Multi-spectral imaging with diffractive optics

Abstract

A multi-spectral imaging (MSI) device can include an imaging plane and a diffractive optic. The imaging plane can include at least two groups of pixels an array of pixels for sensing at least two spectral bands. The at least two spectral bands can include a first spectral band and a second spectral band. The diffractive optic can be configured for diffracting an electromagnetic wave into the at least two spectral bands and focusing each spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave onto the group of pixels for the spectral band to generate an image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-spectral imaging (MSI) device, comprising:
 an imaging plane with at least two groups of pixels in an array of pixels for sensing at least two spectral bands, wherein the at least two spectral bands include a first spectral band and a second spectral band; and   a diffractive optic for diffracting an electromagnetic wave into the at least two spectral bands and focusing each spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave onto the group of pixels for the spectral band to generate image.   
     
     
         2 . The MSI device of  claim 1 , further comprising a single shared-input aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The MSI device of  claim 1 , wherein the first spectral band is an infrared spectral band including at least one of near infrared (NIR), short-wave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), long-wave infrared (LWIR), and intervening bands. 
     
     
         4 . The MSI device of  claim 1 , wherein the second spectral band includes at least one of ultra violet (UV), visible light, near infrared (NIR), short-wave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), or long-wave infrared (LWIR). 
     
     
         5 . The MSI device of  claim 1 , wherein the diffractive optic focuses the first spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave on to addressable pixels of a first sensor, and the diffractive optic focuses the second spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave on to addressable pixels of a second sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The MSI device of  claim 1 , wherein an aperture of the diffractive optic redirects incoming light from a plurality of plane waves, wherein each plane wave has a different incident angle, and the imaging plane has a plurality of addressable pixels, wherein each addressable pixel is based on the incident angle of a plane wave and a spectral band. 
     
     
         7 . The MSI device of  claim 1 , wherein the group of pixels for the first spectral band and the group of pixels for second spectral band use different discrete sensor arrays on the imaging plane. 
     
     
         8 . The MSI device of  claim 1 , wherein the pixels for the first spectral band and the pixels for second spectral band use adjacent sensor pixels on the imaging plane. 
     
     
         9 . The MSI device of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging plane is used to generate a separate first spectral band image and at least a second spectral band image, wherein each image is a representation of a three dimensional (3D) or two dimensional (2D) object. 
     
     
         10 . The MSI device of  claim 1 , wherein the diffractive optic includes an array of pixelated cells on a substrate, where each cell has an aberration with a varying height from neighboring cells. 
     
     
         11 . A method for multi-spectral imaging (MSI) using a diffractive optic, comprising:
 diffracting an electromagnetic wave into at least two spectral bands, wherein the at least two spectral bands include a first spectral band and a second spectral band;   focusing each spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave onto a group of pixels on an imaging plane for the spectral band;   generating a first image from the group of pixels used to sense the first spectral band; and   generating a second image from the group of pixels used to sense the second spectral band.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first spectral band is an infrared spectral band including at least one of near infrared (NIR), short-wave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), long-wave infrared (LWIR), and intervening bands. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second spectral band includes at least one of ultra violet (UV), visible light, and intervening bands. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein focusing each spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave further comprises:
 focusing the first spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave on to addressable pixels of a first sensor, and   focusing the second spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave on to addressable pixels of a second sensor.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the group of pixels for the first spectral band and the group of pixels for second spectral band use different discrete sensor arrays on the imaging plane. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pixels for the first spectral band and the pixels for second spectral band use adjacent sensor pixels on the imaging plane. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first image and the second image represents a three dimensional (3D) or two dimensional (2D) object. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein diffracting the electromagnetic wave into at least two spectral bands further comprises:
 collimating incoming light from a plurality of plane waves, wherein each plane wave has a different incident angle, and the imaging plane has a plurality of addressable pixels, wherein each addressable pixel is based on the incident angle of a plane wave and a spectral band.   
     
     
         19 . A multi-spectral imaging (MSI) device, having computer circuitry configured to:
 diffract an electromagnetic wave into at least two spectral bands, wherein the at least two spectral bands include a first spectral band and a second spectral band;   focus each spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave onto a group of pixels on an imaging plane for the spectral band;   generate a first image from the group of pixels used to sense the first spectral band; and   generate a second image from the group of pixels used to sense the second spectral band.   
     
     
         20 . The computer circuitry of  claim 19 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to:
 focus the first spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave on to addressable pixels of a first sensor, and   focus the second spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave on to addressable pixels of a second sensor.