Supercontinuum Laser Hyperspectral Imaging Nighttime Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hyperspectral imaging systems operating in the visible-to-shortwave infrared (V-SWIR) range are limited by the need for solar illumination, making them ineffective at night or in low-light conditions, while thermal HSI systems are expensive and have larger size-weight-power (SWaP) requirements, and may not detect materials with spectral features in the V-SWIR range.
Innovation Solution
Development of hyperspectral imaging systems capable of operating in the visible and shortwave infrared wavelength range (400 nm to 2.5 μm) using a supercontinuum laser source with a broad spectral bandwidth, enabling operation during daytime, nighttime, and varying weather conditions by emitting radiation across multiple spectral bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If V-SWIR HSI systems operate using solar radiation, then the system can detect materials with spectral features in the V-SWIR range, but the system cannot operate at night or in low-light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by illuminating the scene with a supercontinuum laser source before detection occurs. The laser emits broadband light across the V-SWIR spectrum, pre-illuminating targets so that reflected light can be detected regardless of ambient lighting conditions, enabling operation at night or in low-light environments while maintaining material identification capability
Solution Approach 2:
The supercontinuum laser acts as an intermediary between the detector and the scene. It provides the necessary illumination in the V-SWIR range that would otherwise be unavailable from solar radiation during nighttime, mediating the interaction between the detection system and targets to enable spectral analysis under diverse lighting conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If thermal HSI systems are used to operate during day and night, then the system can operate under various weather conditions, but the system becomes expensive with greater size-weight-power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters by using a supercontinuum laser source that emits across the V-SWIR spectrum (0.4-2.5 μm), allowing operation in the same wavelength range whether using reflected solar radiation or active laser illumination. This parameter change enables nighttime operation without transitioning to thermal infrared wavelengths, thereby avoiding the size-weight-power penalties of thermal HSI systems while maintaining adaptability to various weather conditions
3Device complexity
If V-SWIR HSI systems use reflected solar radiation, then the system has lower cost and SWaP requirements, but the system is limited to daytime operation with adequate illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by designing the optical and detection subsystems to handle both reflected solar radiation and active laser illumination in the V-SWIR range. The same hardware configuration can operate during daytime using ambient light or at nighttime using laser illumination, making the system multi-functional across different temporal conditions without requiring separate thermal HSI subsystems, thereby maintaining low cost and SWaP requirements while extending operational availability
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 efficient data collection in a wide spectral range, allowing for material identification and target detection under diverse lighting conditions without the size and power constraints of thermal systems, and can detect materials with spectral features in the V-SWIR range.
Implementation Method 1
a source of illumination configured to emit radiation in a wavelength range greater than or equal to about 400 nm and less than or equal to about 2.5 μm
Implementation Method 2
using a supercontinuum laser source with a broad spectral bandwidth
Implementation Method 3
a spectrometer configured to receive light from the one or more objects in the scene
Data Source
AI summary
Shortwave infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral imaging (HSI) systems comprise a supercontinuum laser source configured to illuminate objects and a receiver comprising a spectrometer configured to receive light reflected from the objects. In some cases, hyperspectral images can be created by raster scanning of the source/receiver across a scene. The supercontinuum laser source provides active illumination to allow collection of hyperspectral imagery during day (including overcast conditions) and night.