Multispectral digital camera employing both visible light and non-visible light sensing on a single image sensor
US7460160B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 2004 |
| Grant date | Dec 2, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 29, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2209/045
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A digital camera having a single image sensor made up of an array of filtered photosites used to capture non-visible light wavelengths in addition to the standard red/green/blue (RGB) or other visible light intensity values is presented. Essentially, this is accomplished using a separate filter disposed over each photosite that exhibits a light transmission function with regard to wavelength which passes only a prescribed range of wavelengths—some passing light in the visible light spectrum and others in the non-visible light spectrum. The photosites passing non-visible light wavelengths can be configured to pass light in the infrared (IR) light spectrum, which can be limited to just the near infrared (NIR) spectrum if desired, or alternately light in the ultra-violet (UV) light spectrum.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.