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US 12,480,826 B2Granted
Retrographic sensors with fluorescent illumination
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorEdward Adelson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A retrographic sensor includes a transparent structure, a transparent elastomeric pad, and an at least partially reflective layer. One or more excitation light sources emit light toward a side surface of the transparent structure. The side surface may include a fluorescent layer, where the light from the one or more excitation light sources excites fluorescent emissions from the fluorescent layer. The fluorescent emissions may illuminate the at least partially reflective layer.
Claims20
A retrographic sensor comprising:
- a transparent structure including an interior surface, an exterior surface, and one or more side surfaces extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface;
- a transparent elastomeric pad disposed on the exterior surface of the transparent structure;
- an at least partially reflective layer disposed on the transparent elastomeric pad such that the transparent elastomeric pad is disposed between the at least partially reflective layer and the transparent structure;
- and
- a first fluorescent layer disposed on at least a first side surface of the one or more side surfaces, wherein the first fluorescent layer is configured to emit first fluorescent light into the transparent structure.
2 more elements
A retrographic sensor comprising:
- a transparent structure including an interior surface, an exterior surface, a first side surface extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface, and a second side surface extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface;
- a transparent elastomeric pad disposed on the exterior surface of the transparent structure;
- a first fluorescent layer disposed on the first side surface, wherein the first fluorescent layer is configured to emit a first fluorescent light in a first emission wavelength band into the transparent structure;
- and
- a second fluorescent layer disposed on the second side surface, wherein the second fluorescent layer is configured to emit a second fluorescent light in a second emission wavelength band into the transparent structure, wherein the first fluorescent layer is configured to absorb the second fluorescent light that is incident on the first fluorescent layer, and wherein the second fluorescent layer is configured to absorb the first fluorescent light that is incident on the second fluorescent layer.
2 more elements
A method of operating a retrographic sensor, comprising:
- illuminating a fluorescent layer disposed on a side surface of a transparent structure with an excitation light source;
- emitting a first fluorescent light from the fluorescent layer into the transparent structure toward a transparent elastomeric pad disposed on an exterior surface of the transparent structure;
- reflecting the first fluorescent light off of an exterior surface of the elastomeric pad toward an interior surface of the transparent structure;
- and
- receiving light reflected from the exterior surface of the elastomeric pad at a photosensitive detector.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.