EP0547599A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image capture with spatial light modulator and single-cell photosensor
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1992-12-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-12-17
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for capturing an image, using a spatial light modulator (SLM) 11 and a single-element sensor 15. The SLM 11 is an array of individually switchable pixel elements, which reflect light toward the sensor if switched to an "on" position. As each pixel element is switched on, light from that pixel element is directed to the sensor 15. For each pixel element, the sensor 15 generates a signal proportional to the light associated with that pixel element, the result being a series of signals representing at least one image frame. The process may be repeated for a number of image frames for generating moving pictures. The SLM is a deformable mirror device.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Stoltz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:58
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/02; H04N3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
An optics unit for capturing an image, comprising: a means for directing image-reflected light to a spatial light modulator; a spatial light modulator (SLM) comprised of an array of reflective pixel elements, which are individually addressable and switchable, such that a series of pixel-reflected light beams are reflected from said SLM as different pixels are switched; a control circuit for addressing and switching said SLM; a means for focussing said pixel-reflected light to a photosensor; and a photosensor for detecting a single pixel-reflected light beam and for generating an electrical signal proportional to the intensity of said pixel-reflected light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optics unit of Claim 1, and further comprising a plurality of sensors, each for detecting a beam of pixel-reflected light from a different pixel element of said SLM.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optics unit of Claim 1 or Claim 2, where said sensor is color-sensitive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optics unit of any preceding claim, and further comprising an analog to digital converter for converting said electrical signal to a series of digital codes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The optics unit of any of claims 1 to 3, and further comprising a capacitor circuit for transforming said electrical signal into an analog signal usable by conventional image generating equipment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The optics unit of any preceding claim, and further comprising timing means for switching said SLM, such that a number of pixel elements representing an image frame are addressed in series.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optics unit of any preceding claim, wherein said SLM is a deformable mirror device.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of using a spatial light modulator and at least one single-cell sensor to capture an image in the form of an electrical signal, comprising the steps of: directing image-reflected light from an image to a spatial light modulator (SLM); switching a pixel element of said SLM to an on position, such that said image-reflected light is reflected by said pixel element as a pixel-reflected beam; focussing said pixel-reflected beam onto a single-cell photosensor; detecting said pixel-reflected beam with said single-cell photosensor; generating an electrical signal proportional to said pixel-reflected light, using the output of said sensor; and repeating said switching and detecting steps for a series of said pixel elements until a number of said pixel elements, representing an image frame containing said image, have been switched.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 8, and further comprising the step of timing said switching step so that said pixel elements of said image frame are switched in near real-time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein said detecting step is performed with a number of color-sensitive sensors simultaneously.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
56 words
The method of any of claims 8 to 10, and wherein said switching step is modified so that more than one additional pixel element is switched on at the same time to generate and number of pixel-reflected beams, and said detecting step is modified so that a sensor associated with each pixel-reflected beam detects that beam.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
21 words
The method of any of claims 8 to 11, and further comprising the step of capturing a succession of image frames.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
23 words
The method of any of claims 8 to 12, and further comprising the step of converting said electrical signal into a digital signal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
29 words
The method of any of claims 8 to 12, and further comprising the step of delivering said electrical signal to capacitor circuitry for generating a conventional analog image signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
An image capturing system, comprising: an optics unit for capturing an image having a means for directing image-reflected light to a spatial light modulator (SLM), a SLM comprised of an array of reflective pixel elements, which are individually addressable and switchable, such that a series of pixel-reflected light beams are reflected from said SLM as different pixels are switched, a means for focussing said pixel-reflected light to a photosensor, and a photosensor for detecting a single pixel-reflected light beam and for generating an electrical signal proportional to the intensity of said pixel-reflected light; an analog to digital converter for converting said electrical signal to a digital signal; and a processor for performing image processing operations on said digital signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of Claim 15, wherein said spatial light modulator is a deformable mirror device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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