Abstract: An optical device includes two prisms and a beamsplitter configuration. A first of the prisms has a first surface associated with a source and a second surface oblique to the first surface. A second of the prisms has a first surface associated with a detector and a second surface oblique to the first surface. The second surface of the first prism overlaps with the second surface of the second prism to define an interface region that partially extends along at least one of the second surfaces. The prisms are optically attached at the interface region, and the beamsplitter configuration overlies the interface region. A beam emitted by the source propagates through the prisms along two optical paths and reaches the detector as two coherent beams. Beams that propagate along the two optical paths are reflected from the beamsplitter configuration and transmitted by the beamsplitter configuration exactly once.

Abstract: An optical device includes two prisms and a beamsplitter configuration. A first of the prisms has a first surface associated with a source and a second surface oblique to the first surface. A second of the prisms has a first surface associated with a detector and a second surface oblique to the first surface. The second surface of the first prism overlaps with the second surface of the second prism to define an interface region that partially extends along at least one of the second surfaces. The prisms are optically attached at the interface region, and the beamsplitter configuration overlies the interface region. A beam emitted by the source propagates through the prisms along two optical paths and reaches the detector as two coherent beams. Beams that propagate along the two optical paths are reflected from the beamsplitter configuration and transmitted by the beamsplitter configuration exactly once.

Abstract: An optical device includes two prisms and a beamsplitter configuration. A first of the prisms has a first surface associated with a source and a second surface oblique to the first surface. A second of the prisms has a first surface associated with a detector and a second surface oblique to the first surface. The second surface of the first prism overlaps with the second surface of the second prism to define an interface region that partially extends along at least one of the second surfaces. The prisms are optically attached at the interface region, and the beamsplitter configuration overlies the interface region. A beam emitted by the source propagates through the prisms along two optical paths and reaches the detector as two coherent beams. Beams that propagate along the two optical paths are reflected from the beamsplitter configuration and transmitted by the beamsplitter configuration exactly once.

Abstract: An optical device includes two prisms and a beamsplitter configuration. A first of the prisms has a first surface associated with a source and a second surface oblique to the first surface. A second of the prisms has a first surface associated with a detector and a second surface oblique to the first surface. The second surface of the first prism overlaps with the second surface of the second prism to define an interface region that partially extends along at least one of the second surfaces. The prisms are optically attached at the interface region, and the beamsplitter configuration overlies the interface region. A beam emitted by the source propagates through the prisms along two optical paths and reaches the detector as two coherent beams. Beams that propagate along the two optical paths are reflected from the beamsplitter configuration and transmitted by the beamsplitter configuration exactly once.

Abstract: An interference fringe pattern generator forms an interference fringe pattern from the light rays diffused from a region of an object positioned against a background. A planar array of detector pixels is arranged to capture an image of the interference fringe pattern. A storage medium records information indicative of intensity values of the image of the interference fringe pattern captured by a selected group of pixels of the planar array of detector pixels. The information is recorded as a function of the optical path difference values traversed by the diffused light rays through the interference fringe pattern generator for each of the pixels in the selected group of pixels. A processor determines the spectral characteristics of the object based on the information indicative of the intensity values recorded by the storage medium and the optical path difference values traversed by the diffused light rays.

Abstract: An interference fringe pattern generator forms an interference fringe pattern from the light rays diffused from a region of an object positioned against a background. A planar array of detector pixels is arranged to capture an image of the interference fringe pattern. A storage medium records information indicative of intensity values of the image of the interference fringe pattern captured by a selected group of pixels of the planar array of detector pixels. The information is recorded as a function of the optical path difference values traversed by the diffused light rays through the interference fringe pattern generator for each of the pixels in the selected group of pixels. A processor determines the spectral characteristics of the object based on the information indicative of the intensity values recorded by the storage medium and the optical path difference values traversed by the diffused light rays.

Abstract: A method reduces drift induced by environment changes when imaging radiation from a scene in two wavelength bands. Scene radiation is focused by two wedge-shaped components through a lens onto a detector that includes three separate regions. The wedge-shaped components are positioned at a fixed distance from the lens. The radiation from the scene is imaged separately onto two of the detector regions through an f-number of less than approximately 1.5 to produce a first pixel signal. Imaged radiation on each of the two regions includes radiation in one respective wavelength band. Radiation from a radiation source is projected by at least one of the wedge-shaped components through the lens onto a third detector region to produce a second pixel signal. The first pixel signal is modified based on a predetermined function that defines a relationship between second pixel signal changes and first pixel signal changes induced by environment changes.

Abstract: A system analyzes radiation from a scene in a field of view that includes a gas cloud with absorption characteristics in a wavelength band. The system includes first and second devices. The first device includes a detector and produces pixel signals that include information associated with absorption of radiation in the gas cloud wavelength band. An image of the scene is formed on the detector based on the pixel signals. A non-predetermined region of the scene within the field of view in which the gas cloud is present is identified based on the pixel signals. The second device includes a detector and a lens, and receives the identified region of the scene. The system determines a distance between the identified region of the scene and the system based on the lens focus relative to the identified region of the scene in an image formed on the detector by the lens.

Abstract: Devices image radiation from a scene that includes two materials with spectral characteristics in two different wavelength regions. A lens forms an image of the scene on a detector that includes an array of elements. A filtering arrangement integrated with the detector allows half of the detector elements to detect radiation in one of the wavelength regions and the other half of the detector elements to detect radiation in the other wavelength region. Each detector element can be constructed from two different sub-elements that are sensitive to radiation in one of the respective wavelength regions. A blackbody source positioned within the devices reduces drift induced by changes to the environment surrounding the devices. The blackbody source projects radiation onto a region of the detector that does not receive radiation from the scene. Pixel signals produced from the scene radiation are modified based on pixel signals produced from the blackbody.

Abstract: A method reduces drift induced by environment changes when imaging radiation from a scene in two wavelength bands. Scene radiation is focused by two wedge-shaped components through a lens onto a detector that includes three separate regions. The wedge-shaped components are positioned at a fixed distance from the lens. The radiation from the scene is imaged separately onto two of the detector regions through an f-number of less than approximately 1.5 to produce a first pixel signal. Imaged radiation on each of the two regions includes radiation in one respective wavelength band. Radiation from a radiation source is projected by at least one of the wedge-shaped components through the lens onto a third detector region to produce a second pixel signal. The first pixel signal is modified based on a predetermined function that defines a relationship between second pixel signal changes and first pixel signal changes induced by environment changes.

Abstract: Devices image radiation from a scene that includes two materials with spectral characteristics in two different wavelength regions. A lens forms an image of the scene on a detector that includes an array of elements. A filtering arrangement integrated with the detector allows half of the detector elements to detect radiation in one of the wavelength regions and the other half of the detector elements to detect radiation in the other wavelength region. Each detector element can be constructed from two different sub-elements that are sensitive to radiation in one of the respective wavelength regions. A blackbody source positioned within the devices reduces drift induced by changes to the environment surrounding the devices. The blackbody source projects radiation onto a region of the detector that does not receive radiation from the scene. Pixel signals produced from the scene radiation are modified based on pixel signals produced from the blackbody.

Abstract: A device images radiation from a scene. The scene can include two materials with spectral characteristics in different radiation wavelength regions. A static filtering arrangement includes two filters with different passbands corresponding to the two wavelength regions. An image forming optic forms an image of the scene on a detector. The radiation from the scene is imaged simultaneously through an f-number of less than 1.5 onto two detector pixel subsets. The imaged radiation on one pixel subset includes radiation in one wavelength region. The imaged radiation on the other pixel subset includes radiation in the other wavelength region. Electronic circuitry produces a pixel signal from each detector pixel. The pixel signals include information associated with absorption or emission of radiation in one of the respective wavelength regions by the two materials. The electronic circuitry determines the presence or absence of each of the two materials based on the pixel signals.

Abstract: A device images radiation from a scene. A detector is sensitive to the radiation in a first wavelength band. A lens forms an image of the scene on the detector. A filtering arrangement includes two sets of radiation absorbing molecules. A control unit switches the filtering arrangement between two states. In the first state, all of the radiation in the first wavelength band is transmitted to the detector. In the second state, the radiation in a second wavelength band within the first wavelength band is absorbed by the radiation absorbing molecules. The control unit synchronizes the switching of the filtering arrangement with the detector. Each pixel of the image formed on the detector includes two signals. The first signal includes information from the scene radiation in the first wavelength hand. The second signal excludes information from the scene radiation absorbed by the filtering arrangement in the second wavelength band.

Abstract: A method reduces drift induced by environment changes when imaging radiation from a scene in two wavelength bands. Scene radiation is focused by two wedge-shaped components through a lens onto a detector that includes three separate regions. The wedge-shaped components are positioned at a fixed distance from the lens. The radiation from the scene is imaged separately onto two of the detector regions through an f-number of less than approximately 1.5 to produce a first pixel signal. Imaged radiation on each of the two regions includes radiation in one respective wavelength band. Radiation from a radiation source is projected by at least one of the wedge-shaped components through the lens onto a third detector region to produce a second pixel signal. The first pixel signal is modified based on a predetermined function that defines a relationship between second pixel signal changes and first pixel signal changes induced by environment changes.

