Adaptive spatial sampling using an imaging assembly having a tunable spectral response

A module for image capture using an image capture device which includes an imaging assembly having a spectral capture response whose spectral detection sensitivity is tunable in wavelength in accordance with a capture parameter, the module comprising:

• capture parameter module constructed to apply a default capture parameter to the imaging assembly, wherein the default capture parameter has high spectral dimensionality;
• imaging controller module constructed to capture a sample image of a scene with the spectral capture response of the imaging assembly being tuned in wavelength by the default capture parameter;
• scene property analysis module constructed to analyze the sample image to identify multiple different regions in the scene, wherein each such region shares similar imaging properties that are dissimilar from imaging properties in other regions of the scene;
• a deriving module constructed to derive a spectral mask based on the analysis, wherein the spectral mask is derived so as to achieve image capture tailored to the imaging properties of each different region of the scene;
• and
• a mask module constructed to apply the spectral mask as the capture parameter to the imaging assembly,
• wherein the imaging controller module captures a final image of the scene with the spectral capture response of the imaging assembly being tuned in wavelength by the applied spectral mask as the capture parameter, and the final image is stored.

A image capture device which includes an imaging assembly having a spectral capture response whose spectral detection sensitivity is tunable in wavelength in accordance with a capture parameter, the apparatus comprising:

• a capture parameter unit constructed to apply a default capture parameter to the imaging assembly, wherein the default capture parameter has high spectral dimensionality;
• a capturing unit constructed to capture a sample image of a scene with the spectral capture response of the imaging assembly being tuned in wavelength by the default capture parameter;
• an analyzing unit constructed to analyze the sample image to identify multiple different regions in the scene, wherein each such region shares similar imaging properties that are dissimilar from imaging properties in other regions of the scene;
• a deriving unit constructed to derive a spectral mask based on the analysis, wherein the spectral mask is derived so as to achieve image capture tailored to the imaging properties of each different region of the scene;
• and
• a mask unit constructed to apply the spectral mask as the capture parameter to the imaging assembly,
• wherein the capturing unit captures a final image of the scene with the spectral capture response of the imaging assembly being tuned in wavelength by the applied spectral mask as the capture parameter, and the final image is stored.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which is retrievably stored computer-executable process steps for image capture using an image capture device which includes an imaging assembly having a spectral capture response whose spectral detection sensitivity is tunable in wavelength in accordance with a capture parameter, the process steps comprising:

• applying a default capture parameter to the imaging assembly, wherein the default capture parameter has high spectral dimensionality;
• capturing a sample image of a scene with the spectral capture response of the imaging assembly being tuned in wavelength by the default capture parameter;
• analyzing the sample image to identify multiple different regions in the scene, wherein each such region shares similar imaging properties that are dissimilar from imaging properties in other regions of the scene;
• deriving a spectral mask based on the analysis, wherein the spectral mask is derived so as to achieve image capture tailored to the imaging properties of each different region of the scene;
• applying the spectral mask as the capture parameter to the imaging assembly;
• and
• capturing and storing a final image of the scene with the spectral capture response of the imaging assembly being tuned in wavelength by the applied spectral mask as the capture parameter.