Single photon-counting imaging system and method thereof

US8723130B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Center for Space Science and Applied Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences · CN

Inventors

• Guangjie Zhai · Beijing, CN
• Keming Du · Aachen, DE
• Chao Wang · Hubei, CN
• Wenkai Yu · Beijing, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 23, 2012
• Grant date: May 13, 2014
• Expiry date: Apr 23, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01J2001/442
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A single-photon counting imaging system and method includes an optical filter, first and second lenses, a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) control system, a single-photon counter and a data processing unit. The DMD and first and second lenses convert two-dimensional image data into a one-dimensional sequence. The ultra-weak light is filtered by the optical filter, after which the ultra-weak light image onto the DMD through the first lens. The DMD controls the probability of the photons reflected to the second lens and the second lens controls focusing of the photons. The data processing unit and single-photon counter complete sparse reconstruction. The data processing unit converts the number of photons counted by the single-photon counter within a certain period of time into the probability of detected photon counts. A photon density image is reconstructed by adopting an optimization algorithm based on the measurement matrix on the DMD and the measured value.