US7944467B2
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US
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Task-based imaging systems
Assignee: Omnivision Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 2006-09-19
•
Granted: 2011-05-17
•
Expires: 2026-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A task-based imaging system for obtaining data regarding a scene for use in a task includes an image data capturing arrangement for (a) imaging a wavefront of electromagnetic energy from the scene to an intermediate image over a range of spatial frequencies, (b) modifying phase of the wavefront, (c) detecting the intermediate image, and (d) generating image data over the range of spatial frequencies. The task-based imaging system also includes an image data processing arrangement for processing the image data and performing the task. The image data capturing and image data processing arrangements cooperate so that signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the task-based imaging system is greater than SNR of the task-based imaging system without phase modification of the wavefront over the range of spatial frequencies.
Inventors
- 👤 Paulo E. X. Silveira
- 👤 Ramkumar Narayanswamy
- 👤 Robert H. Cormack
- 👤 Gregory E. Johnson
- 👤 Edward R. Dowski, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 02:14
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/0025; G06; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/18; G06V40/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
A task-based imaging system for obtaining data regarding a scene for use in a task, comprising: at least one optical element for (a) imaging a wavefront of electromagnetic energy from the scene to an intermediate image and (b) modifying phase of the wavefront; and a first detector for detecting the intermediate image over a range of spatial frequencies, the at least one optical element being configured for cooperating with the first detector so that signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the task-based imaging system is greater than SNR of the task-based imaging system without phase modification of the wavefront over the range of spatial frequencies, wherein modifying phase is characterized by a pupil function of a form: ϕ ( x , y ) = ∑ i , j = 0 N x i α ( i , j ) y j , where x and y are normalized spatial coordinates, r is a radius of an entrance pupil and α(i,j) are pupil function coefficients for indices i and j with ∑ i , j = 1 N α ( i , j ) r - i - j 2 < ∑ l = 0 N α ( l , 0 ) r - l 2 + α ( 0 , l ) r - l 2 , and wherein at least one of coefficients α(i,j) has a value of at least one when at least one of indices i and j equals zero.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
A task-based imaging system for obtaining data regarding a scene for use in a task, comprising: at least one optical element for (a) imaging a wavefront of electromagnetic energy from the scene to an intermediate image and (b) modifying phase of the wavefront; and a first detector for detecting the intermediate image over a range of spatial frequencies, the at least one optical element being configured for cooperating with the first detector so that signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the task-based imaging system is greater than SNR of the task-based imaging system without phase modification of the wavefront over the range of spatial frequencies, wherein modifying phase is characterized by a pupil function of a form: ϕ ( x , y ) = ∑ i , j = 0 N x i α ( i , j ) y j , where x and y are normalized spatial coordinates, r is a radius of an entrance pupil and α(i,j) are pupil function coefficients for indices i and j with ∑ i , j = 1 N α ( i , j ) r - i - j 2 < ∑ l = 0 N α ( l , 0 ) r - l 2 + α ( 0 , l ) r - l 2 , and wherein at least one of coefficients α(i,j) has a value of at least one when at least one of indices i and j equals zero.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The task-based imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the task is selected as at least one of biometric iris recognition, biometric face recognition, biometric recognition for access control, biometric recognition for threat identification, barcode reading, imaging for quality control in an assembly line, optical character recognition, biological imaging and automotive imaging for object detection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The task-based imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising an image processing arrangement for performing the task.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The task-based imaging system of claim 3 , further comprising a modulation element for modifying the phase of the wavefront, wherein the modulation element and the image processing arrangement cooperate so as to reduce at least one imaging aberration in the task-based imaging system in comparison to the task-based imaging system without the modulation element and the image processing arrangement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The task-based imaging system of claim 4 , wherein the imaging aberration is one or more of temperature-dependent aberration and impact-induced aberration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The task-based imaging system of claim 3 , wherein the image processing arrangement creates a record of the task, and records the record in a data storage unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The task-based imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a second detector in electronic communication with the first detector such that image data formed by the first detector in response to the intermediate image is transferable between the first detector and the second detector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The task-based imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the pupil function coefficients are given by α(0,3)=α(3,0)=23.394, α(0,5)=α(5,0)=60.108, α(0,7)=α(7,0)=−126.421, α(0,9)=α(9,0)=82.128, α(3,3)=5.021, α(5,5)=−21.418, α(7,7)=−310.749, and α(9,9)=−1100.336.