Image generation for detection and related methods
Inventors
Swager, Timothy Manning • Cox, Jason R. • Deans, Robert • Zhu, Zhengguo • Fratto, Brian E. • Davis, Gabriel
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11656226-B2
Publication Date
2023-05-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
Embodiments described herein generally relate to: sensing and/or authentication using luminescence imaging; diagnostic assays, systems, and related methods; temporal thermal sensing and related methods; and/or to emissive species, such as those excitable by white light, and related systems and methods.
Core Innovation
The invention characterizes an emissive species by detecting detectable non-steady-state emission during an emission time period. Electromagnetic radiation is generated to excite the emissive species, and an electromagnetic radiation sensor including a plurality of photodetectors or an image sensor detects the non-steady-state emission during the emission time period. Processing circuitry generates one or more images based on output of the photodetectors.
The emission time period is less than a time to capture a single image. The processing circuitry determines a first property of a first portion of the image and a second property of a second portion of the image, and identifies a characteristic of the emissive species based, at least in part, on the first property and the second property. In another mode, the sensor is globally exposed and/or read to provide a plurality of time-encoded signals, and the characteristic is identified by comparison of two or more of the time-encoded signals.
A controller controls timing of generation of the electromagnetic radiation such that pulsed or frequency modulated intensity electromagnetic radiation is generated during capture of the one or more images. The invention further supports delayed emission being detected in the same image with normal reflected/scattered light, and excitation performed by pulsed light and/or frequency modulated light intensity.
Claims Coverage
The consolidated claim coverage includes four independent claim configurations. Across them, the inventive features center on exciting an emissive species to produce detectable non-steady-state emission, detecting that emission with a plurality of photodetectors or an image sensor, controlling excitation timing using pulsed or frequency modulated intensity electromagnetic radiation during image capture, and identifying a characteristic of the emissive species using image-region property determination or comparison of time-encoded signals.
Timing-controlled excitation and detection of non-steady-state emission
A system comprising a radiation source configured to generate electromagnetic radiation for exciting an emissive species such that the emissive species produces a detectable non-steady-state emission during an emission time period, and an electromagnetic radiation sensor including a plurality of photodetectors configured to detect the non-steady state emission during the emission time period.
Pulsed or frequency-modulated excitation during image capture
A controller configured to control a timing of generation of the electromagnetic radiation by the radiation source such that pulsed or frequency modulated intensity electromagnetic radiation is generated during the capture of one or more images.
Characteristic identification from image-region properties during a short emission time period
Processing circuitry configured to generate, based on output of the plurality of photodetectors, one or more images, where the emission time period is less than a time to capture a single image, determine a first property of a first portion of the image and a second property of a second portion of the image, and identify a characteristic of the emissive species based, at least in part, on the first property and the second property.
Characteristic identification from time-encoded signal comparison
Processing circuitry configured to globally expose and/or read data from the electromagnetic radiation sensor to provide a plurality of time-encoded signals and identify a characteristic of the emissive species based on a comparison of two or more of the plurality of time-encoded signals.
Delayed emission detected in the same image with reflected/scattered light
A system wherein a delayed emission can be detected in the same image with normal reflected/scattered light.
Pulsed light and/or frequency-modulated excitation intensity
A system wherein excitation is performed by pulsed light and/or frequency modulated light intensity.
Image-sensor based non-steady-state emission characterization
A system comprising an excitation component configured to excite an emissive species such that the emissive species produces a detectable non-steady-state emission during an emission time period, an image sensor including a plurality of photodetectors configured to detect at least a portion of the detectable non-steady-state emission, and electronic hardware comprising processing circuitry configured to identify a characteristic of the emissive species based on image portion properties or on comparison of two or more time-encoded signals provided by globally exposing and/or reading the image sensor.
The claim coverage is directed to systems that excite an emissive species to produce detectable non-steady-state emission during an emission time period, detect the emission using a sensor with a plurality of photodetectors, and identify a characteristic of the emissive species either from image-region properties determined during an emission time period shorter than a single-image capture time or by comparing time-encoded signals obtained via global exposure and/or readout. Additional claim language specifies that delayed emission can be detected in the same image with normal reflected/scattered light and that excitation can be performed using pulsed light and/or frequency modulated light intensity.
Stated Advantages
Enables identifying a characteristic of the emissive species based on differences between properties of emission time portions.
Enables identifying a characteristic of the emissive species by comparing plurality of time-encoded signals derived from globally exposing/reading sensor data.
Allows delayed emission to be detected in the same image with normal reflected/scattered light.
Supports exciting with pulsed light and/or frequency modulated light intensity.
Documented Applications
Lateral flow assay using Eu-labeled beads imaged with a custom smartphone system, with computational detection of test lines.
Serological assay using Eu-labeled beads imaged with a custom smartphone system, with computational detection of test lines.
Sandwich assay using Eu-labeled beads imaged with a custom smartphone system, with computational detection of test lines.
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