Compressive Sensing Snapshot Spectrometer Using Overlapping Filters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spectrometers cannot simultaneously collect data for a large number of spectral bands instantaneously, as they require separate filtering and detecting components for each band and rely on multiple measurements over time with varying spectral transmittance.
Innovation Solution
A compressive sensing snapshot spectrometer system that uses an array of optical filters with overlapping spectral transmittance functions and corresponding detectors, where a computing system executes compressive sensing algorithms to identify the spectrum of received light across multiple spectral bands from a single detector, allowing for instantaneous data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional pixelated spectrometers use separate filtering and detecting components for each spectral band, then measurement precision for individual bands is improved, but device complexity and inability to collect data for multiple bands simultaneously worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple spectral bands are combined into a single compressed measurement by integrating light across all bands simultaneously through a detector, rather than using separate detectors for each band. This merging approach reduces device complexity while capturing spectral information across multiple bands in one measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
A single detector is designed to perform multiple functions by detecting light across multiple spectral bands simultaneously, rather than requiring dedicated detectors for each band. This universal detector approach enables simultaneous multi-band spectral data collection without increasing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional spectrometers require multiple measurements over time with varying spectral transmittance, then adaptability to different spectral conditions is improved, but productivity and time to collect spectral data worsen
Solution Approach 1:
All spectral information for multiple bands is captured in a single preliminary measurement without requiring sequential measurements or time-varying spectral transmittance. This preliminary action approach enables instantaneous spectral data collection across multiple bands, improving productivity while maintaining adaptability.
3Measurement precision
If conventional spectrometers collect spectral data sequentially for each band, then measurement precision for each band is improved, but loss of time and inability to provide snapshot capability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Spectral measurements for multiple bands are merged into a single simultaneous measurement captured by the detector, eliminating the time loss associated with sequential measurements. This merging enables snapshot capability while preserving measurement precision through compressed sensing reconstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical or sequential measurement process is replaced with a simultaneous optical measurement system that captures all spectral bands at once. This substitution eliminates time loss by removing the need for sequential scanning or time-varying filters, providing instantaneous spectral data collection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the simultaneous collection of spectral data for a greater number of spectral bands than the number of filters, providing a 'snapshot' capability that conventional spectrometers lack, by leveraging overlapping spectral transmittance functions and compressive sensing algorithms.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the optical filters in the array of filters has a different spectral transmittance function that overlaps with the spectral transmittance function of at least one other filter in the array
Implementation Method 2
Each of the optical filters in the array of filters has a corresponding optical detector that receives light from its filter and outputs an electrical characteristic (e.g., voltage, charge, current, etc.) or data indicative of an intensity of the light received from the filter
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies pertaining to a compressive sensing snapshot spectrometer are described herein. Light is focused through an array of filters onto an array of optical detectors by way of an optical objective. Each detector in the array receives light from a single respective filter in the filters. Each filter in the filters has a spectral transmittance function that overlaps a spectral transmittance function of at least one other filter. A compressive sensing algorithm is executed over outputs of the detectors based upon the known spectral transmittance functions of the filters. Based upon the execution of the compressive sensing algorithm, intensity values of the light are identified for a number of spectral bins that is greater than a number of detectors in the array.