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The task-based imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical element is a variable optical element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The task-based imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the variable optical element provides variable modification of the phase of the wavefront.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The task-based imaging system of claim 10 , wherein the variable optical element includes at least one of adaptive optics and a spatial light modulator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The task-based imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the variable optical element provides variable scaling of the intermediate image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The task-based imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the variable optical element includes at least a selected one of a liquid lens, a liquid crystal variator, a slidable optical element configuration, a sliding variator arrangement and a sliding aperture variator.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
238 words
A method for use with a task-based imaging system, comprising: imaging electromagnetic energy from a scene to an intermediate image of the task-based imaging system over a range of spatial frequencies; modifying phase of a wavefront of the electromagnetic energy; detecting the intermediate image; and generating image data over the range of spatial frequencies, based on the intermediate image such that signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the task-based imaging system is greater than SNR of the task-based imaging system without modifying phase over the range of spatial frequencies, wherein modifying the phase of the wavefront comprises altering the phase with a pupil function of a form: ϕ ( x , y ) = ∑ i , j = 1 N x i α ( i , j ) y j , where x and y are normalized spatial coordinates, r is a radius of an entrance pupil and α(i,j) are pupil function coefficients for indices i and j with ∑ i , j = 1 N α ( i , j ) 2 < ∑ l = 0 N α ( l , 0 ) 2 + α ( 0 , l ) 2 , wherein at least one of coefficients α(i,j) has a value of at least one when at least one of indices i and j equals zero.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
238 words
A method for use with a task-based imaging system, comprising: imaging electromagnetic energy from a scene to an intermediate image of the task-based imaging system over a range of spatial frequencies; modifying phase of a wavefront of the electromagnetic energy; detecting the intermediate image; and generating image data over the range of spatial frequencies, based on the intermediate image such that signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the task-based imaging system is greater than SNR of the task-based imaging system without modifying phase over the range of spatial frequencies, wherein modifying the phase of the wavefront comprises altering the phase with a pupil function of a form: ϕ ( x , y ) = ∑ i , j = 1 N x i α ( i , j ) y j , where x and y are normalized spatial coordinates, r is a radius of an entrance pupil and α(i,j) are pupil function coefficients for indices i and j with ∑ i , j = 1 N α ( i , j ) 2 < ∑ l = 0 N α ( l , 0 ) 2 + α ( 0 , l ) 2 , wherein at least one of coefficients α(i,j) has a value of at least one when at least one of indices i and j equals zero.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein imaging the electromagnetic energy and modifying the phase do not modify amplitude of the wavefront.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein a task performed by the task-based imaging system comprises one of analyzing an iris pattern for biometric iris recognition, analyzing a facial pattern for biometric face recognition, identifying a threat by biometric recognition, controlling access to a restricted area, imaging for quality control in an assembly line, optically recognizing alphanumeric characters, identifying features during biological imaging, imaging objects in automotive applications, and generating a viewable, final image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the pupil function coefficients are given by α(0,3)=α(3,0)=23.394, α(0,5)=α(5,0)=60.108, α(0,7)=α(7,0)=−126.421, α(0,9)=α(9,0)=82.128, α(3,3)=5.021, α(5,5)=−21.418, α(7,7)=−310.749, and α(9,9)=−1100.336.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2014-05-16 | 2014-11-15 | 2015-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2018-05-16 | 2018-11-15 | 2019-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2022-05-16 | 2022-11-15 | 2023-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |