Spectrally-scanned hyperspectral electro-optical sensor for instantaneous situational awareness
US10634559B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 18, 2018 |
| Grant date | Apr 28, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2201/0221
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A spectrally-scanned hyperspectral EO sensor trades the temporal properties of spectral information content for instantaneous situation awareness by capturing an image frame and scanning the spectral scene (wavelength) to build up spectral content. The objective optical system, preferably including a chromatic aberration enhancing device, separates spectral components of the incident radiation. A focus cell is used to adjust a relative axial focus position of the objective optical system with respect to a detector to at least two different axial focus positions to adjust the image position and read out an image frame for a spectrally-weighted component. A processor computes a relative spatial image contrast from a plurality of image frames at different wavelengths as a function of encoded focus cell position. A mechanism may be configured to move the enhancing device in and out of the optical path to form a dual gray-scale and hyperspectral EO sensor. Existing sensors may be retrofit to form the hyperspectral or dual-mode EO sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.