Multi-dimensional multi-spectral imaging system
AssigneeUniversity of Connecticut
InventorsSol Nudelman, Donald R. Ouimette
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image acquisition system employs elemental and/or lateral effect detectors in conjunction with an optical scanner which provides a beam of radiation tracing out a raster to illuminate an object. The system generates an electrical signal which is processed to generate data indicative of a two or three dimensional image of an object, in spectrally selective monochromatic wavelengths or broadband regions. An endoscope is designed to make particular use of this image generating system. The image system includes a digital system able to provide a data matrix of two and three dimensional coordinates and the radiation intensity at each of the coordinates as well as spectral dependent image processing, display and archival storage.
Claims18
An image acquisition system for acquiring a multi-dimensional image of an object comprising:
- optical scanner means comprising radiation source means for generating a beam of non-ionizing electro-magnetic radiation for tracing out a raster;
- transmission means optically coupled to said scanner means for illuminating an object with said raster;
- detector means comprising a lateral effect photodetector for detecting radiation reflected from said object;
- and
- processor means communicating with said detector means for determining the position of detected radiation relative to said photodetector and for generating data indicative of a multi-dimensional image of said object.
An image acquisition system for acquiring a three dimensional image of an object comprising:
- optical scanner means comprising radiation source means for generating a beam of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation for tracing out a raster and projecting said raster onto an object;
- detector means comprising a lateral effect photodiode for detecting radiation reflected from said object;
- and
- processor means communicating with said detector means for defining an array of pixels for determining the position of radiation impinging each photodetector and for generating data indicative of reflectance intensity and the elevational coordinate for each pixel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.