Multi-band optical filtering method and apparatus

An optical filtering apparatus for generating a multi-wavelength image of a subject, the optical filtering apparatus comprising:

• a filter unit configured to have a plurality of sub-filter units including a first sub-filter unit through which a first wavelength band passes and a second sub-filter unit through which a second wavelength band, which is different from the first wavelength band, passes,
• a driving unit configured to drive the filter unit, and
• an imaging unit configured to generate the multi-wavelength image of the subject,
• wherein, while light generated in a light source passes through the filter unit, the filter unit filters the light such that an intensity of the first wavelength band is dominant in a first region and an intensity of the second wavelength band is dominant in a second region,
• wherein the driving unit drives the filter unit such that the intensity of the first wavelength band is dominant in the first region at a first time point, the intensity of the second wavelength band is dominant in the first region at a second time point, and an nth wavelength band corresponding to the plurality of sub-filter units is sequentially dominant in the first region at a subsequent nth time point,
• wherein the imaging unit generates the multi-wavelength image of the subject, by using one or two or more among a plurality of subject images generated at a plurality of time points, including a first subject image generated at the first time point and a second subject image generated at the second time point, and
• wherein a gradient in which the intensity of the second wavelength band increases while the intensity of the first wavelength band decreases is included between the first region and the second region.

An optical filtering apparatus for generating a multi-wavelength image of a subject, the optical filtering apparatus comprising:

• a filter unit configured to have a plurality of sub-filter units including a first sub-filter unit through which a first wavelength band passes and a second sub-filter unit through which a second wavelength band, which is different from the first wavelength band, passes,
• a driving unit configured to drive the filter unit, and
• wherein, while light generated in a light source passes through the filter unit, the filter unit filters the light such that an intensity of the first wavelength band is dominant in a first region and an intensity of the second wavelength band is dominant in a second region,
• wherein the driving unit drives the filter unit such that the intensity of the first wavelength band is dominant in the first region at a first time point, the intensity of the second wavelength band is dominant in the first region at a second time point, and an nth wavelength band corresponding to the plurality of sub-filter units is sequentially dominant in the first region at a subsequent nth time point, and
• wherein
• the first sub-filter unit includes a 1-1-th sub-filter piece and a 1-2-th sub-filter piece,
• the second sub-filter unit includes a 2-1-th sub-filter piece and a 2-2 sub-filter piece, and
• the 1-1-th sub-filter piece and the 1-2-th sub-filter piece are positioned to cross each other with the 2-1-th sub-filter piece and the 2-2-th sub-filter piece.

An optical filter method for generating a multi-wavelength image of a subject, the method comprising:

• driving a filter unit using a driving unit;
• filtering light generated from a light source using the filter unit configured to have a plurality of sub-filter units including a first sub-filter unit through which a first wavelength band passes and a second sub-filter unit through which a second wavelength band, which is different from the first wavelength band, passes;
• and
• generating the multi-wavelength image of the subject using the light filtered by the filter unit,
• wherein, in the filtering, the filter unit filters and transmits the light such that an intensity of the first wavelength band is dominant in a first region and an intensity of the second wavelength band is dominant in a second region,
• wherein the driving unit drives the filter unit such that the intensity of the first wavelength band is dominant in the first region at a first time point, the intensity of the second wavelength band is dominant in the first region at a second time point, and an nth wavelength band corresponding to the plurality of sub-filter units is sequentially dominant in the first region at a subsequent nth time point, and
• wherein the first sub-filter unit includes a 1-1-th sub-filter piece and a 1-2-th sub-filter piece,
• the second sub-filter unit includes a 2-1-th sub-filter piece and a 2-2 sub-filter piece, and
• the 1-1-th sub-filter piece and the 1-2-th sub-filter piece are positioned to cross each other with the 2-1-th sub-filter piece and the 2-2-th sub-filter piece.