Methods and apparatus for imaging using a light guide bundle and a spatial light modulator

A method of making an viewing system comprising:

• a) providing a spatial light modulator;
• b) providing a light guide bundle having a proximal end and a distal end;
• and,
• c) placing the spatial light modulator in optical connection to the proximal end of the light guide bundle in a same conjugate image plane as the proximal end such that the spatial light modulator controls the location of light impinging on the proximal end;
• wherein the method further comprises optically connecting a pixelated detector to the system to receive light emanating from the proximal end of the light guide bundle and further providing the controller with computer-implemented programming that distinguishes between light emanating from the light guides corresponding to on-pixels of the spatial light modulator and light emanating from other light guides;
• wherein the method is directed to making a single-pass viewing system, and the method further comprises providing a light source optically connected to the proximal end of the light guide bundle and placing the spatial light modulator in optical connection between the light source and the proximal end of the light guide bundle and not in optical connection between the light source and the pixelated detector;
• and,
• wherein the method further comprises providing a scanner that controls the location of light transmitted to the spatial light modulator and on to the proximal end of the light guide bundle, and further providing the controller with computer-implemented programming that directs the scanner to scan the spatial light modulator and simultaneously sets at least one of the corresponding pixels to an on-state and sets other pixels of the spatial light modulator to an off-state to transmit light from the light source substantially only to the cores of corresponding light guides.

A method of making an viewing system comprising:

• a) providing a spatial light modulator;
• b) providing a light guide bundle having a proximal end and a distal end;
• and,
• c) placing the spatial light modulator in optical connection to the proximal end of the light guide bundle in a same conjugate image plane as the proximal end such that the spatial light modulator controls the location of light impinging on the proximal end;
• wherein the method further comprises optically connecting a pixelated detector to the system to receive light emanating from the proximal end of the light guide bundle and further providing the controller with computer-implemented programming that distinguishes between light emanating from the light guides corresponding to on-pixels of the spatial light modulator and light emanating from other light guides;
• wherein the method is directed to making a single-pass viewing system, and the method further comprises providing a light source optically connected to the proximal end of the light guide bundle and placing the spatial light modulator in optical connection between the light source and the proximal end of the light guide bundle and not in optical connection between the light source and the pixelated detector;
• and,
• wherein the method further comprises optically connecting the light source to the spatial light modulator such that the light source illuminates a substantial portion of the pixels of the spatial light modulator, and further providing the controller with computer-implemented programming that sets selected corresponding pixels to an on-state and sets other pixels of the spatial light modulator to an off-state to transmit light from the light source substantially only to the cores of the light guides corresponding to the corresponding pixels.

A method of making an viewing system comprising:

• a) providing a spatial light modulator;
• b) providing a light guide bundle having a proximal end and a distal end;
• and,
• c) placing the spatial light modulator in optical connection to the proximal end of the light guide bundle in a same conjugate image plane as the proximal end such that the spatial light modulator controls the location of light impinging on the proximal end;
• wherein the method further comprises optically connecting a pixelated detector to the system to receive light emanating from the proximal end of the light guide bundle and further providing the controller with computer-implemented programming that distinguishes between light emanating from the light guides corresponding to on-pixels of the spatial light modulator and light emanating from other light guides;
• wherein the method is directed to making a double-pass viewing system, and the method further comprises providing a light source optically connected to the proximal end of the light guide bundle and placing the spatial light modulator in optical connection between a) the light source and the pixelated detector, and b) the proximal end of the light guide bundle;
• and,
• wherein the method further comprises providing a scanner that controls the location of light transmitted to the spatial light modulator and on to the proximal end of the light guide bundle, and further providing the controller with computer-implemented programming that directs the scanner to scan the spatial light modulator and simultaneously sets at least one of the corresponding pixels to an on-state and sets other pixels of the spatial light modulator to an off-state to transmit light from the light source substantially only to the cores of corresponding light guides.

A method of making an viewing system comprising:

• a) providing a spatial light modulator;
• b) providing a light guide bundle having a proximal end and a distal end;
• and,
• c) placing the spatial light modulator in optical connection to the proximal end of the light guide bundle in a same conjugate image plane as the proximal end such that the spatial light modulator controls the location of light impinging on the proximal end;
• wherein the method further comprises optically connecting a pixelated detector to the system to receive light emanating from the proximal end of the light guide bundle and further providing the controller with computer-implemented programming that distinguishes between light emanating from the light guides corresponding to on-pixels of the spatial light modulator and light emanating from other light guides;
• wherein the method is directed to making a double-pass viewing system, and the method further comprises providing a light source optically connected to the proximal end of the light guide bundle and placing the spatial light modulator in optical connection between a) the light source and the pixelated detector, and b) the proximal end of the light guide bundle;
• and,
• wherein the method further comprises optically connecting the light source to the spatial light modulator such that the light source illuminates a substantial portion of the pixels of the spatial light modulator, and further providing the controller with computer-implemented programming that sets selected corresponding pixels to an on-state and sets other pixels of the spatial light modulator to an off-state to transmit light from the light source substantially only to the cores of the light guides corresponding to the corresponding pixels.