Spectral Imaging: Methods, Design, and Applications - Biomedical Optical Imaging Technologies: Design and Applications - page 146

Fig. 4.20 The architecture of
a typical spectral imaging
system. It consists of a light
source, imaging optics, a
dispersion element, and a
detector. The system is
controlled by a computer with
electronics and an
input/output device

4.5.1 System Configuration

A spectral imaging system includes a certain number of elements (Fig. 4.20 ). It
consists of a light source that matches the application, such as a Halogen, LED, or
Xe lamp, an apparatus containing the dispersion device mounted to a microscope or
other fore-optics and a detector, most likely an array detector. A computer controls
and synchronizes all active devices and settings prior to acquisition and stores
and analyzes the accumulated information with advanced analysis software. The
configuration may also be somewhat different; for example, the dispersion element
may be located in a different position along the optical path as described before. In
addition, the actual system may not necessarily include all the elements that appear
in Fig. 4.20 . Commercial systems that are aimed to operate on a microscope, as an
example, make use of the illumination light source and optics of the microscope and
therefore may include only the dispersion element rather than simple optics and a
detector.

4.5.2 Acquisition Software Requirements

Many spectral imaging applications require careful attention to the conditions under
which the image is taken. In that sense, a capability of image acquisition parameter
control is a prerequisite in most spectral imaging applications. In some others,
control over illumination source is also necessary.