Imaging Sensor Calibration Signal Generator

Abstract

An apparatus comprises: a first narrow bandwidth electromagnetic wave filter, a second narrow bandwidth electromagnetic wave filter, and an electromagnetic wave dispersive filter. The first narrow bandwidth electromagnetic wave filter is configured to: convert a wide bandwidth signal to a first monochromatic signal; and direct the first monochromatic signal to at least one first pixel. The second narrow bandwidth electromagnetic wave filter is configured to: convert the wide bandwidth signal to a second monochromatic signal; and direct the second monochromatic signal to at least one second pixel. The electromagnetic wave dispersive filter is configured to: convert the wide bandwidth signal to a spatially distributed wide bandwidth spectrum; and direct the spatially distributed wide bandwidth spectrum to third pixels.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first narrow bandwidth electromagnetic wave filter configured to:
 convert a wide bandwidth signal to a first monochromatic signal; and 
 direct the first monochromatic signal to at least one first pixel; 
   a second narrow bandwidth electromagnetic wave filter configured to:
 convert the wide bandwidth signal to a second monochromatic signal; and 
 direct the second monochromatic signal to at least one second pixel; and 
   an electromagnetic wave dispersive filter configured to:
 convert the wide bandwidth signal to a spatially distributed wide bandwidth spectrum; and 
 direct the spatially distributed wide bandwidth spectrum to third pixels. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the spatially distributed wide bandwidth spectrum comprises wavelengths that are common to:
 the visual spectral response of turtles; and   the spectral response of light pollution.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a sensor comprises at least two of:
 the at least one first pixel;   the at least one second pixel; and   the third pixels.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first narrow bandwidth electromagnetic wave filter and the second narrow bandwidth electromagnetic wave filter is an optical filter. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic wave dispersive filter comprises a transparent optical dispersive filter. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic wave dispersive filter comprises a reflective optical dispersive filter. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic wave dispersive filter comprises a prism. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic wave dispersive filter comprises a diffraction grating. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic wave dispersive filter comprises a transmission diffraction grating. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic wave dispersive filter comprises a reflective diffraction grating. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic wave dispersive filter comprises an optical filter. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an attenuator comprising at least one a neutral density filter. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the wide bandwidth signal originates from a sun. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mount configured to affix to a multispectral sensor, at least one of the following:
 the first narrow bandwidth electromagnetic wave filter;   the second narrow bandwidth electromagnetic wave filter; and   the electromagnetic wave dispersive filter.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the multispectral sensor comprises a smartphone. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the following are in a substantially planar configuration:
 the first narrow bandwidth electromagnetic wave filter;   the second narrow bandwidth electromagnetic wave filter; and   the electromagnetic wave dispersive filter.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the spatially distributed wide bandwidth spectrum comprises wavelengths from 370 nanometers to 730 nanometers. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the spatially distributed wide bandwidth spectrum comprises wavelengths from 10 nanometers to 1,000,000 nanometers. 
     
     
         19 . A device comprising:
 a first color filter configured to:
 convert a multicolor light to a first color light; and 
 direct the first color light to at least one first pixel; 
   a second color filter configured to:
 convert the multicolor light to a second color light; and 
 direct the second color light to at least one second pixel; and 
   a color dispersive filter configured to:
 convert the multicolor light to a color dispersed light spectrum; and 
 direct the color dispersed light spectrum to third pixels. 
   
     
     
         20 . A calibration signal generator device comprising:
 a first wavelength filter configured to:
 convert a multiple wavelength signal to a first wavelength signal; and 
 direct the first wavelength signal to at least one of at least one photon counter; 
   a second wavelength filter configured to:
 convert the multiple wavelength signal to a second wavelength signal; and 
 direct the second wavelength signal to at least one of the at least one photon counter; and 
   a wavelength dispersive filter configured to:
 convert the multiple wavelength signal to a spatially distributed spectrum; and 
 direct the spatially distributed spectrum to at least one of the at least one photon counter.