Method and apparatus for separate spectral imaging and sensing

• Main Authors: COTTON CHRISTOPHER T, TAPLIN LAWRENCE, SPILIOTIS PANO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 09.02.2016
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

An optical device that creates separate images for different wavelength bands of light. The device comprises a light sensor, a first dichroic filter, and a first mirror. The light sensor comprises a first light sensing portion and a second light sensing portion. The first dichroic filter reflects a first portion of incident light of a first wavelength band from a source through an imaging lens with the imaging lens projecting a first image of the source onto the first light sensing portion of the light sensor; and the first dichroic filter transmits a second portion of incident light of a second wavelength band from the scene different from the first wavelength range. The first mirror is positioned to reflect the transmitted second portion of incident light through the imaging lens, the imaging lens projecting a second image of the source onto the second light sensing portion of the light sensor.