Hyperspectral imaging apparatus and method

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a hyperspectral imaging apparatus. The hyperspectral imaging apparatus includes a micro-lens array having a plurality of micro-lenses; and a filter array having a plurality of tunable filters. Each of the plurality of tunable filters is optically coupled to a respective micro-lens of the plurality of micro-lenses. Each micro-lens and the corresponding coupled tunable filter are configured to generate a spectrally filtered image of a scene, such that the micro-lens array and the filter array generate a plurality of spectrally filtered images of the scene for receiving by a plurality of areas of an image sensor. Each of the plurality of tunable filters is tunable to transmit a selected wavelength within a respective spectral band, wherein the spectral bands of the plurality of tunable filters are different from each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hyperspectral imaging method, comprising:
 receiving a first set of spectrally distinct images of a scene generated at a first image capture time;   receiving a second set of spectrally distinct images of the scene generated at a second image capture time different from the first image capture time, the second set of spectrally distinct images being generated at different wavelengths from the first set of spectrally distinct images;   determining a spectrum for each pixel based on the first set of spectrally distinct images and the second set of spectrally distinct images; and   combining the first set of spectrally distinct images and the second set of spectrally distinct images into a composite image having spectral information of the scene.   
     
     
         2 . The hyperspectral imaging method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 compensating at least one of the first set or the second set of spectrally distinct images based on at least one of the following characteristics:
 a spectral transmission and response characteristics of an image sensor used for capturing and receiving the spectrally distinct images; 
 a spectral transmission characteristics of a plurality of tunable filters used for generating the spectrally distinct images; or 
 a spectral composition of a light source used for capturing the spectrally distinct images. 
   
     
     
         3 . The hyperspectral imaging method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a target object captured in the spectrally distinct images based on the spectral information of the composite image.   
     
     
         4 . The hyperspectral imaging method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating the first set of spectrally distinct images using a micro-lens array and a filter array optically coupled to the micro-lens array, the filter array comprising a plurality of tunable filters each of which being tunable to transmit a selected wavelength within a distinct spectral band.   
     
     
         5 . The hyperspectral imaging method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 generating the second set of spectrally distinct images by tuning the tunable filters, such that each tunable filter transmits a wavelength at the second image capture time different from a wavelength transmitted at the first image capture time.   
     
     
         6 . The hyperspectral imaging method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 synchronizing the tuning of the tunable filters with the second image capture time, thereby generating the second set of spectrally distinct images at the second image capture time, wherein an image sensor is used for capturing and receiving the spectrally distinct images at the first image capture time and the second image capture time.   
     
     
         7 . The hyperspectral imaging method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more further sets of spectrally distinct images of the scene generated at one or more further image capture times different from the first image capture time and the second image capture time, the one or more further sets of spectrally distinct images being generated at different wavelengths from the first set of spectrally distinct images and the second set of spectrally distinct images;   determining the spectrum for each pixel based on the first set of spectrally distinct images, the second set of spectrally distinct images, and the one or more further sets of spectrally distinct images; and   combining the first set of spectrally distinct images, the second set of spectrally distinct images and the one or more further sets of spectrally distinct images into the composite image having spectral information of the scene.   
     
     
         8 . A hyperspectral image processing apparatus, comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive a first set of spectrally distinct images of a scene generated at a first image capture time, and a second set of spectrally distinct images of the scene generated at a second image capture time different from the first image capture time, wherein the second set of spectrally distinct images is generated at different wavelengths from the first set of spectrally distinct images; and   a determiner configured to determine a spectrum for each pixel based on the first set of spectrally distinct images and the second set of spectrally distinct images, and combine the first set of spectrally distinct images and the second set of spectrally distinct images into a composite image having spectral information of the scene.