There is a need for small compact multispectral and hyperspectral imaging systems that simultaneously images in many spectral bands across the infrared spectral region from short to long-wave infrared. This is a challenge for conventional optics and usually requires large, costly and complex optical systems. However, with the advances in materials and photolithographic technology, Micro-Optical-Electrical-Machine-Systems (MOEMS) can meet these goals. In this paper Pacific Advanced Technology and ECBC will present the work that we are doing under a SBIR contract to the US Army using a MOEMS based diffractive optical lenslet array to perform simultaneous multispectral and hyperspectral imaging with relatively high spatial resolution. Under this program we will develop a proof of concept system that demonstrates how a diffractive optical (DO) lenslet array can image 1024 x 1024 pixels in 16 colors every frame of the camera. Each color image has a spatial resolution of 256 x 256 pixels with an IFOV of 1.7 mrads and FOV of 25 degrees. The purpose of this work is to simultaneously image multiple colors each frame and reduce the temporal changes between colors that are apparent in sequential multispectral imaging. Translating the lenslet array will collect hyperspectral image data cubes as will be explained later in this paper. Because the optics is integrated with the detector the entire multispectral/hyperspectral system can be contained in a miniature package. The spectral images are collected simultaneously allowing high resolution spectral-spatial-temporal information each frame of the camera. Thus enabling the implementation of spectral-temporal-spatial algorithms in real-time with high sensitivity for the detection of weak signals in a high background clutter environment with low sensitivity to camera motion. Using MOEMS actuation the DO lenslet array is translated along the optical axis to complete the full hyperspectral data cube in just a few frames of the camera, i.e. less than 1 second. In addition to numerous defense and security applications the same technology can be applied to biomedical cellular and molecular imaging.

Date Published: 13 March 2013
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 8616, MOEMS and Miniaturized Systems XII, 861615 (13 March 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2000585

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8616:
MOEMS and Miniaturized Systems XII
Wibool Piyawattanametha; Yong-Hwa Park, Editor(s)