtain thereby spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a liquid and for producing an electric signals over time derived from a sequence of spatial temporal per pixel information for the color spaces of the first, second and third visible colors, the first, second and third visible colors having overlapping wavelengths, the array of photodetectors configured to sense the spectrum of light and produce the electric signals whether the incident light incident on the liquid from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signals derived from the sequence of spatial temporal per pixel information for the color spaces to generate output indicative of a biophysical condition of the liquid, the output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and temporal and spatial variations, and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to spatial temporal per pixel information for at least another of the visible colors by using a process to identify a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the biophysical condition from the sequence and the output,

the optical sensor device adapted to detect the biophysical information whether the incident light incident on the liquid from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

284. The device of claim 283 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

285. The device of claim 283 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

286. The device of claim 283 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

287. The device of claim 286 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

288. An image processing device for obtaining biophysical information about a liquid said image processing device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a video electronic color image of a liquid and configured to sense a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the electronic color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the liquid, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said image and generating output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of a biophysical condition of the liquid by using a process to identify a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the biophysical condition from said image and the output,

the image processing device adapted to obtain the biophysical information whether the incident light incident on the liquid from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

289. The image processing device of claim 288 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

290. The image processing device of claim 288 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

291. The image processing device of claim 288 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

292. The image processing device of claim 291 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

293. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining biophysical information about a food item the instruction data comprising the instructions of:

a. processing a video electronic color image of a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue by sensing a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the food item, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. generating from said processed color image output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of biophysical condition within or on the food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage by using a process to identify a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the biophysical condition from said color image and the output,

the computer readable storage medium adapted to obtain the biophysical information whether the incident light incident on the food item from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

294. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 293 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

295. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 293 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

296. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 293 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

297. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 296 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

298. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining biophysical information about a liquid the instruction data comprising the instructions of:

a. processing a video electronic color image of a liquid by sensing a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the liquid, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. generating from said processed color image output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of biophysical condition within or on the liquid by using a process to identify a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the biophysical condition from the processed color image and the output,

the computer readable storage medium adapted to obtain the biophysical information whether the incident light incident on the liquid from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

299. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 298 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

300. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 298 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

301. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 298 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

302. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 301 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

303. A method of measuring biophysical information about a food item the method comprising:

a. providing a video electronic color image of a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue by sensing a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the food item, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of a biophysical condition of the food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage by using a process to identify a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the biophysical condition from said image and the output, the electronic processing adapted to generate the output indicative of the biophysical condition whether the incident light incident on the food item from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

304. The method of claim 303 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

305. The method of claim 303 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

306. The method of claim 303 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

307. The method of claim 306 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

308. A method of measuring biophysical information about a liquid the method comprising:

a. providing a video electronic color image of a liquid by sensing a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the liquid, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of a biophysical condition of the liquid by using a process to identify a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the biophysical condition from the electronic color image and the output, the electronic processing adapted to generate the output indicative of the biophysical condition whether the incident light incident on the liquid from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

309. The method of claim 308 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

310. The method of claim 308 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

311. The method of claim 308 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

312. The method of claim 311 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

313. A polygraph device for determining a stage of agitation of a subject comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a series of video digital color images of a subject over a period of time and configured to sense a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the digital color images comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the subject, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR;

b. an image processing unit for generating from said video digital images output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of a physiological condition of the subject over said period of time by using a process to identify a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the physiological condition from said video digital images and the output; and

c. a physiological condition variation detection module, for examining said output and determining if physiological condition variation is indicative that the subject is in a state of agitation,

the polygraph device adapted to determine the stage of agitation whether the incident light incident on the subject from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

314. A device for determining a cosmetic regimen of treatment, the device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a video digital color image of a subject and configured to sense a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the digital color images comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing a skin of the subject, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR;

b. an image processing unit for generating from said video digital image output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of a physiological condition of the skin of said subject by using a process to identify a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the physiological condition from the video digital image and the output; and

c. a treatment output module for receiving said generated output and generating output descriptive of a cosmetic regimen for improving said physiological condition of said skin of said subject,

the device adapted to determine the cosmetic regimen whether the incident light incident on the skin of the subject from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

315. The device of claim 314 wherein said physiological condition is selected from the group consisting of a skin pH, a skin moisture and a skin dryness.

316. A device for detecting a pH of wine, the device comprising:

i. an image receiving unit for receiving a video color image of wine and configured to sense a continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength between near UV and near IR, the color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the video color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the wine, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR;

ii. an image processing unit for processing said video digital images and generating output comprising at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors, indicative of a pH of said wine by using a process to identify a cyclic pattern and compute a level of the pH from said video digital image and the output, the device adapted to detect the pH of the wine whether the incident light incident on the wine from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

317. The device of claim 316 wherein said video image is a video image of wine within a vessel.

318. The device of claim 317 wherein said vessel is sealed.

319. The device of claim 316 wherein said vessel is transparent, and said processing includes processing the video image in a way that is insensitive to the presence of said vessel.

320. An image processing device for obtaining pulse information about a mammalian subject said image processing device comprising:

an image receiving unit for receiving a video electronic color image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the electronic color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the first tissue, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

an image processing unit for electronically processing said image by using a process to recognize a cyclic pattern and compute the pulse information from the image,

the image processing device adapted to obtain the pulse information whether the incident light incident on the first tissue from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

321. An image processing device for obtaining at least one of blood pressure, stroke volume, vessel deformation information about a mammalian subject, said image processing device comprising:

an image receiving unit for receiving a video electronic color image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the electronic color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the first tissue, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

an image processing unit for electronically processing said image by using a histogram of the spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to obtain information about pressure and volume changes in blood vessels of the first tissue,

the image processing device adapted to obtain the information about the pressure and volume changes whether the incident light incident on the first tissue from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

322. An image processing device for obtaining at least one of oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration and saturation, hemoglobin, blood count, pH, glucose, bilirubin about a mammalian subject, said image processing device comprising:

an image receiving unit for receiving a video electronic color image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the electronic color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the first tissue, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

an image processing unit for electronically processing said image by using at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors to provide information about at least one of tissue oxygen, carbon dioxide concentration and saturation level, pH level, hemoglobin level, blood count level, glucose level and bilirubin level of the first tissue,

the image processing device adapted to obtain the bio marker information whether the incident light incident on the first tissue from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

323. An image processing device for obtaining chemical concentration or saturation of a mammalian subject, said image processing device comprising:

an image receiving unit for receiving a video electronic color image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the electronic color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the first tissue, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

an image processing unit for electronically processing said image by using at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors to provide information about the chemical concentration or saturation of the first tissue, the image processing device adapted to obtain the information about the chemical concentration or saturation whether the incident light incident on the first tissue from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.

324. An image processing device for obtaining biophysical information about a mammalian subject, said image processing device comprising:

an image receiving unit for receiving a video electronic color image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject, the electronic color image comprising spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a first visible color, spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a second visible color and spatial temporal per pixel information for a color space of a third visible color, the electronic color image derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the first tissue, the light incident from a continuous or discontinuous, filtered or unfiltered, natural or artificial, light source and having a wavelength between near UV and near IR; and

an image processing unit for electronically processing said image by using the spatial temporal per pixel information of at least one visible color to produce at least one of (i) a histogram and spatial and temporal variations and (ii) ratios of spatial temporal per pixel information for at least one of the visible colors to said information for at least another of the visible colors to provide the biophysical information, the image processing device adapted to obtain the biophysical information whether the incident light incident on the first tissue from the light source is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, of a natural light source or of an artificial light source.