Airborne Hyperspectral Imaging System Common Axis Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hyperspectral imaging systems for airborne deployment face challenges such as complex and costly alignment, high F-number leading to reduced sensitivity, and limited field of view, making them difficult to fabricate, align, and test effectively.
Innovation Solution
A hyperspectral imaging system with fore-optics and spectrometer mirrors configured to share common rotational symmetry axes, allowing for a compact design with low F-number and large field of view, and featuring specific relationships between optical powers to correct distortions and enhance spectral sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional hyperspectral imaging systems use separate alignment axes for fore-optics and spectrometer mirrors, then optical alignment can be achieved, but the system becomes complex and difficult to align with high sensitivity to variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the alignment reference function into a single common axis that serves both the fore-optics and spectrometer mirrors. This eliminates the need for separate alignment axes and reduces the number of alignment parameters, making the system easier to manufacture and align while maintaining optical precision through the unified reference framework
2Strength
If the system uses a high F-number design, then optical component sizes can be reduced, but system sensitivity and mission capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the F-number parameter from traditional high values to a low F-number design (F/2.5 or lower). This parameter change increases system sensitivity and mission capability while the integrated mirror design compensates for the increased component sizes through efficient space utilization and shared optical paths
3Area of stationary object
If the system uses a small field of view to simplify optics, then optical design is easier, but target coverage is reduced and faster scanning is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic optimization of the optical design to accommodate a large field of view. The mirror configurations and optical paths are designed to dynamically handle wide angular ranges, maintaining image quality across the expanded FOV without requiring prohibitively complex optical components or excessive scanning speeds
4Manufacturing precision
If mirrors are decentered and tilted to achieve correct optical alignment, then imaging quality is improved, but assembly and testing become difficult and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary alignment by establishing a common axis framework before final mirror positioning. The mirrors are pre-configured with standard mounts that align to the common axis, and preliminary alignment adjustments are made to the entire assembly as a unit, significantly reducing the time and complexity of final assembly and testing while maintaining imaging quality
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
The system achieves high spectral and spatial resolution with minimal distortion, improved target coverage, and reduced alignment complexities, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective imaging solution.
Implementation Method 1
electromagnetic radiation or light from a distant object is collected on the surface of the primary mirror and directed toward the surface of the secondary mirror
Implementation Method 2
The secondary mirror directs the light toward the surface of the tertiary mirror
Implementation Method 3
light from the exit side of the spectrometer slit is incident on the surface of the primary mirror and directed toward the diffraction grating of the secondary mirror, diffracted light from the grating
Implementation Method 4
diffracted light from the grating is incident on the surface of the tertiary mirror, and the tertiary mirror forms an intermediate image
Data Source
AI summary
A hyperspectral imaging system has fore-optics including primary, secondary and tertiary fore-optics mirrors, and an imaging spectrometer including primary, secondary and tertiary spectrometer mirrors. Light from a distant object is collected by the primary fore-optics mirror, and the tertiary fore-optics mirror forms an intermediate object image at an entrance side of a spectrometer slit. The spectrometer mirrors are configured so that light from an exit side of the slit is diffracted by a grating on the secondary mirror, and an image representing spectral and spatial components of the object is formed by the tertiary spectrometer mirror on a focal plane array. The surface of each mirror of the fore-optics and the spectrometer has an associated axis of symmetry. The mirrors are aligned so that their associated axes coincide to define a common system axis, thus making the imaging system easier to assemble and align in relation to prior systems.