Compact light sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9648254-B2
Application number	US-201514664754-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2015
Priority date	Mar 21, 2014
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

Provided are methods and systems for concurrent imaging at multiple wavelengths. In one aspect, a hyperspectral/multispectral imaging device includes a lens configured to receive light backscattered by an object, a plurality of photo-sensors, a plurality of bandpass filters covering respective photo-sensors, where each bandpass filter is configured to allow a different respective spectral band to pass through the filter, and a plurality of beam splitters in optical communication with the lens and the photo-sensors, where each beam splitter splits the light received by the lens into a plurality of optical paths, each path configured to direct light to a corresponding photo-sensor through the bandpass filter corresponding to the respective photo-sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An imaging device, comprising:
a lens disposed along an optical axis and configured to receive light;
a plurality of pixel array photo-sensors;
an optical path assembly comprising a plurality of beam splitters in optical communication with the lens and the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors; and
a plurality of multi-bandpass filters, wherein each respective multi-bandpass filter in the plurality of multi-bandpass filters covers a corresponding pixel array photo-sensor in the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors thereby selectively allowing a different corresponding spectral band of light, from the light received by the lens and split by the plurality of beam splitters, to pass through to the corresponding pixel array photo-sensor; wherein
each respective beam splitter in the plurality of beam splitters is configured to split the light received by the lens into at least two optical paths,
a first beam splitter in the plurality of beam splitters is in direct optical communication with the lens and a second beam splitter in the plurality of beam splitters is in indirect optical communication with the lens through the first beam splitter, and
the plurality of beam splitters collectively split light received by the lens into a plurality of optical paths, wherein each respective optical path in the plurality of optical paths is configured to direct light to a corresponding pixel array photo-sensor in the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors through the respective multi-bandpass filter covering the corresponding pixel array photo-sensor.

2. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multi-bandpass filters are dual bandpass filters.

3. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising a first light source and a second light source, wherein the first light source and the second light source are configured to shine light so that a portion of the light is backscattered by an object and received by the lens.

4. The imaging device of claim 3 , wherein
the first light source emits light that is substantially limited to a first spectral range, and
the second light source emits light that is substantially limited to a second spectral range.

5. The imaging device of claim 4 , wherein
the first light source is a first multi-spectral light source covered by a first bandpass filter, wherein the first bandpass filter substantially blocks all light emitted by the first light source other than the first spectral range, and
the second light source is a second multi-spectral light source covered by a second bandpass filter, wherein the second bandpass filter substantially blocks all light emitted by the second light source other than the second spectral range.

6. The imaging device of claim 5 , wherein the first multi-spectral light source is a first white light emitting diode covered by the first bandpass filter and the second multi-spectral light source is a second white light emitting diode covered by the second bandpass filter.

7. The imaging device of claim 4 , wherein each respective multi-bandpass filter in the plurality of multi-bandpass filters is configured to selectively allow light corresponding to either of two discrete spectral bands to pass through to the corresponding pixel array photo-sensor.

8. The imaging device of claim 7 , wherein:
a first of the two discrete spectral bands corresponds to a first spectral band that is represented in the first spectral range and not in the second spectral range; and
a second of the two discrete spectral bands corresponds to a second spectral band that is represented in the second spectral range and not in the first spectral range.

9. The imaging device of claim 7 , wherein the two discrete bands of a multi-bandpass filter in the plurality of multi-bandpass filters are separated by at least 60 nm.

10. The imaging device of claim 4 , wherein the first spectral range is substantially non-overlapping with the second spectral range.

11. The imaging device of claim 4 , wherein the first spectral range is substantially contiguous with the second spectral range.

12. The imaging device of claim 4 , wherein
the first spectral range comprises 520 nm, 540 nm, 560 nm and 640 nm wavelength light and does not include 580 nm, 590 nm, 610 nm and 620 nm wavelength light, and
the second spectral range comprises 580 nm, 590 nm, 610 nm and 620 nm wavelength light and does not include 520 nm, 540 nm, 560 nm and 640 nm wavelength light.

13. The imaging device of claim 4 , further comprising a controller configured to capture a plurality of images from the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors by performing a method including:
(A) illuminating the object a first time using the first light source;
(B) capturing a first set of images with the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors during the illuminating (A), wherein the first set of images includes, for each respective pixel array photo-sensor in the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors, an image corresponding to a first spectral band transmitted by the corresponding multi-bandpass filter, wherein the light falling within the first spectral range includes light falling within the first spectral band of each multi-bandpass filter in the plurality of multi-bandpass filters;
(C) extinguishing the first light source;
(D) illuminating the object a second time using the second light source; and
(E) capturing a second set of images with the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors during the illuminating (D), wherein the second set of images includes, for each respective pixel array photo-sensor in the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors, an image corresponding to a second spectral band transmitted by the corresponding multi-bandpass filter, wherein the light falling within the second spectral range includes light falling within the second spectral band of each multi-bandpass filter in the plurality of multi-bandpass filters.

14. The imaging device of claim 13 , wherein
each respective pixel array photo-sensor in the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors is a pixel array that is controlled by a corresponding shutter mechanism that determines an image integration time for the respective pixel array photo-sensor, and
a first pixel array photo-sensor in the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors is independently associated with a first integration time for use during the capturing (B) and a second integration time for use during the capturing (E), wherein the first integration time is independent of the second integration time.

15. The imaging device of claim 13 , wherein
each respective pixel array photo-sensor in the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors is a pixel array that is controlled by a corresponding shutter mechanism that determines an image integration time for the respective pixel array photo-sensor,
a duration of the illuminating (A) is determined by a first maximum integration time associated with the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors during the capturing (B), wherein an integration time of a first pixel array photo-sensor in the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors is different than an integration time of a second pixel array photo-sensor in the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors during the capturing (B),
a duration of the illuminating (D) is determined by a second maximum integration time associated with the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors during the capturing (E), wherein an integration time of the first pixel array photo-sensor is different than an integration time of the second pixel array photo-sensor during the capturing (E), and
the first maximum integr

Assignees

• Hypermed Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Darty Mark Anthony
• Tilleman Michael
• Meenen Peter
• Yudovsky Dmitry

Classifications

• G01J3/0294 Primary

  Multi-channel spectroscopy · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/74

  by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means · CPC title

• G01J3/0291 Primary

  Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements · CPC title