System and Method for Illuminating and Identifying an Object

摘要

An illumination and imaging system that is used to obtain enhanced detailed images of objects. The system utilizes a flash element that produces a flash of polychromatic light. A plurality of fiber optic elements are provided that terminate with output ends. At least some of the fiber optic elements are doped to be different colors. Consequently, when each fiber optic element receives the flash of polychromatic light from the flash element, that fiber optic element propagates and filters the polychromatic light to produce colored filtered light. The colored filtered light is directed toward the object being imaged by the camera. The illumination has small points of origin, different color characteristics and simultaneous short flash duration. The combination of colored, directional light sources enables the camera to image very fine details by enhancing surface texture and embedding the image with the color photometric stereo information.

主权项

1. An imaging system, comprising:
a camera for imaging an object that is illuminated in a target area; a flash element that produces a flash of polychromatic light; a plurality of fiber optic elements that terminate with output ends that are directed toward said target area, wherein said plurality of fiber optic elements includes fiber optic elements of different colors, and wherein said plurality of said fiber optic elements receive said flash of polychromatic light from said flash element, filter said polychromatic light to produce filtered light, and emit said filtered light from said output ends toward said target area, therein illuminating said object in said filtered light for imaging by said camera.