Spectral imaging system and method employing an acousto-optic tunable filter for wavelength selection with increased field of view brightness
US5828451A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 27, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J3/2823
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) has one or more optical wavelength passbands dependent on the frequency or frequencies of a radio frequency signal applied thereto. A radio frequency generator applies the radio frequency signal under computer control of the RF frequency so that the radio frequency signal has one or more preselected frequency components. An input optics system directs incident object or scene light to the AOTF. A first polarizing element passes to the AOTF only image light which is polarized in a first direction. A second polarizing element receives output image light from the AOTF and passes only image light which is polarized in a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The image light passed by the second polarizing element is detected by a camera. An output optics system focusses image light passed by the second polarizer on an image plane of the camera, and an image corresponding to the detected image light is recorded. An image processor receives recorded image data for processing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.