Apparatus and method for multispectral based detection

A method for spatially characterizing a specific illumination source of interest in a scene, the method comprising:

• a) predetermining wavelengths of light corresponding to the specific illumination source of interest that may be present in the scene;
• b) directing light from the scene through a multi-bandpass filter to cause narrowing of the light within at least two different spectral sensitivity bands that distinguish the illumination source of interest from other illumination sources in the scene;
• c) projecting the filtered light to form an image of the scene, including the specific illumination source of interest, through a color filter array covering a single plane sensing array, the single plane sensing array separate from the multi-bandpass filter and comprising at least two types of pixels having different spectral sensitivity bands corresponding to spectral absorption, reflection, or emission predetermined wavelengths that distinguish the illumination source of interest from other illumination sources in the scene;
• and
• d) processing signals defining individual images from the sensing array, and for each individual image, interpolating at least two levels of signals received from at least one spatial location on the sensing array and determining the presence of the specific illumination source of interest from the relative intensities of the two levels.

An apparatus for spatially characterizing a specific illumination source of interest in a scene, the apparatus comprising:

• a) at least one optical element configured to form an image of the scene including the specific illumination source of interest on a focal plane;
• b) a single plane sensing array covered by a color filter array, and positioned at the focal plane and comprising at least two types of pixels each having different spectral sensitivity bands and a range of sensitivities which do not overlap at least one of the sensitivity bands of at least one other pixel type, wherein the pixels are located at spatially non-overlapping regions of the sensing array;
• c) a multi-bandpass filter disposed between the scene and the sensing array, the filter separated from the sensing array and spectrally narrowing light received from the scene within at least two of the different spectral sensitivity band ranges corresponding to predetermined spectral absorption, reflection, or emission features that distinguish the specific illumination source of interest from other illumination sources in the scene;
• and
• d) a processor in signal communication with the sensing array and containing an algorithm executable by the processor to process individual image data received from the sensing array, and for each individual image defined by the received image data, to interpolate at least two levels of signals received from at least one spatial location on the sensing array and to determine the presence of the specific illumination source of interest from the predetermined spectral absorption, reflection, or emission features of the specific illumination source of interest and from the relative intensities of the two levels.