Compact hyperspectral systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10386239-B1
Application number	US-201816035814-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 16, 2018
Priority date	Oct 28, 2016
Publication date	Aug 20, 2019
Grant date	Aug 20, 2019

Abstract

Hyperspectral imaging sensors that can readily switch between multiple common aperture imagers, and are more compact and lightweight than previous hyperspectral sensor designs.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An imaging optical system comprising:
a first optical system having at least one refractive or reflective element; said first optical system configured to substantially receive electromagnetic radiation emanating from a source; said first optical system being configured to substantially collimate the electromagnetic radiation emanating from said source;
a beam splitting device optically disposed to receive the electromagnetic radiation from said first optical system; said beam splitting device being configured to substantially direct a first portion of the electromagnetic radiation from said first optical system in a first direction; said beam splitting device also being configured to substantially direct a second portion of the electromagnetic radiation from said first optical system in a second direction;
a second optical system having at least one refractive or reflective element; said second optical system being optically disposed to substantially receive said first portion of electromagnetic radiation from said beam splitting device; said second optical system being configured to substantially focus said first portion of the electromagnetic radiation to a first image plane; said first image plane being optically disposed to substantially receive said first portion of electromagnetic radiation;
a third optical system having at least one refractive or reflective element; said third optical system being optically disposed to substantially receive said second portion of electromagnetic radiation from said beam splitting device; said third optical system being configured to substantially focus said second portion of electromagnetic radiation to a second image plane; said second image plane being optically disposed to substantially receive said second portion of electromagnetic radiation;
a fourth optical system having at least one refractive or reflective element; said fourth optical system being a spectrometer; said fourth optical system being optically disposed to substantially receive a portion of said first portion of electromagnetic radiation from said second optical system;
a first detecting element; said fourth optical system being configured to substantially disperse a portion of said first portion of electromagnetic radiation onto said first detecting element; said first detecting element being optically disposed to substantially receive said dispersed portion of said first portion of electromagnetic radiation;
a fifth optical system having at least one refractive or reflective element; said fifth optical system being a spectrometer; said fifth optical system being optically disposed to substantially receive a portion of said second portion of electromagnetic radiation from said third optical system; and
a second detecting element; said fifth optical system being configured to substantially disperse a portion of said second portion of electromagnetic radiation onto said second detecting element; and said second detecting element being optically disposed to substantially receive said dispersed portion of said second portion of electromagnetic radiation.

2. The imaging optical system of claim 1 wherein said first optical system is a reflective telescope.

3. The imaging optical system of claim 1 wherein said second optical system is a telecentric reflective imager.

4. The imaging optical system of claim 1 wherein said third optical system is a telecentric refractive imager.

5. The imaging optical system of claim 1 wherein said fourth optical system is a reflective relay spectrometer.

6. The imaging optical system of claim 1 wherein said fifth optical system is a refractive relay spectrometer.

7. The imaging optical system of claim 1 further comprising:
a Dewar, wherein said first and second detecting elements are both physically located within said Dewar.

8. An imaging optical system comprising:
a beam splitting device optically disposed to receive electromagnetic radiation emanating from a source; said beam splitting device being configured to substantially direct a first portion of the electromagnetic radiation from said source in a first direction; said beam splitting device also being configured to substantially direct a second portion of the electromagnetic radiation from said source in a second direction;
a first optical system having at least one refractive or reflective element; said first optical system being optically disposed to substantially receive said first portion of the electromagnetic radiation from said beam splitting device; said first optical system being configured to substantially focus said first portion of the electromagnetic radiation to a first image plane; said first image plane being optically disposed to substantially receive said first portion of electromagnetic radiation;
a second optical system having at least one refractive or reflective element; said second optical system being optically disposed to substantially receive said second portion of electromagnetic radiation from said beam splitting device; said second optical system being configured to substantially focus said second portion of electromagnetic radiation to a second image plane; said second image plane being optically disposed to substantially receive said second portion of electromagnetic radiation;
a third optical system having at least one refractive or reflective element; said third optical system being a spectrometer; said third optical system being optically disposed to substantially receive a portion of said first portion of electromagnetic radiation from said first optical system;
a first detecting element; said third optical system being configured to substantially disperse a portion of said first portion of electromagnetic radiation onto said first detecting element; said first detecting element being optically disposed to substantially receive said dispersed portion of said first portion of electromagnetic radiation;
a fourth optical system having at least one refractive or reflective element; said fourth optical system being a spectrometer; said fourth optical system being optically disposed to substantially receive a portion of said second portion of electromagnetic radiation from said second optical system; and
a second detecting element; said fourth optical system being configured to substantially disperse a portion of said second portion of electromagnetic radiation onto said second detecting element; and said second detecting element being optically disposed to substantially receive said dispersed portion of said second portion of electromagnetic radiation.

9. The imaging optical system of claim 8 wherein said first optical system is a telecentric reflective imager.

10. The imaging optical system of claim 8 wherein said second optical system is a telecentric refractive imager.

11. The imaging optical system of claim 8 wherein said third optical system is a reflective relay spectrometer.

12. The imaging optical system of claim 8 wherein said fourth optical system is a refractive relay spectrometer.

13. The imaging optical system of claim 8 further comprising:
a Dewar, wherein said first and second detecting elements are both physically located within said Dewar.

14. An imaging optical system comprising:
a beam splitting device optically disposed to receive electromagnetic radiation emanating from a source; said beam splitting device being configured to substantially direct a first portion of the electromagnetic radiation from said source in a first direction; said beam splitting device also being configured to substantially direct a second portion of the electromagnetic radi

Assignees

• Wavefront Res Inc

Inventors

• Mitchell Thomas A

Classifications

• G01J3/2823

  Imaging spectrometer · CPC title

• G02B23/04 Primary

  for the purpose of beam splitting or combining, e.g. fitted with eyepieces for more than one observer (G02B23/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01J5/0806

  Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors · CPC title

• G01J5/041

  Mountings in enclosures or in a particular environment · CPC title

• G02B23/06

  having a focussing action, e.g. parabolic mirror · CPC title