Configurable combination spectrometer and imager

摘要

An imaging transform spectrometer, and method of operation thereof, that is dynamically configurable “on demand” between an interferometric spectrometer function and a broadband spatial imaging function to allow a single instrument to capture both broadband spatial imagery and spectral data of a scene. In one example, the imaging transform spectrometer is configured such that the modulation used for interferometric imaging may be dynamically turned ON and OFF to select a desired mode of operation for the instrument.

主权项

1. A multimode imaging transform spectrometer having a spectral collection mode and a camera mode and comprising:
a beamsplitter configured to split incident electromagnetic radiation from a scene into a first optical path and a second optical path; at least one focal plane array sensor configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from the first and second optical paths; a first mirror positioned in the first optical path and configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation in the first optical path toward the at least one focal plane array sensor; a movable second mirror positioned in the second optical path and configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation in the second optical path toward the at least one focal plane array sensor, the second mirror being movable over a scan range to provide an optical path length difference between the first optical path and the second optical path and produce an interferogram at the least one focal plane array sensor when the imaging transform spectrometer is in the spectral collection mode; a random amplitude driver coupled to the controller and to one of the first mirror and the second mirror; and a controller configured to selectively interrupt and halt scanning movement of the second mirror over the scan range to configure the imaging transform spectrometer into the camera mode, the controller being further configured to control the random amplitude driver to impart a vibration to the one of the first mirror and the second mirror while the scanning movement of the second mirror over the scan range is halted to substantially prevent formation of the interferogram at the at least one focal plane array sensor; wherein, in the camera mode, the at least one focal plane array sensor is configured to produce broadband spatial images of the scene from the electromagnetic radiation from the first and second optical paths.