Analyzers with time variation based on color-coded spatial modulation

A method, comprising:

• exciting at least one object such that the object emanates light, the object being an area within a larger object;
• causing relative motion between the object and the filter assembly such that light emanating from the excited object is sequentially filtered through a longitudinal sequence of filter regions to provide a filtered output light, the longitudinal sequence of filter regions including first regions of a first filter type and second regions of a second filter type, the first and second filter types transmitting respective first and second spectral ranges of light, the first and second spectral ranges of the respective filter regions being sufficiently different from each other that the difference causes a time variation in the filtered output light;
• detecting the filtered output light and providing a time-varying detector output as a function of the detected light;
• and
• analyzing the time-varying detector output to provide one or more characteristics of the object.

A method of using a filter arrangement, the method comprising:

• during relative movement between an object and the filter arrangement, the object emanating light within an application's range of photon energies and transmitting/reflecting at least some of the emanating light through the filter arrangement;
• the act of transmitting/reflecting at least some of the emanating light through the filter arrangement producing time variation in the emanating light that includes information about characteristics of the object, wherein the object is a color area within a larger object, the act of transmitting/reflecting including at least one of:
• transmitting/reflecting respective portions of the emanating light through respective positions of a filter assembly within the filter arrangement;
• two of the positions that are adjacent having respective transmission functions sufficiently different from each other that the difference causes time variation in the emanating light between the respective segments;
• and
• transmitting/reflecting a respective portion of the emanating light through a filter component within the filter arrangement;
• the filter component having a combined transmission function in which a set of two or more simpler transmission functions is superimposed;
• the set including first and second simpler non-uniform transmission functions, the set being superimposed such that time variation occurs in the emanating light in accordance with superposition of the first and second simpler nonuniform transmission functions.

An apparatus comprising:

• an encoding component, the encoding component including a filter arrangement that can receive light emanating from objects in response to input light that is within an application's range of photon energies and that is emanating from an object during relative motion between the object and the filter arrangement, the filter arrangement providing output light that includes information about one or more characteristics of the object wherein the object is a colored area within a larger object;
• the filter arrangement including at least one of:
• a filter assembly that includes a set of positions, each having a respective transmission function within the range;
• a series of segments of an object's relative motion including at least two segments from which respective positions in the set receive light emanating from the object, two of the respective positions that are adjacent having respective transmission functions sufficiently different from each other that the difference causes time variation in the output light while the object travels through the respective segments;
• and
• a filter component that receives input light from a segment of an object and that, within the range, has a combined transmission function in which a set of two or more simpler transmission functions is superimposed;
• the set including first and second simpler non-uniform transmission functions, the set being superimposed such that time variation occurs in the output light in accordance with superposition of the first and second simpler non-uniform transmission functions while the object travels through the segment.

An article of manufacture, comprising:

• a structure, wherein excitation light enters the structure and interacts with an object resulting in emanating light;
• and
• one or more mask arrangements configured to receive at least part of the emanating light and in response, provide encoded emanating light,
• wherein the one or more mask arrangements and the channel are further configured so that the encoded emanating light includes time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the object, the time variation including information the object, wherein the object comprises an area within a larger object;
• and
• a photo-sensor configured to receive the encoded emanating light and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, and wherein the photo-sensor is further configured to provide an electrical signal indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms.