SPECTRAL CAMERA WITH MIRRORS FOR PROJECTING MULTIPLE ADJACENT IMAGE COPIES ONTO SENSOR ARRAY
First Claim
1. A spectral camera for producing a spectral output, the spectral camera comprising:
- an objective lens for producing an image;
an arrangement of mirrors for producing optical copies of the image on different optical channels;
an array of filters for passing a different passband of the optical spectrum for different ones of the optical channels arranged so as to project multiple of the optical channels onto different parts of the same focal plane; and
one or more sensor arrays arranged at the focal plane to detect the filtered image copies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A spectral camera for producing a spectral output is disclosed. The spectral camera has an objective lens for producing an image, an array of mirrors, an array of filters for passing a different passband of the optical spectrum for different ones of the optical channels arranged so as to project multiple of the optical channels onto different parts of the same focal plane, and a sensor array at the focal plane to detect the filtered image copies simultaneously. By using mirrors, there may be less optical degradation and the trade off of cost with optical quality can be better. By projecting the optical channels onto different parts of the same focal plane a single sensor or coplanar multiple sensors can to be used to detect the different optical channels simultaneously which promotes simpler alignment and manufacturing.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A spectral camera for producing a spectral output, the spectral camera comprising:
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an objective lens for producing an image; an arrangement of mirrors for producing optical copies of the image on different optical channels; an array of filters for passing a different passband of the optical spectrum for different ones of the optical channels arranged so as to project multiple of the optical channels onto different parts of the same focal plane; and one or more sensor arrays arranged at the focal plane to detect the filtered image copies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a spectral camera for producing a spectral output and having an objective lens for producing an image, an arrangement of mirrors for producing optical copies of the image on different optical channels, an array of filters for passing a different passband of the optical spectrum for different ones of the optical channels arranged so as to project multiple of the optical channels onto different parts of the same focal plane, and one or more sensor arrays arranged at the focal plane to detect the filtered image copies, the method comprising:
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carrying out a preliminary registration to set the outlines and alignments of the projected image copies on the one or more sensor arrays such that at least some adjacent ones of the projected image copies fit tightly together without leaving sensors unused by being obscured by such barriers; reading out the projected image copies at the different passbands in a single frame time; and storing an image cube of the sensed projected image copies. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of configuring a spectral camera for producing a spectral output and having an objective lens for producing an image, an arrangement of mirrors for producing optical copies of the image on different optical channels, an array of filters for passing a different passband of the optical spectrum for different ones of the optical channels arranged so as to project multiple of the optical channels onto different parts of the same focal plane, and one or more sensor arrays arranged at the focal plane to detect the filtered image copies, the method comprising:
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selecting how many image copies to provide and their spatial arrangement on the sensor array; selecting which passbands to use, and their spatial arrangement on the image copies; and manufacturing integrated layers on the one or more sensor arrays to form the array of filters according to the selected passbands and their spatial arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification