Eliminating illumination crosstalk while using multiple imaging devices with plural scanning devices, each coupled to an optical fiber
First Claim
1. A system that produces a plurality of different images of a site produced by a plurality of imaging devices, while avoiding crosstalk in the images, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of imaging devices, the plurality of imaging devices including a plurality of scanning devices and a plurality of light receivers, each light receiver being associated with one of the plurality of scanning devices to receive light from an area of the site illuminated by said one of the plurality of scanning devices, each scanning device being coupled to a distal end of an optical fiber used to convey light to the scanning device so that the light is emitted by the scanning device to illuminate the site, the light receiver receiving light from the site for use in producing an image of the site;
(b) at least one light source for supplying light to the scanning devices through a plurality of optical fibers; and
(c) means for imaging the site so as to prevent crosstalk between the plurality of images, by preventing light emitted by one of the plurality of scanning devices from interfering with light emitted by any other of the plurality of scanning devices, when light that is received from the site by the plurality of light receivers is used to produce a plurality of images of the site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a plurality of scanning devices and light receivers, enabling a plurality of images of a site to be displayed using output signals produced in response to light from the light receivers. To avoid crosstalk caused by light receivers receiving light emitted by a plurality of scanning devices, different wavebands of light can be applied to different scanning devices, the received light can be filtered, or the light can be supplied to one scanning device at a time to multiplex either frame-by-frame, or pixel-by-pixel, or the light supplied to each scanning device can be modulated and the received light demodulated so that an image is produced in response to light from a single scanning device. Expensive components such as laser light sources, optical detectors, a controller, and processor can be shared by multiple imaging devices to minimize the cost of the imaging system.
60 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system that produces a plurality of different images of a site produced by a plurality of imaging devices, while avoiding crosstalk in the images, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of imaging devices, the plurality of imaging devices including a plurality of scanning devices and a plurality of light receivers, each light receiver being associated with one of the plurality of scanning devices to receive light from an area of the site illuminated by said one of the plurality of scanning devices, each scanning device being coupled to a distal end of an optical fiber used to convey light to the scanning device so that the light is emitted by the scanning device to illuminate the site, the light receiver receiving light from the site for use in producing an image of the site; (b) at least one light source for supplying light to the scanning devices through a plurality of optical fibers; and (c) means for imaging the site so as to prevent crosstalk between the plurality of images, by preventing light emitted by one of the plurality of scanning devices from interfering with light emitted by any other of the plurality of scanning devices, when light that is received from the site by the plurality of light receivers is used to produce a plurality of images of the site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for avoiding crosstalk in images produced by a plurality of imaging devices used for imaging a site to produce a plurality of images, comprising the steps of:
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(a) conveying light from at least one light source to the plurality of imaging devices, wherein the plurality of imaging devices include a plurality of scanning devices and a plurality of light receivers, each scanning device being coupled to an optical fiber that conveys light from the at least one light source for use in illuminating the site, and each light receiver being associated with a specific scanning device and receiving light from the site; (b) emitting the light from each scanning device to illuminate at least a portion of the site; (c) responding to the light received from the site by the plurality of light receivers, to produce output signals indicative of the light that was received, for use in producing the plurality of images; (d) controlling imaging of the site so as to prevent crosstalk between the plurality of images of the site produced using the light received by the plurality of light receivers, by preventing light emitted by one of the plurality of scanning devices from interfering with light emitted by any other of the plurality of scanning devices, when the light received by each light receiver associated with the one scanning device is used to produce an image of the site. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification