Multi-spectral two dimensional imaging spectrometer

Abstract

A multi-spectral two-dimensional imaging spectrometer includes a combination of single or multi-element, achromatic, well-corrected lenses for imaging a two-dimensional scene on an internal field stop. The light emanating from this intermediate image is collimated with another multi-element, achromatic, well-corrected lens. A spectral separation subassembly that divides the incident light into multiple, identical, and independent arms is placed in the collimated space following the collimating lens. The light in each arm is spectrally filtered based on the properties of an interference filter in each arm. An imaging subassembly composed of a single multi-element, achromatic, well-corrected lens system forms contiguous images onto a single two-dimensional detector array. The images are identical copies of the original object with each copy having a different spectral component and can be viewed on a standard monitor or alternatively on a computer employing an analog-to-digital conversion device.