Tunable color-temperature white light source

Abstract

A system for medical diagnosis includes a fiber optic cable and a plurality of light emitters optically coupled to a first end of the fiber optic cable. Each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters emits a distinct bandwidth of light. The system also includes a controller electrically coupled to the plurality of light emitters. The controller includes logic that when executed by the controller causes the controller to perform operations including: receiving instructions including an illumination mode, and adjusting an intensity of the light emitted from each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters to match the illumination mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for medical diagnosis, comprising:
 a fiber optic cable;   a plurality of light emitters optically coupled to a first end of the fiber optic cable, wherein each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters emits a distinct bandwidth of light;   a user input device; and   a controller operatively coupled to the plurality of light emitters and the user input device, the controller including logic that, when executed by the controller, causes the system to perform operations including:
 receiving, with the controller, parameters of a custom emission spectrum from the user input device; 
 selecting a light emission mode from a plurality of light emission modes based on the custom emission spectrum; and 
 emitting light from the plurality of light emitters in response to the light emission mode selected, wherein each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters emits a distinct bandwidth of the light, 
 wherein the light output from the plurality of light emitters mimics the custom emission spectrum to a human eye. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the custom emission spectrum is a continuous custom emission spectrum. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user input device is configured to receive user the parameters from a user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reference illuminant; and   a camera;   wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the reference illuminant and the camera and further includes logic that, when executed by the controller, causes the system to perform operations including:
 generating reference image data with the camera based on a scene under reference illumination from the reference illuminant; 
 generating light emission mode image data based on the scene illuminated under the light emission mode; and 
 comparing the reference image data and the light emission mode image data. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a color checker, wherein selecting a light emission mode includes:
 determining a color of the color checker under the reference illumination; and   generating the illumination mode to match the reference illumination.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of light emitters includes a plurality of laser diodes with a bandwidth of 5 nm or less. 
     
     
         7 . A method of endoscopic illumination, comprising:
 receiving, with a controller, parameters of a custom emission spectrum;   selecting a light emission mode from a plurality of light emission modes based on the custom emission spectrum; and   emitting light from a plurality of light emitters in response to the light emission mode selected, wherein each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters emits a distinct bandwidth of the light,   wherein the light output from the plurality of light emitters mimics the custom emission spectrum to a human eye.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the custom emission spectrum is a continuous custom emission spectrum. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the light emission mode is selected by a user by inputting parameters of a custom continuous emission spectrum. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user inputs the parameters of the custom continuous emission spectrum by drawing the emission spectrum on a tablet. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user inputs the parameters with a user input device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
 transporting the light through a fiber optic cable, wherein a first end of the fiber optic cable is optically coupled to the plurality of light emitters; and   out-coupling the light from a second end of the fiber optic cable.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of light emitters includes a plurality of laser diodes with a bandwidth of 5 nm or less. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 generating reference image data based on a scene under reference illumination from a reference illuminant;   generating light emission mode image data based on the scene illuminated under the light emission mode; and   comparing the reference image data and the light emission mode image data.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein selecting a light emission mode includes:
 determining a color of a color checker under the reference illumination; and   generating the illumination mode to match the reference illumination.   
     
     
         16 . An endoscope, comprising:
 a fiber optic cable;   a plurality of light emitters optically coupled to a first end of the fiber optic cable, wherein each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters emits a distinct bandwidth of light;   a user input device; and   a controller operatively coupled to the plurality of light emitters and the user input device, the controller including logic that, when executed by the controller, causes the endoscope to perform operations including:
 receiving, with the controller, parameters of a custom emission spectrum from the user input device; 
 selecting a light emission mode from a plurality of light emission modes based on the custom emission spectrum; and 
 emitting light from a plurality of light emitters in response to the light emission mode selected, wherein each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters emits a distinct bandwidth of the light, 
 wherein the light output from the plurality of light emitters mimics the custom emission spectrum to a human eye. 
   
     
     
         17 . The endoscope of  claim 16 , wherein the user input device is configured to receive user the parameters from a user. 
     
     
         18 . The endoscope of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a reference illuminant; and   a camera;   wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the reference illuminant and the camera and further includes logic that, when executed by the controller, causes the endoscope to perform operations including:
 generating reference image data with the camera based on a scene under reference illumination from the reference illuminant; 
 generating light emission mode image data based on the scene illuminated under the light emission mode; and 
 comparing the reference image data and the light emission mode image data. 
   
     
     
         19 . The endoscope of  claim 16 , wherein the custom emission spectrum is a continuous custom emission spectrum. 
     
     
         20 . The endoscope of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of light emitters includes a plurality of laser diodes with a bandwidth of 5 nm or less.