DIVIDED-APERTURE INFRA-RED SPECTRAL IMAGING SYSTEM

• US 20170350758A1
• Filed: 03/17/2017
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rebellion Photonics, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rebellion Photonics, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kester, Robert Timothy, Hagen, Nathan Adrian
• Granted Patent: US 10,444,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0229 using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators or spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0232 using shutters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis

Abstract

Various embodiments disclosed herein describe a divided-aperture infrared spectral imaging (DAISI) system that is adapted to acquire multiple IR images of a scene with a single-shot (also referred to as a snapshot). The plurality of acquired images having different wavelength compositions that are obtained generally simultaneously. The system includes at least two optical channels that are spatially and spectrally different from one another. Each of the at least two optical channels are configured to transfer IR radiation incident on the optical system towards an optical FPA unit comprising at least two detector arrays disposed in the focal plane of two corresponding focusing lenses. The system further comprises at least one temperature reference source or surface that is used to dynamically calibrate the two detector arrays and compensate for a temperature difference between the two detector arrays.

Claims

1. An infrared (IR) imaging system for determining a concentration of a target species in an object, the imaging system comprising:

an optical system including an optical focal plane array (FPA) unit that is devoid of a cooling means, the optical system configured to receive IR radiation from the object along at least two optical channels defined by components of the optical system, said at least two optical channels being spatially and spectrally different from one another;

first and second temperature-controlled shutters removably positioned to block IR radiation incident onto the optical system from the object; and

a processor configured to acquire multispectral optical data representing said target species from the received IR radiation in a single occurrence of data acquisition.

2. A method of operating an infrared (IR) imaging system, comprising:

receiving IR radiation from an object along at least two optical channels defined by components of an optical system of the IR imaging system, said at least two optical channels being spatially and spectrally different from one another;

transmitting the received IR radiation towards an optical focal plane array (FPA) unit that is not being cooled in the course of normal operation; and

removably positioning at least one of at least two temperature-controlled shutters in front of the optical system to block IR radiation incident onto the optical system from the object.