Eye-imaging apparatus and method employing sequential flashing of illumination light in synchronization with the operation of an image sensor

An eye-imaging method using an eye-imaging apparatus comprising a light source operable to emit red, green, and blue light, a light guide cable positioned next to the light source and configured to transmit light emitted from the light source and emit light from an emitting end to illuminate an eye of a patient, the emitting end being positioned proximate to a front optical element of one or more optical lenses defining an imaging path for light reflected from the eye of the patient, and a one-chip color image sensor positioned in the imaging path and comprising a shutter, the method comprising:

• sequentially flashing the red light, the green light, and the blue light from the light source;
• opening and closing the shutter comprised by the one-chip color image sensor in synchronization with flashing each of the red light, the green light, and the blue light;
• measuring by the one-chip color image sensor a red image, a green image, and a blue image in the imaging path when the shutter is opened;
• and
• transmitting to a remote computerized device:
• the red image in a red channel;
• the green image in a green channel;
• and
• the blue image in a blue channel;
• wherein the red image, the green image, and the blue image are transmitted sequentially one at a time to the remote computerized device on the respective red channel, green channel, and blue channel;
• wherein the synchronization is implemented in that the light source flashing is on when the shutter of the image sensor is open and the light source flashing is off when the shutter of the image sensor is closed;
• and
• wherein an averaged amount of light output from each flashing is controlled through pulse width modulation (PWM) having a duty cycle, a pulse peak value, and a pulsing frequency, with the pulsing frequency being at least 10 times a frame rate of the image sensor.

An eye-imaging apparatus comprising:

• a light source comprising a red light source, a green light source, and a blue light source with each color light source being individually operable;
• one or more optical lenses defining an imaging path for light reflected from an eye of a patient, including a front optical element;
• a light guide cable positioned next to the light source and configured to transmit light emitted from the light source and emit light from an emitting end to illuminate the eye of the patient, the emitting end being positioned proximate to the front optical element;
• and
• a one-chip color image sensor positioned in the imaging path and comprising a shutter, the color image sensor being operable to:
• independently measure red light, green light, and blue light in the imaging path;
• and
• transmit measured red light in a red channel, measured green light in a green channel, and measured blue light in a blue channel;
• and
• wherein the light source is operated to sequentially flash the red light source, the green light source, and the blue light source in synchronization with the operation of the image sensor;
• wherein the color image sensor is operable to capture one of a red image, a green image, and a blue image in synchronization with the color flashed by the light source;
• wherein the color image sensor is configured to transmit the red image on the red channel, the green image on the green channel, and the blue image on the blue channel;
• wherein the red image, the green image, and the blue image are transmitted by the color image sensor one at a time on the respective red channel, green channel, and blue channel;
• wherein the synchronization is implemented in that the light source flashing is on when the shutter of the image sensor is open and the light source flashing is off when the shutter of the image sensor is closed;
• wherein an averaged amount of light output from each flashing is controlled through pulse width modulation (PWM) having a duty cycle, a pulse peak value, and a pulsing frequency, with the pulsing frequency being at least 10 times a frame rate of the image sensor;
• and
• wherein the red image, the green image, and the blue image transmitted on the respective red channel, green channel, and blue channel are configured to be combined to produce at least one of a color image and a live color video.