Abstract: System and method for narrowing the transmission curves obtained using a spectral imager in which spectral images are acquired using a MEMS Fabri-Perot (FP) tunable filter. A method includes acquiring a first plurality of broad-band spectral images associated with respective MEMS FP etalon states and processing the first plurality of broad-band spectral images into a second plurality of narrow-band spectral images.

Abstract: Tunable MEMS etalon devices comprising: a front mirror and a back mirror, the front and back mirrors separated in an initial pre-stressed un-actuated etalon state by a gap having a pre-stressed un-actuated gap size determined by a back stopper structure in physical contact with the front mirror and back mirrors, the etalon configured to assume at least one actuated state in which the gap has an actuated gap size gap greater than the pre-stressed un-actuated gap size; an anchor structure, a frame structure fixedly coupled to the front mirror at a first surface thereof that faces incoming light, and a flexure structure attached to the anchor structure and to the frame structure but not attached to the front mirror, and a spacer structure separating the anchor structure from the back mirror, and wherein the front mirror and the spacer structure are formed in a same single glass layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, among other aspects, a technique, employed in a system and method, for monitoring a state of a tunable optical filter, typically a MEMS tunable filter such as a Fabry-Perot filter. The technique utilizes application of an actuation voltage signal characterized by a first component configured for causing a movement of a movable optical member of the tunable filter and a second component configured for being responsive for each given state of the tunable filter, i.e each optical gap results in a different response of the second component. The response of the second component to the state of the tunable filter, i.e. its variation profile from the original applied second component of the voltage signal is being indicative of the state of the tunable filter.

Abstract: An optical device that may include an enclosure that comprises a first element, a second element; wherein the first element and the second element are at least partially transparent; a movable element that is configured to move within an internal space defined by the enclosure; and wherein the enclosure is sealed and is configured to maintain a pressure difference between a pressure level that exists within the internal space and an ambient pressure level.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to an imaging that includes an image sensor; a tunable filter; and a controller operatively connected to the tunable filter and to the image sensor. The imaging system is configured to: tune the tunable filter to a plurality of filter states. The image sensor acquires, at each state of the plurality of states, an image of an object, to provide different images of the object. The controller calculates a state related score, for each state that is indicative of one or more properties of at least one subset of pixels of the at least one image acquired at the state, to provide a plurality of state related scores; and determines, based on at least one of the plurality of state related scores, a desired state of the tunable filter that satisfies a desired state related score criterion; and sets the tunable filter.

Abstract: System and method for narrowing the transmission curves obtained using a spectral imager in which spectral images are acquired using a MEMS Fabri-Perot (FP) tunable filter. A method includes acquiring a first plurality of broad-band spectral images associated with respective MEMS FP etalon states and processing the first plurality of broad-band spectral images into a second plurality of narrow-band spectral images.

Abstract: A light field imaging system and method are presented. The light-field imaging system comprises an optical arrangement configured for collecting an input light field from a scene and projecting collected light on a pixel matrix of a detector unit, the optical arrangement comprising” an optical coder configured for applying angular coding to the light being collected to produce angularly coded light by separating the light being collected into an array of u angular light components corresponding to u different discrete viewpoints of the scene and projecting light from all of said u angular light components onto each of at least some of the pixels in the pixel matrix thereby causing in-pixel summation of the u angular light components on the pixel matrix of the sensor unit.

Abstract: Imaging systems and methods for imaging using the same color or monochromatic image sensor, wherein imaging can be switched between at least two imaging modes, for example between a visible imaging mode and an IR imaging mode, without moving any system component from a given position in an optical path between an imaged object and the image sensor. In an example, a system includes an image sensor, a tunable spectral filter and a multi-bandpass filter, the tunable spectral filter and the multi-bandpass filter arranged in a common optical path between an object and the image sensor, and a controller configured and operable to position the tunable spectral filter in a plurality of operation states related to a plurality of imaging modes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel a tunable Micro-Electro-Mechanical (MEMS) Etalon system including: a functional layer patterned to define a suspension structure for suspending a first mirror being an aperture mirror of the Etalon, an aperture mirror coupled to the suspension structure, and a back layer including a second mirror, being a back mirror of the Etalon. The functional layer may be located above the back layer and the back layer may include spacer structures protruding therefrom towards the aperture mirror to define a minimal gap between the aperture mirror and the back mirror and prevent collision between them. The aspect ratio between the width of the etalon/mirrors may be high (e.g. at least 500), and the minimal gap/distance between the mirrors may be small in the order of tens of nanometers (nm).

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to an imaging that includes an image sensor; a tunable filter; and a controller operatively connected to the tunable filter and to the image sensor. The imaging system is configured to: tune the tunable filter to a plurality of filter states. The image sensor acquires, at each state of the plurality of states, an image of an object, to provide different images of the object. The controller calculates a state related score, for each state that is indicative of one or more properties of at least one subset of pixels of the at least one image acquired at the state, to provide a plurality of state related scores; and determines, based on at least one of the plurality of state related scores, a desired state of the tunable filter that satisfies a desired state related score criterion; and sets the tunable filter.

Abstract: A hyperspectral imaging system and method are presented for use in reconstruction of spectral data of an object. The system comprises: a pixel matrix of a detector; a tunable dispersive unit in front of the pixel matrix; and a control system. The control system comprises: a controller for tuning the dispersive unit during n image acquisition sessions to provide n different partially overlapping spectral transmission profiles of the dispersive unit; and a control unit which is in data communication with the detector and is configured and operable for processing n image data pieces generated by the pixel matrix in said n image acquisition sessions respectively, each being indicative of a spectral image detected by the pixel matrix and corresponding to the different spectral transmission profile of the dispersive unit, and determining the reconstructed spectral data of the object.

