The present disclosure relates to a method and related system for spectrum optimization of an illumination light source. Spectrum optimization according to the present disclosure can be based on various optimization parameters, including but not limited to luminous efficacy, color rendering effect, luminous efficacy of radiation, mesopic efficacy of radiation, cirtopic efficacy of radiation, etc. The present method and system are capable of optimizing illumination performance of a light source in various aspects in an individual or integrated manner. Further, the present method and system are capable of accommodating different illumination purposes and conditions by combining and prioritizing different optimization parameters.

The present disclosure relates to a method and related system for spectrum optimization of an illumination light source. Spectrum optimization according to the present disclosure can be based on various optimization parameters, including but not limited to luminous efficacy, color rendering effect, luminous efficacy of radiation, mesopic efficacy of radiation, cirtopic efficacy of radiation, etc. The present method and system are capable of optimizing illumination performance of a light source in various aspects in an individual or integrated manner. Further, the present method and system are capable of accommodating different illumination purposes and conditions by combining and prioritizing different optimization parameters.

A subject identification device includes: an illuminator configured to generate illumination light including components at a plurality of wavelength bands, each of the components having a characteristic in accordance with a respective one of settings; an imager configured to generate an image signal by capturing light from a subject under the illumination light having the illumination characteristic; and a processor including hardware. The processor is configured to: define an illumination characteristic of the illumination light; analyze the image signal to acquire spectral information of the subject; and cross check the spectral information of the subject with subject identification information in order to identify the subject. When the subject is not identified, the processor is configured to define another illumination characteristic that causes spectral information of potentials for the subject to be identified, and subsequently each of the imager and the processor performs a process.

A subject identification device includes: an illuminator configured to generate illumination light including components at a plurality of wavelength bands, each of the components having a characteristic in accordance with a respective one of settings; an imager configured to generate an image signal by capturing light from a subject under the illumination light having the illumination characteristic; and a processor including hardware. The processor is configured to: define an illumination characteristic of the illumination light; analyze the image signal to acquire spectral information of the subject; and cross check the spectral information of the subject with subject identification information in order to identify the subject. When the subject is not identified, the processor is configured to define another illumination characteristic that causes spectral information of potentials for the subject to be identified, and subsequently each of the imager and the processor performs a process.

Disclosed herein are spectral imaging systems having an internally folded prism, which can have four different refracting surfaces. A first angle defines the spatial relationship between the first and second refracting surfaces. The first angle can have a range between 45-95 degrees. In some embodiments, the first angle can be 70 degrees. The spatial relationship of the third and fourth refracting surfaces can be defined by a second angle, which can be the same as the first angle. Finally, the spatial relationship of the second and third refracting surfaces can be defined by a third angle, which can have a range between 90-145 degrees. The prism index of refraction, the first, second, and third angles are selected such that TIR is achieved at two of the refracting surfaces. Additionally, these prism parameters are selected such that a 180 degrees fold of the optical path is achieved entirely within the prism.

Disclosed herein are spectral imaging systems having an internally folded prism, which can have four different refracting surfaces. A first angle defines the spatial relationship between the first and second refracting surfaces. The first angle can have a range between 45-95 degrees. In some embodiments, the first angle can be 70 degrees. The spatial relationship of the third and fourth refracting surfaces can be defined by a second angle, which can be the same as the first angle. Finally, the spatial relationship of the second and third refracting surfaces can be defined by a third angle, which can have a range between 90-145 degrees. The prism index of refraction, the first, second, and third angles are selected such that TIR is achieved at two of the refracting surfaces. Additionally, these prism parameters are selected such that a 180 degrees fold of the optical path is achieved entirely within the prism.

Hyperspectral imaging is carried out by utilizing a set of lasers to illuminate a scene containing a sample in a series of successive laser illuminations by turning on at least one laser in the set of lasers for each successive illumination in the series. Here, each laser generates a known wavelength of light. Imaging is further carried out by utilizing a camera to capture an image of the scene during each successive laser illumination, thus generating a series of successive images. However, no dispersive element is utilized between the scene and the camera. Imaging is still further carried out by processing the captured images to produce scene data. The scene data is compared with target profiles to determine whether the scene includes at least one target of interest and taking a predetermined action in response to detecting at least one target of interest.

Hyperspectral imaging is carried out by utilizing a set of lasers to illuminate a scene containing a sample in a series of successive laser illuminations by turning on at least one laser in the set of lasers for each successive illumination in the series. Here, each laser generates a known wavelength of light. Imaging is further carried out by utilizing a camera to capture an image of the scene during each successive laser illumination, thus generating a series of successive images. However, no dispersive element is utilized between the scene and the camera. Imaging is still further carried out by processing the captured images to produce scene data. The scene data is compared with target profiles to determine whether the scene includes at least one target of interest and taking a predetermined action in response to detecting at least one target of interest.

An optical system includes a spectrograph having a concave diffraction grating and a detector. An aperture is selectively positioned by an associated actuator or positioning mechanism either into, or out of, an optical path of the input light beam downstream of a sample and prior to entering the spectrograph. A slit plate having a plurality of different size entrance slits is positioned downstream of the aperture and movable by an associated actuator or positioning mechanism to position one of the plurality of entrance slits in the optical path of the input light beam. A controller coupled to the detector and the actuators is configured to control the actuators to selectively position the aperture and the slit plate to provide a selectable resolution of the spectrograph. The aperture setting and slit plate setting may be determined from a lookup table in response to a request for finer or coarser spectral resolution.

An optical system includes a spectrograph having a concave diffraction grating and a detector. An aperture is selectively positioned by an associated actuator or positioning mechanism either into, or out of, an optical path of the input light beam downstream of a sample and prior to entering the spectrograph. A slit plate having a plurality of different size entrance slits is positioned downstream of the aperture and movable by an associated actuator or positioning mechanism to position one of the plurality of entrance slits in the optical path of the input light beam. A controller coupled to the detector and the actuators is configured to control the actuators to selectively position the aperture and the slit plate to provide a selectable resolution of the spectrograph. The aperture setting and slit plate setting may be determined from a lookup table in response to a request for finer or coarser spectral resolution.