IMAGING SPECTROMETER WITH EXTENDED RESOLUTION
First Claim
1. An interferometric transform spectrometer system comprising:
- a Michelson interferometer configured to introduce a varying optical path length difference (OPD) between two arms of the Michelson interferometer so as to produce an interferogram;
a detector positioned at a focal plane of the Michelson interferometer and configured to receive and sample the interferogram; and
a scan controller coupled to the detector and to Michelson interferometer and configured to control the Michelson interferometer to vary the OPD in discrete steps such that the detector provides, for each of a first and second scan segment, M samples of the interferogram, wherein for the first scan segment, the M samples have a uniform or non-uniform sample spacing and the OPD has a first maximum value, and for the second scan segment, the M samples have an incrementally increasing sample spacing and the OPD has a second maximum value that is at least twice the first maximum value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Interferometric transform spectrometer (ITS) systems and methods of operation thereof. In one example, an ITS system includes a Michelson interferometer that introduces a varying optical path length difference (OPD) between its two arms so as to produce an interferogram, a detector that receives and samples the interferogram, and a scan controller coupled to the detector and to Michelson interferometer. The scan controller controls the Michelson interferometer to vary the OPD in discrete steps such that the detector provides M samples of the interferogram for each of two scan segments. In the first scan segment, the M samples have a uniform or non-uniform sample spacing and the OPD has a first maximum value. In the second scan segment, the M samples have an incrementally increasing sample spacing and the OPD has a second maximum value that is at least twice the first maximum value.
4 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An interferometric transform spectrometer system comprising:
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a Michelson interferometer configured to introduce a varying optical path length difference (OPD) between two arms of the Michelson interferometer so as to produce an interferogram; a detector positioned at a focal plane of the Michelson interferometer and configured to receive and sample the interferogram; and a scan controller coupled to the detector and to Michelson interferometer and configured to control the Michelson interferometer to vary the OPD in discrete steps such that the detector provides, for each of a first and second scan segment, M samples of the interferogram, wherein for the first scan segment, the M samples have a uniform or non-uniform sample spacing and the OPD has a first maximum value, and for the second scan segment, the M samples have an incrementally increasing sample spacing and the OPD has a second maximum value that is at least twice the first maximum value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of spectral imaging using an interferometric transform spectrometer (ITS) comprising:
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controlling the ITS to collect M first samples of an interferogram produced by the ITS over a first frequency range and first optical path difference of the ITS, M being a positive integer; processing at least some of the M first samples to produce corresponding first spectra; analyzing the first spectra to determine a presence or absence of a signal of interest; responsive to detecting the signal of interest, controlling the ITS to collect M second samples of the interferogram over a second optical path difference of the ITS, the M second samples having an incrementally increasing sample spacing; and processing the M second samples to produce corresponding second spectra. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification