Abstract: An apparatus and method for imaging incoming radiation. The apparatus includes a radiation shield unit having a cavity. A detector array is positioned at least partially within the cavity and has a planar surface with at least one infrared detector affixed on the detector array. A diffractive optical array is positioned within the cavity and is in thermal communication with the radiation shield unit. The diffractive optical array is configured to diffract and direct the spectral components of the incoming radiation onto the detector array. The apparatus is in an external environment having a predetermined ambient temperature. The radiation shield unit, diffractive optical array and detector array may be temperature-controlled to a temperature that is within a few degrees of the ambient temperature. The radiation shield unit, diffractive optical array and detector array may be temperature-controlled to cryogenic temperatures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for imaging incoming radiation. The apparatus includes a radiation shield unit having a cavity. A detector array is positioned at least partially within the cavity and has a planar surface with at least one infrared detector affixed on the detector array. A diffractive optical array is positioned within the cavity and is in thermal communication with the radiation shield unit. The diffractive optical array is configured to diffract and direct the spectral components of the incoming radiation onto the detector array. The apparatus is in an external environment having a predetermined ambient temperature. The radiation shield unit, diffractive optical array and detector array may be temperature-controlled to a temperature that is within a few degrees of the ambient temperature. The radiation shield unit, diffractive optical array and detector array may be temperature-controlled to cryogenic temperatures.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting incoming radiation, including: a housing for receiving the incoming radiation, a lens attached to the housing to transmit incoming radiation into a radiation shield unit within the housing; a bandpass filter within the radiation shield unit to filter the incoming radiation falling outside a predetermined spectral band; an uncooled infrared detector within the radiation shield unit for detecting infrared radiation; wherein the bandpass filter is located along an optical path between the lens and the infrared detector; and wherein the lens optically focuses the incoming radiation onto the infrared detector. The radiation shield unit, the bandpass filter and the infrared detector are cooled to a temperature slightly less than room temperature, resulting in an improved signal to noise ratio of the image obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus for spectral detection of remote objects. The apparatus consists of an input optic which focuses the field of view onto an image receiving surface consisting of an addressable spatial mask. The mask sequentially projects portions of the scene onto a diffractive optical element which focuses onto a photodetector array. The first image receiving surface of mask is partitioned into independently addressable and controllable subsurfaces, or gates, adapted to receive an electronic control signal from a programmable control signal generator. Each gate in the receiving mask directs a portion of the image incident thereon to a diffractive lens in response to a control signal communicated thereto. This gated image is dispersed by the diffractive lens and focused upon the photosensitive surface of a photodetector array. The photodetector array is partitioned into pixels having a number in ratio to the gates in the addressable mask.