Imaging device with spectrometer and methods for use therewith

Abstract

A user device for imaging a scene includes a first plurality of optical sensors coupled to a substrate for collecting an image of a scene and a second plurality of optical sensors coupled to the substrate for collecting spectral information from the image. A plurality of sets of interference filters are associated with the second plurality of optical sensors, where each interference filter of a set of interference filters is configured to pass light in one of a plurality of wavelength ranges to one or more optical sensors of the second plurality of optical sensors and each optical sensor of the plurality of optical sensors is associated with a spatial area of the image. A processor is adapted to receive an output from the first plurality of optical sensors and the second plurality of optical sensors and determine, based on the spectral information, a target area within the scene. The processor is further adapted to retrieve focus data for the scene, determine a focus distance for the target area and output user-perceptible information to an output display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A user device for imaging a scene comprises:
 a first plurality of optical sensors coupled to a substrate, the first plurality of optical sensors adapted to collect an image of a scene;   a second plurality of optical sensors coupled to the substrate, the second plurality of sensors adapted to collect spectral information from the image;   a plurality of sets of interference filters associated with the second plurality of optical sensors, wherein each interference filter of a set of interference filters is configured to pass light in one of a plurality of wavelength ranges to one or more optical sensors of the second plurality of optical sensors and each optical sensor of the plurality of optical sensors is associated with a spatial area of the image;   one or more modules of one or more processors adapted to receive an output from the first plurality of optical sensors and the second plurality of optical sensors, wherein the one or more modules are adapted to determine, based on the spectral information, a target area within the scene, the one or more modules further adapted to:
 retrieve focus data for the scene; 
 determine a focus distance for the target area; and 
 output user-perceptible information to an output display. 
   
     
     
         2 . The user device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more modules are further adapted to determine the target area within the scene based on predetermined information. 
     
     
         3 . The user device of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined information includes metadata. 
     
     
         4 . The user device of  claim 1 , wherein the user-perceptible information includes a graphical representation of the target area within the image. 
     
     
         5 . The user device of  claim 4 , wherein the graphical representation includes a graphical element enclosing the target area. 
     
     
         6 . The user device of  claim 4 , wherein the graphical representation includes highlighted image pixels within the target area. 
     
     
         7 . The user device of  claim 1 , wherein the user device is adapted to acquire a sequence of images of a scenery including the scene, wherein the one or more modules are adapted to output display data to the display for displaying the sequence of images and an indication of the target area within at least some images of the sequence of images. 
     
     
         8 . The user device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more modules are adapted to:
 adjust a region within a field of view of the second plurality of optical sensors to focus on a particular feature within the field of view of the user device.   
     
     
         9 . The user device of  claim 1 , wherein the user-perceptible information includes information sufficient to guide a user of the user device to move the user device to increase or reduce a distance between the user device and a target area. 
     
     
         10 . The user device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more modules are adapted to determine a degree of correspondence between the spectral information and a predetermined target spectrum. 
     
     
         11 . The user device of  claim 10 , wherein the user-perceptible information includes information sufficient to indicate a determined degree of correspondence. 
     
     
         12 . A method for imaging a scene comprises:
 sampling, using a spectral imager, spectral information for the scene, wherein the spectral imager includes a plurality of sets of spectral sensors, wherein each spectral sensor in a set of spectral sensors includes an interference filter overlaying one or more optical sensors, wherein each spectral sensor has a sensing range within a predetermined range of optical wavelengths, wherein the sensing range for a set of spectral sensors together include a spectrum of wavelengths;   determining, based on the spectral information, a target area within the scene;   sampling, using an optical imager, an image of the scene;   retrieving, using the optical imager, focus data for the scene;   determining a focus distance for the target area; and   outputting user-perceptible information to an output display.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the determining a target area is further based on predetermined information. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the user-perceptible information includes a graphical representation of the target area within the scene. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the graphical representation includes a graphical element enclosing the target area. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the graphical representation includes highlighted image pixels within the target area. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 acquiring, by the optical imager, a sequence of images of a scenery including the scene;   outputting display data to the display for displaying the sequence of images and an indication of the target area within at least some images of the sequence of images.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 adjusting a region within a field of view of the display to focus on a particular feature within a field of view of the optical imager.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the user-perceptible information includes information sufficient to guide a user of the user device to move the user device to increase or reduce a distance between the user device and a target area. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining a degree of correspondence between the spectral information and a predetermined target spectrum.