Micro-motion systems are advancing the performance and availability of optical systems used in applications, including facial recognition, iris scanning, DNA testing, and advanced medical diagnostics.
Auto focus, used in biometric iris scanning, provides an increased field of focus for rapid capture at variable distances, and enables faster, less obtrusive detection systems with very high accuracy. Along with advancements in microfluidics-based technology for DNA analysis, flow cytometry, and other advanced medical diagnostics, motion systems are responding to the need for precise alignment of optical systems with an ability to focus light onto detectors or image sensors for analysis.
Engineering challenges
“Biometric iris identification has a few technical challenges in terms of being able to resolve the image of the iris with enough pixels across it to achieve identification and support the algorithms for matching the iris to a known iris in the database,” Dan Viggiano, vice president of business development for New Scale Technologies, said in an interview. “The benchmark appears to be a minimum of 200 pixels across the iris, but those pixels also need to be in focus in order to generate the image quality necessary for the algorithm to achieve zero false identification.”
Custom M3-F focus modules can meet specific OEM requirements for sensors, lenses, and mechanical and electrical integration.
Viggiano says to achieve that level of focus, systems need to resolve the image within a much finer depth of focus than what was needed in the past to meet the needs of more versatile and robust applications. There is a need to design an optical system, not only with an ability to resolve the image at a much narrower depth of focus, but also to adjust the lens system to create a solution to meet those requirements for high-resolution positioning and high-resolution image quality.
A secondary issue is that the subject isn’t always going to fully cooperate, and may not correctly interpret the commands of the person taking the image. When the system has the ability to optically focus at such a high resolution with a narrow depth of field, the system can function over a longer range, Viggiano told us. “That enables the development not only of portable systems, but also to make it more user friendly with subjects. They can stand within a certain range and still be within the necessary distance to capture the iris and resolve the identification.”
New Scale Technologies provides a best-in-class solution for these applications, including not only the high-resolution positioning required, but also precise motion (low tip and tilt) at the lens, and excellent repeatability. Their technology enables rapid focusing of the optical system, and therefore, a faster resolution of the iris and identification of the subject. In addition to high precision and resolution, maximizing the range of travel in such a small package is enabling the advancement of this technology in handheld portable devices, point of service areas, and applications where the location of the subject is not as tightly controlled.
New Scale’s production-ready, micro-motion modules are based on their patented piezoelectric motors and related micro-motion technology. By partnering with leading sensor and lens providers, they are able to deliver complete solutions from product development through high-volume production.
Bob,
Like most industrial motion solutions, the reliability of these micro motion systems is extremely high. The key to the motion performance is very high repeatability and accuracy driven by the closed loop performance that intelligent sensors provide. I am not sure how this specifically translates into surgical applications, since the surgeon introduces a new type of flexible intelligence into the system. I believe that "robot assist" systems are one way that advanced motion control increases the accuracy of surgical systems by providing an additional tool for the surgeon. Others may be able to offer more insight into this area of advanced control.
Al
These days, 13megapixel cameras available in common cell-phones are everywhere, we should see them in medical devices. But, perhaps the process in which it takes to certify a tech would be too much work and money. However, this modular design may side step evaluation rules. Once a device is certified, does a small component change need to be signed off on by third parties? If not, then this camera setup could continue to stay on the leading edge.
Having reported on machine vision for a few years before coming to DN, I have to agree with Cabe: commercial computer vision/machine vision, including medical apps, has been a very small industry or group of industries with very low volumes, for nearly all of its history. Cell phones have awesome camera sensor chips because of the dollars and volumes involved. Just as consumer electronics volumes (and capitalization) helped along the development of processors and memory, so has it done the same thing for CMOS-based imaging sensors, but only recently. That said, the precision needed for medical imaging and industrial imaging is a lot higher than most CMOS image sensors can provide--yet.
I have to agree with James on this one. The medical industry lags behind due to the amount of developers active in that sector. I have never heard of a medical design company with $100 billion in cash, like Apple. So, without the funds, innovation and tech adoption will be slow. Perhaps these big tech companies will branch out into the med world as good Samaritans. Then again, with the problems and errors these big companies like HTC, Samsung, or Apple overlook in their devices, we might now want their help.
The copious checks in the medical build process is probably a deterrent too. The return on investment is probably very low.
James, you make an interesting point. Do you have an explaination as to why medical imaging is lagging behind? Could it have something to do with the long verifcation and validation test cycles needed for medical device approval that is causing the medical industry to be a follower rather than a leader?
Al--fascinating article. If I may, let me ask the following question: For those individuals, who have had cataract or Lasik surgery, do the systems compensate or do they need to compensate? I think this technology is very important but what conditions make the motion systems less reliable--if any. I have had cataract surgery in both eyes therefore have lenses in both eyes. Does that represent a problem for the hardware of software?
I can't believe that only now are medical imaging devices reaching the pixel density per inch in my cell phone (not to mention the decades old CNC control practices). It is only through clearer views, sharper images, and high resolution that industries start to understand their practices better. The amount of research data provided by high-resolution satellite images surpasses previous generations by magnitudes. Although this camera is a great first step, the technology is there to go beyond right now.
All industries can argue that research is important in whatever micro-bubble they are in. But, the medical industry is the most important, in my opinion. Having worked for a company that did contract work for the medical industry, there is very little money being poured into the sector. Only a handful of engineers worked at that company, including myself. We made devices to detect cancer, apply medical injections, etc, very important, life-dependant, products... only 3 engineers. Apple, Google, Microsoft has hundreds, if not thousands, at their disposal. The dichotomy is depressing.
Great work on the imaging device... now take it to the next level.
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