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Apparatus and method for multispectral based detection

  • US 9,372,118 B1
  • Filed: 06/25/2014
  • Issued: 06/21/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for spatially characterizing a specific illumination source of interest in a scene, the apparatus comprising:

  • a) at least one optical element configured to form an image of the scene including the specific illumination source of interest on a focal plane;

    b) a single plane sensing array covered by a color filter array and having a field of view, and positioned at the focal plane and comprising at least two types of pixels having different spectral sensitivity bands, the pixels located at spatially non-overlapping regions of the sensing array;

    c) a multi-bandpass filter disposed between the scene and the sensing array, the filter separated from the sensing array and spectrally transmitting light received from the scene in pass bands, the pass bands having a maximum peak transmissivity corresponding to at least one of the at least two different pixel spectral sensitivity bands, and the different pixel spectral sensitivity bands corresponding to spectral absorption, reflection, or emission features that distinguish the specific illumination source of interest from other illumination sources in the scene;

    d) a secondary optical sensor having different spectral sensitivity bands than the single plane sensing array and fewer total sensing elements; and

    e) a processor in signal communication with the sensing array and the optical sensor and containing an algorithm executable by the processor to process individual image data received from the sensing array, and for each individual image defined by the received image data, to interpolate at least two levels of signals received from at least one spatial location on the sensing array, and to process signals received from the secondary optical sensor to estimate a range of expected responses that indicate detection of the illumination source of interest, and to determine the presence of the specific illumination source of interest from the relative intensities of the at least two levels and the expected response range.

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