Abstract: A device images radiation from a scene. The scene can include two materials with spectral characteristics in different radiation wavelength regions. A static filtering arrangement includes two filters with different passbands corresponding to the two wavelength regions. An image forming optic forms an image of the scene on a detector. The radiation from the scene is imaged simultaneously through an f-number of less than 1.5 onto two detector pixel subsets. The imaged radiation on one pixel subset includes radiation in one wavelength region. The imaged radiation on the other pixel subset includes radiation in the other wavelength region. Electronic circuitry produces a pixel signal from each detector pixel. The pixel signals include information associated with absorption or emission of radiation in one of the respective wavelength regions by the two materials. The electronic circuitry determines the presence or absence of each of the two materials based on the pixel signals.

Abstract: A device images radiation from a scene. The scene can include two materials with spectral characteristics in different radiation wavelength regions. A static filtering arrangement includes two filters with different passbands corresponding to the two wavelength regions. An image forming optic forms an image of the scene on a detector. The radiation from the scene is imaged simultaneously through an f-number of less than 1.5 onto two detector pixel subsets. The imaged radiation on one pixel subset includes radiation in one wavelength region. The imaged radiation on the other pixel subset includes radiation in the other wavelength region. Electronic circuitry produces a pixel signal from each detector pixel. The pixel signals include information associated with absorption or emission of radiation in one of the respective wavelength regions by the two materials. The electronic circuitry determines the presence or absence of each of the two materials based on the pixel signals.

Abstract: A device images radiation from a scene. A detector is sensitive to the radiation in a first wavelength band. A lens forms an image of the scene on the detector. A filtering arrangement includes two sets of radiation absorbing molecules. A control unit switches the filtering arrangement between two states. In the first state, all of the radiation in the first wavelength band is transmitted to the detector. In the second state, the radiation in a second wavelength band within the first wavelength band is absorbed by the radiation absorbing molecules. The control unit synchronizes the switching of the filtering arrangement with the detector. Each pixel of the image formed on the detector includes two signals. The first signal includes information from the scene radiation in the first wavelength hand. The second signal excludes information from the scene radiation absorbed by the filtering arrangement in the second wavelength band.

Abstract: A device images radiation from a scene. A detector is sensitive to the radiation in a first wavelength band. A lens forms an image of the scene on the detector. A filtering arrangement includes two sets of radiation absorbing molecules. A control unit switches the filtering arrangement between two states. In the first state, all of the radiation in the first wavelength band is transmitted to the detector. In the second state, the radiation in a second wavelength band within the first wavelength band is absorbed by the radiation absorbing molecules. The control unit synchronizes the switching of the filtering arrangement with the detector. Each pixel of the image formed on the detector includes two signals. The first signal includes information from the scene radiation in the first wavelength band. The second signal excludes information from the scene radiation absorbed by the filtering arrangement in the second wavelength band.

Abstract: A device images radiation from a scene. The scene can include two materials with spectral characteristics in different radiation wavelength regions. A static filtering arrangement includes two filters with different passbands corresponding to the two wavelength regions. An image forming optic forms an image of the scene on a detector. The radiation from the scene is imaged simultaneously through an f-number of less than 1.5 onto two detector pixel subsets. The imaged radiation on one pixel subset includes radiation in one wavelength region. The imaged radiation on the other pixel subset includes radiation in the other wavelength region. Electronic circuitry produces a pixel signal from each detector pixel. The pixel signals include information associated with absorption or emission of radiation in one of the respective wavelength regions by the two materials. The electronic circuitry determines the presence or absence of each of the two materials based on the pixel signals.

Abstract: A method reduces drift induced by environment changes when imaging radiation from a scene in two wavelength bands. Scene radiation is focused by two wedge-shaped components through a lens onto a detector that includes three separate regions. The wedge-shaped components are positioned at a fixed distance from the lens. The radiation from the scene is imaged separately onto two of the detector regions through an f-number of less than approximately 1.5 to produce a first pixel signal. Imaged radiation on each of the two regions includes radiation in one respective wavelength band. Radiation from a radiation source is projected by at least one of the wedge-shaped components through the lens onto a third detector region to produce a second pixel signal. The first pixel signal is modified based on a predetermined function that defines a relationship between second pixel signal changes and first pixel signal changes induced by environment changes.