Tunable Dispersive Optical Element Spectrometer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electromagnetic radiation detection devices face limitations in achieving larger area coverage rates while maintaining radiometric performance, often requiring redundant hardware, mechanically actuated optical elements, or high frame and data rates.
Innovation Solution
A bandwidth tunable electromagnetic radiation detection device featuring a tunable dispersive optical element and a controller that adjusts the dispersion of received radiation, allowing for selective tuning of the optical element and sensor operating parameters to balance spectral resolution, spatial coverage, and radiometric sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors with different bandwidths are used, then spectral resolution is improved, but device complexity increases due to redundant hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a tunable dispersive optical element that can dynamically adjust its dispersion characteristics to provide different spectral bandwidths. This dynamic element replaces the need for multiple fixed sensors with different bandwidths, allowing a single sensor to achieve various spectral resolutions by tuning the optical element's properties.
Solution Approach 2:
A single sensor in the patent is designed to perform multiple functions by working with a tunable dispersive optical element. The sensor can detect across different spectral bandwidths (e.g., 10 nm to 100 nm) by adjusting the optical element, eliminating the need for multiple specialized sensors and reducing hardware redundancy.
2Measurement precision
If a mechanically rotated optical element is used to switch between selectable dispersive states, then spectral resolution is improved, but device complexity increases due to mechanical actuation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanically rotated optical elements with a tunable dispersive optical element that can be adjusted without mechanical movement. This substitution eliminates the need for motors, gears, and mechanical alignment systems while achieving the same spectral tuning capability through a different physical mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using discrete mechanical steps to switch between fixed dispersive states, the patent employs a dynamically tunable optical element that can continuously adjust its dispersion. This dynamic approach provides smoother transitions and finer control over spectral bandwidth without mechanical constraints.
3Area of stationary object
If a single hyperspectral sensor is used with spectral binning to achieve larger area coverage, then area coverage rate is improved, but radiometric performance deteriorates due to high frame and data rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamically tunable dispersive optical element to adjust spectral bandwidth in real-time. This allows the system to optimize the balance between area coverage and radiometric performance by adapting the dispersion to match the specific detection requirements, rather than using fixed spectral bins that compromise one parameter for the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dispersion parameter of the optical element to tune the spectral bandwidth. By adjusting this key parameter, the system can vary the amount of spectral information captured per pixel, enabling flexible trade-offs between spatial coverage and radiometric sensitivity without the rigid constraints of fixed spectral binning.
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 flexible spectral bandwidth adjustment, achieving higher spectral resolution with lower area coverage rates and lower spectral resolution with higher area coverage rates, eliminating the need for mechanically rotated optical elements and maintaining radiometric sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
a tunable dispersive optical element configured to receive electromagnetic radiation and to change the dispersion of the received electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
AI summary
An electromagnetic radiation detection device is described which includes a tunable dispersive optical element configured to receive electromagnetic radiation and to change the dispersion of the received electromagnetic radiation; a sensor configured to detect the dispersed electromagnetic radiation changed by the dispersive optical element; and a controller configured to: (i) selectively tune the dispersive optical element so as to adjust the dispersion of the received electromagnetic radiation; and (ii) change one or more of operating parameters of the sensor in accordance with the adjusted dispersion. In some implementations, the radiation detection device may be configured as a spectrometer to measure one or more properties of electromagnetic radiation. A method for detecting electromagnetic radiation is also disclosed.