MIRA Sensor AOTF Channels for Compact Spectroscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multispectral and hyperspectral imaging systems are large, heavy, power-intensive, and slow, making them unsuitable for portable field applications due to high complexity, size, weight, and power consumption, and they often compromise sensitivity to reduce data and processing demands.
Innovation Solution
The development of a multiband IR adjunct (MIRA) sensor that includes a compact, lightweight, and rugged design with acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTF) and thermoelectric cooling, enabling high-speed spectroscopic measurements across a wide wavelength range from UV to longwave infrared, with simultaneous data acquisition from multiple channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional multispectral and hyperspectral imaging systems are used, then spectral measurement capability is achieved, but the system becomes large, heavy, and power-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the spectral measurement function into multiple discrete optical channels, each dedicated to a specific wavelength band. This segmentation allows each channel to be optimized independently and reduces the overall system complexity compared to a single comprehensive spectrometer, enabling miniaturization while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional sensor system where a single device integrates multiple optical channels that can simultaneously perform measurements across different wavelength ranges. This universal approach replaces multiple separate instruments, reducing overall system weight while maintaining comprehensive spectral measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If traditional hyperspectral imaging systems are used, then detailed spectral information is obtained, but the system complexity and size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The spectral measurement function is divided into multiple discrete optical channels, each dedicated to a specific wavelength band. This segmentation allows each channel to be optimized independently and reduces the overall system complexity compared to a single comprehensive spectrometer, enabling miniaturization while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs tunable filters in each optical channel that can dynamically adjust the wavelength range being measured. This dynamic capability allows the system to focus on specific spectral regions of interest, reducing the need for complex fixed-resolution spectrometers while maintaining high measurement precision when needed.
3Measurement precision
If traditional imaging systems are used, then spatial information is captured, but the system is too slow for high-speed measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously captures spatial and spectral information simultaneously through multiple parallel optical channels rather than sequentially scanning. This continuous multi-channel acquisition maintains high measurement speed while capturing complete spatial and spectral data, eliminating the speed limitation of traditional scanning hyperspectral systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides the spectral measurement function into multiple discrete optical channels, each dedicated to a specific wavelength band. This segmentation allows each channel to be optimized independently and reduces the overall system complexity compared to a single comprehensive spectrometer, enabling miniaturization while maintaining measurement capability.
4Weight of stationary object
If data reduction is implemented to reduce processing demands, then system size and power consumption decrease, but measurement sensitivity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the spectral measurement function into multiple discrete optical channels, each dedicated to a specific wavelength band. This segmentation allows each channel to be optimized independently and reduces the overall system complexity compared to a single comprehensive spectrometer, enabling miniaturization while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs tunable filters in each optical channel that can dynamically adjust the wavelength range being measured. This dynamic capability allows the system to focus on specific spectral regions of interest, reducing the need for complex fixed-resolution spectrometers while maintaining high measurement precision when needed.
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 MIRA sensor provides high-speed, sensitive chemical signature measurements with reduced size, weight, and power consumption, enhancing portability and sensitivity while maintaining high spectral resolution, suitable for various civilian and military applications.
Implementation Method 1
acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTF)
Implementation Method 2
thermoelectric cooling
Implementation Method 3
photo-detector (PD) from each optical channel that receives a polarized narrow-band light beam from the back optics and converts it into an electrical signal
Data Source
AI summary
A multiband IR adjunct (MIRA) sensor to spectroscopically determine the content and the concentration of chemical composition of a targeted object, includes a sensor housing, a first front optics in a first optical channel, a second front optics in the first optical channel, an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF), a photo detector (PD), a set of back optics in the first optical channel that focuses polarized narrow-band light beams received from the AOTF device onto the PD, the PD converting the polarized narrow-band light beams into an electrical signal, and a data acquisition unit signal-connected to the PD, the data acquisition unit collecting the electrical signals. Multiple optical channels can be provided within the housing to analyze UV/VIS/near infrared (NIR), short-wavelength infrared (SWIR), mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR), and LWIR wavelength ranges respectively.