Spatial and spectral filtering apertures and optical imaging systems including the same
AssigneeStryker European Operations Limited
InventorFrederick Allen MOORE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filter includes a central filter region, the central filter region to transmit a first wavelength range, a peripheral filter region, the peripheral filter region to block a second wavelength range, and a transition filter region between the central and peripheral filter regions, the transition filter region to transmit or block the second wavelength range differently than the second wavelength range is to be transmitted or blocked in the central and peripheral filter regions. More generally, there may be “N” regions and up to N−1 transition regions.
Claims18
(canceled)
A filter, comprising:
- a central filter region, the central filter region to transmit a first wavelength range;
- a peripheral filter region, the peripheral filter region to block a second wavelength range and to transmit the first wavelength range;
- and
- a transition filter region between the central and peripheral filter regions, wherein the transition filter region includes a plurality of first portions and a plurality of second portions arranged in a pattern configured to apodize the boundary between the central and peripheral filter regions, wherein the first portions are to block the second wavelength range and the second portions are to transmit the second wavelength range.
A method of filtering at least a first wavelength range and a second wavelength range using a filter, the method comprising:
- transmitting the first wavelength range in a central region of the filter;
- blocking the second wavelength range and transmitting the first wavelength range in a peripheral region of the filter;
- and
- apodizing the boundary between the central and peripheral filter regions, by in a transition filter region between the central and peripheral filter regions blocking the second wavelength range in first portions of the transition filter region and transmitting the second wavelength range in second portions of the transition filter region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.