Multichannel optical sensing device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Considering this background, one principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved multichannel optical scanning device which overcomes most of the limitations and problems associated with the prior devices, while providing an improved solution to the problem of rapidly and accurately measuring the distribution of luminance and illuminance, both outdoors and indoors, and at remarkably low cost.
A further object is to provide a new and improved multichannel optical scanning device which is also applicable to the measurement of radiance and irradiance, either with a wide spectral band, or with any narrow spectral band for specific applications.
It will be understood that whenever measurements of luminance and illuminance are referred to herein, measurements of radiance and irradiance are also contemplated.
When light is referred to herein, radiation is also contemplated, outside the visible spectrum.
To accomplish these and other objects, the present invention provides a multichannel optical sensing device, comprising a plurality of light receiving elements or receptors for receiving light from various directions, an optical shutter matrix including a plurality of optical shutter elements operable by electrical control signals between light transmitting and light stopping conditions, a plurality of fiber optic elements connected between the light receptors and the optical shutter elements of the matrix, shutter control means for selectively supplying electrical control signals to the optical shutter elements for selectively switching such elements to the light transmitting condition, a photodetector device for receiving the light from all of the optical shutter elements of the matrix, such photodetector device including detector means for producing electrical output signals corresponding to the received light, and output means for utilizing the output signals from the detector means.
A multitude of light receptors may be employed and may be aimed in a large number of different directions to cover a wide distribution