Abstract: Imaging systems and methods for imaging using the same color or monochromatic image sensor, wherein imaging can be switched between at least two imaging modes, for example between a visible imaging mode and an IR imaging mode, without moving any system component from a given position in an optical path between an imaged object and the image sensor. In an example, a system includes an image sensor, a tunable spectral filter and a multi-bandpass filter, the tunable spectral filter and the multi-bandpass filter arranged in a common optical path between an object and the image sensor, and a controller configured and operable to position the tunable spectral filter in a plurality of operation states related to a plurality of imaging modes.

Abstract: Tunable MEMS etalon devices comprising: a front minor and a back mirror, the front and back mirrors separated in an initial pre-stressed un-actuated etalon state by a gap having a pre-stressed un-actuated gap size determined by a back stopper structure in physical contact with the front mirror and back mirrors, the etalon configured to assume at least one actuated state in which the gap has an actuated gap size gap greater than the pre-stressed un-actuated gap size; an anchor structure, a frame structure fixedly coupled to the front mirror at a first surface thereof that faces incoming light, and a flexure structure attached to the anchor structure and to the frame structure but not attached to the front mirror, and a spacer structure separating the anchor structure from the back mirror, and wherein the front mirror and the spacer structure are formed in a same single glass layer.

Abstract: A computer system uses a search engine to search a dataset using an initial query provided by a user and thereby to produce initial search results. The system enables the user to select portions of the initial search results. The system identifies metadata associated with the selected portions, and displays information representing that metadata in a form that is easily understandable by a person not trained in the annotation system in which the search results are encoded. The user may instruct the system to add one or more of the displayed metadata elements to the initial query, in response to which the system may add the specified metadata elements to the initial query to produce a modified query. The system may search the dataset using the modified query and thereby produce modified search results. The process may be repeated as desired by the user to further refine the search results.

Abstract: An imaging system color image acquisition including: an image sensor; a tunable spectral filter arranged in an optical path of light propagation towards the image sensor; and a controller connected to the image sensor and to the tunable spectral filter. The controller is configured and operable for generating a colored image by sequentially operating the tunable spectral filter for sequentially filtering light passing towards the image sensor with three or more different spectral filtering curves during three or more corresponding integration time durations. The tunable spectral filter is configured, as an etalon and includes a pair of reflective surfaces. At least one of the reflective surfaces includes a layer of high refractive index of at least n=2.3 or even higher than 3, or a layer of low refractive index, smaller than n=1.

Abstract: An imaging system and method are presents for use in reconstructing spectral data of an object. The imaging system comprises: an optical unit; a pixel array of a detector; and a data processor for receiving and processing image data indicative of light detected by the pixel array and generating reconstructed spectral data of the object being imaged. The optical unit is configured and operable for applying a predetermined coding to an input light field while creating an optical image thereof on a detection plane defined by the pixel array. Therefore, the image data is a function of the predetermined coding and a spectrum of the object to be determined.

Abstract: An imaging system and method are presents for use in reconstructing spectral data of an object. The imaging system comprises: an optical unit; a pixel array of a detector; and a data processor for receiving and processing image data indicative of light detected by the pixel array and generating reconstructed spectral data of the object being imaged. The optical unit is configured and operable for applying a predetermined coding to an input light field while creating an optical image thereof on a detection plane defined by the pixel array. Therefore, the image data is a function of the predetermined coding and a spectrum of the object to be determined.

Abstract: A hyperspectral imaging system and method are presented for use in reconstruction of spectral data of an object. The system comprises: a pixel matrix of a detector; a tunable dispersive unit in front of the pixel matrix; and a control system. The control system comprises: a controller for tuning the dispersive unit during n image acquisition sessions to provide n different partially overlapping spectral transmission profiles of the dispersive unit; and a control unit which is in data communication with the detector and is configured and operable for processing n image data pieces generated by the pixel matrix in said n image acquisition sessions respectively, each being indicative of a spectral image detected by the pixel matrix and corresponding to the different spectral transmission profile of the dispersive unit, and determining the reconstructed spectral data of the object.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel a tunable Micro-Electro-Mechanical (MEMS) Etalon system including: a functional layer patterned to define a suspension structure for suspending a first mirror being an aperture mirror of the Etalon, an aperture mirror coupled to the suspension structure, and a back layer including a second mirror, being a back mirror of the Etalon. The functional layer may be located above the back layer and the back layer may include spacer structures protruding therefrom towards the aperture mirror to define a minimal gap between the aperture mirror and the back mirror and prevent collision between them. The aspect ratio between the width of the etalon/mirrors may be high (e.g. at least 500), and the minimal gap/distance between the mirrors may be small in the order of tens of nanometers (nm).

Abstract: An imaging system color image acquisition including: an image sensor; a tunable spectral filter arranged in an optical path of light propagation towards the image sensor; and a controller connected to the image sensor and to the tunable spectral filter. The controller is configured and operable for generating a colored image by sequentially operating the tunable spectral filter for sequentially filtering light passing towards the image sensor with three or more different spectral filtering curves during three or more corresponding integration time durations. The tunable spectral filter is configured, as an etalon and includes a pair of reflective surfaces. At least one of the reflective surfaces includes a layer of high refractive index of at least n=2.3 or even higher than 3, or a layer of low refractive index, smaller than n=1.