Full spectrum color detecting pixel camera
US7437000B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 11, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03B15/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention comprises the means for the capture of full spectrum images in an electronic camera without the use of color primary filters to limit the spectral color gamut of the captured image. The fundamental principle of the invention is that each pixel of the image sensor acts as an independent spectrophotometer and spectral separator.Electromagnetic energy enters though a slit or collimating optic.Electromagnetic energy gets diffracted into component spectra by diffraction grating spectrophotometer for each pixel of imageElectromagnetic energy leaves diffraction grating at different angles based on wavelength of the energySpectrophotometer separates light for each pixel into its spectral components onto photodetector line array elements.Individual line array elements which are activated determine the original radiance level of the light source containing that specific wavelength region. The sum of these regions determines the spectral signature of the light at that pixel element.Many pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix would generate the image frame. Sequencing frame yields a full-spectrum moving image.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.