Method and apparatus for performing qualitative and quantitative analysis of produce (fruit, vegetables) using spatially structured illumination

An apparatus for noninvasively and quantitatively determining spatially resolved absorption and reduced scattering coefficients over a wide field-of-view of a food object, including fruit or produce, using spatial-frequency-domain imaging (SFDI) comprising a single modulated imaging platform comprising:

• a light source comprising a preselected spectral domain;
• a digital micromirror optically coupled to the light source to control a modulated light pattern directed onto the food object at a plurality of selected spatial frequencies;
• a multispectral camera for taking a spectral image of a reflected modulated light pattern from the food object;
• a spectrally variable filter optically coupled between the food object and the multispectral camera to select a discrete number of wavelengths for image capture;
• and
• a computer coupled to the digital micromirror, camera and variable filter to enable acquisition of the reflected modulated light pattern at the selected spatial frequencies, wherein the computer controls the digital micromirror camera and variable filter to simultaneously image fluorophore spectral characteristics of the food object.