Digital filter spectrum sensor

Inventors

Choi, Byung IlLee, Byounghee

Assignees

NanoLambda Inc

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Publication Number

US-8284401-B2

Patent

Publication Date

2012-10-09

Expiration Date


Abstract

A spectrum sensing method includes (a) receiving an incident radiation simultaneously through a filter array composed of multiple bandpass filters, (b) digitizing spectral responses of the filter array, and (c) generating an estimate of spectral profile of the incident radiation based on digitized spectral responses of the filter array.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a spectrum sensor having an array of optical filters and a photodetector array. Individual filters in the optical filter array have sampled, quantized and stored spectral response data in digital format, and the photodetector array generates an output spectral profile of input light in response to the array of optical filters and the photodetector array.

The processing unit uses processor-executable instructions to generate an estimated spectral profile of the input light based on the output spectral profile and the stored spectral response data. The estimation uses matrix inversion or least-squares, including Moore-Penrose pseudoinverse approaches and constrained least-squares approaches such as non-negative constrained least squares approaches.

The described sensor further relates to noise mitigation and resolution enhancement through spatial and time averaging, including repeated identical filter outputs and repeatedly reading a photodetector output via shutter operation. The document also describes mapping measured spectra to CIE color spaces using processor-executable instructions and, in some implementations, using stored information for color space transformation.

Claims Coverage

The disclosed independent claims are directed to 2 inventive features: a spectrum sensor architecture using stored per-filter spectral response data to estimate an input spectral profile from an output spectral profile, and a wireless spectrum sensor that incorporates the spectrum sensor with a light source, a wireless communication unit, a power unit, and a holder for deploying the system to transmit or reflect light.

Spectrum sensor with photodetector array and filter array using stored spectral response data for spectral estimation

A spectrum sensor comprising a photodetector array, an array of optical filters, a memory storing sampled, quantized and stored spectral response data of individual filters in digital format, and a processing unit where processor-executable instructions generate an estimated spectral profile of input light based on an output spectral profile generated by the array of optical filters and the photodetector array in response to the input light, and the stored spectral response data.

Wireless spectrum sensor with holder, light source, wireless communication unit, and power unit for wirelessly sending or receiving measured spectral data or control data

A wireless spectrum sensor comprising at least one spectrum sensor as set forth, a light source, a wireless communication unit, a power unit, and a holder, where the wireless communication unit is adapted to send and receive measured spectral data or control data wirelessly to and from an external device, the holder connects the spectrum sensor, the light source, the wireless communication unit, and the power unit electronically, and the light source unit and spectrum sensor are adapted to send and receive or detect lights using transmission or reflection.

Overall claim coverage centers on estimating an input light spectral profile from an output spectral profile using stored, digital, per-filter spectral response data, and extends this architecture to a wireless spectrum sensor that includes a light source, wireless communication, a power unit, and a holder for transmission or reflection light measurement.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found

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