Hyper-spectral imaging of airborne biological particles
Inventors
Kent, Joel • Bevis, Christopher F.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11474016-B1
Publication Date
2022-10-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
A particle monitoring device includes a camera sensor for imaging particles, a set of light sources, and an optical component. A first light source provides light of a first color component. A second light source provides light of a second color component. The optical component receives light of the first color component in a first direction from the first light source, and redirects the light of the first color component in an output direction towards the particles to illuminate the particles using light of the first color component. The optical component receives light of a second color component in a second direction, different from the first direction, from the second light source, and redirects the light of the second color component in the output direction towards the particles to illuminate the particles using light of the second color component.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a portable airborne particle monitoring device that performs imaging of airborne particles using a camera sensor and multiple light sources providing different color components. The device uses hyperspectral-like classification by illuminating particles with light of different first and second color components for the camera sensor while controlling how the beams are delivered to the particles. In this way, spectral signatures associated with the different color components are obtained from images captured by the camera sensor.
A core aspect is the use of a light-redirecting optical component in combination with multiple beams arriving from different input directions, so that the particles are illuminated at the same illumination angle for different color components. In embodiments, a diffraction grating receives a first beam of light in a first direction and redirects the first beam along an output direction towards the particles, and also receives a second beam in a second direction and redirects it along the same output direction towards the particles. This structure is intended to mitigate color-angle distortion by ensuring equal illumination angle across wavelengths.
The disclosed embodiments further integrate remote light sources and wavelength conversion, including quantum-dot light sources, with optical fiber and inspection-platform illumination channels. The light sources provide first and second wavelength components, which are routed through optical wave guides and output through illumination channels toward an inspection zone and the optical column. The device also specifies matched illumination angles between first and second wavelength outputs relative to an optical axis, supporting consistent imaging geometry across color components.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims provide three distinct device architectures. Across the independent claims, the inventive features focus on delivering different color or wavelength beams from different directions while maintaining the same illumination angle for the camera imaging, using a specified redirecting optical component and matched illumination geometry.
Diffraction grating with same output illumination angle for different color components
A particle monitoring device includes a camera sensor for imaging particles, a plurality of light sources with a first light source emitting a first beam of light of a first color component and a second light source emitting a second beam of light of a second color component, and a diffraction grating that receives the first beam in a first direction and redirects the first beam along an output direction towards the particles to illuminate the particles at a particular illumination angle for the camera sensor. The diffraction grating receives the second beam in a second direction different from the first direction, and redirects the second beam along the same output direction towards the particles to illuminate the particles at the same particular illumination angle but with the light of the second color component.
Prism with matched illumination angles for different color components
A particle monitoring device includes a camera sensor for imaging particles, a plurality of light sources with a first light source emitting a first beam of light of a first color component and a second light source emitting a second beam of light of a second color component, and a prism. The prism receives the first beam in a first direction and redirects the first beam towards the particles, and receives the second beam in a second direction different from the first direction and redirects the second beam in a same direction towards the particles. A first illumination angle is between an optical axis passing through the camera sensor and the redirected first beam, and a second illumination angle is between the optical axis and the redirected second beam, where the second illumination angle is the same as the first illumination angle.
Illumination support plate and optical column with optical component and optical wave guide matched illumination angles
A particle monitoring device includes an illumination support plate comprising one or more illumination channels and an optical column having a camera sensor, where the illumination channels and the camera sensor face an inspection zone to capture airborne particles. The device includes first and second light sources emitting light of a first wavelength and a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, an optical component coupled between a first illumination channel and the first and second light sources, and a first optical wave guide extending between the first illumination channel and the optical component. The optical component receives light of the first wavelength and outputs the first wavelength onto the first optical wave guide out the first illumination channel towards the inspection zone, and receives light of the second wavelength and outputs the second wavelength onto the first optical wave guide out the first illumination channel towards the inspection zone. A first illumination angle is between output light of the first wavelength from the first illumination channel and an optical axis of the optical column normal to the inspection zone, and a second illumination angle is between output light of the second wavelength from the first illumination channel and the optical axis, where the second illumination angle is the same as the first illumination angle.
Across independent claims, the coverage centers on a camera-sensor-based airborne particle monitoring device that uses multiple color components and a redirecting optical component or coupled optical-waveguide optical component to ensure matched illumination angles for different wavelengths. Dependent refinements in the provided claim text further specify routing through optical fiber and inspection-platform illumination channels and implementation options such as quantum-dot light sources.
Stated Advantages
Ensures particles are illuminated at the same illumination angle when using different color components for camera sensor imaging, thereby addressing color-angle distortion.
Documented Applications
Airborne particles imaging in an inspection zone as part of a portable airborne particle monitoring device for classification using hyperspectral-like imaging.
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