FULL-FRAME, PROGRAMMABLE HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGER

摘要

A programmable, many-band spectral imager based on addressable spatial light modulators (ASLMs), such as micro-mirror-, micro-shutter- or liquid-crystal arrays, is described. Capable of collecting at once, without scanning, a complete two-dimensional spatial image with ASLM spectral processing applied simultaneously to the entire image, the invention employs optical assemblies wherein light from all image points is forced to impinge at the same angle onto the dispersing element, eliminating interplay between spatial position and wavelength. This is achieved, as examples, using telecentric optics to image light at the required constant angle, or with micro-optical array structures, such as micro-lens- or capillary arrays, that aim the light on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Light of a given wavelength then emerges from the disperser at the same angle for all image points, is collected at a unique location for simultaneous manipulation by the ASLM, then recombined with other wavelengths to form a final spectrally-processed image.

主权项

1. An imaging system comprising:
an initial optical subsystem receiving incident light and generating an image comprising spatially invariant light propagation defining a substantially spatially invariant angle of incidence at a first predetermined location comprising an image plane; a dispersive element disposed at the predetermined location to receive the image at the spatially invariant angle of incidence and to generate wavelength dispersed light; a second optical subsystem receiving the wavelength dispersed light and generating a spatially dispersed spectrum at a second predetermined location such that in at least one dimension of a spectral plane, light of a predetermined wavelength is directed to a substantially identical position within the spectral plane; a selective element disposed at the second predetermined location and optically coupled to the dispersive element, the selective element configured to programmably modulate an amplitude of light at one or more locations in the spectral plane to produce spectrally modified light; and a detector receiving the spectrally modified light from the selective element, wherein the spectrally modified light comprises an image representation of the incident light in which the spectral content has been modified by the selective element in one or more spectral bands, and wherein such spectral modification is substantially identical for substantially all locations in the image representation.